Pricing and specifications have been announced by Kia for its bold-looking new Niro crossover, which will be sold with hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and pure electric powertrains.
Order books are now open, with the hybrid range starting at £27,745 rising to £33,245. It combines a 1.6-litre petrol and a 32kW electric motor for a 142bhp power output.
Entry-level versions of the PHEV command £32,775 and climb to £38,275 and marry the same petrol engine as that found in the hybrid to a 62kW e-motor for a total power output of 176bhp.
Kia quotes a zero-emission driving range of 40 miles – “more than enough for a driver to complete the average daily commute in the UK”, it says.
As for battery-powered models, which have a WLTP range of 287-miles and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 10 minutes using a rapid charger, ‘2’ specification costs £37,745 and range-topping ‘4’ £40,495.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid ‘2’ models feature 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera system on top of cloth upholstery, a dual-height boot, 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch information cluster. EV ‘2’ models pair the 8-inch touchscreen display with a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, and wear 17-inch alloy wheels.
Mid-range ‘3’ hybrid and PHEV Niro cars attract 18-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors, rear privacy glass, cloth and faux leather upholstery, wireless phone charging and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation.
On top of this, EV ‘3’ models get Vehicle-to-Device functionality with a three-pin plug socket as standard allowing eternal electrical appliances to be directly powered from the energy stored in its 64.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack.
Crowning the Niro hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV line-up is the ‘4’ grade which adds a head-up display, twin 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument cluster displays, heated rear seats and ventilated front seats.
A power operated tailgate, electric sunroof, uprated Harman Kardon premium sound system and a wealth of safety technologies including Remote Smart Parking Assist and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist are also included in the on the road price.
All models are available in a choice of eight colours, with premium paint options charged at £595. Top-spec ‘4’ models are offered with an optional two-tone paint option for £150 when combined with the standard paint, or £745 when combined with premium paint option.
This option allows customers to specify the C-pillar in contrasting ‘Steel Grey’ or ‘Black Pearl’ depending on the chosen body colour. The Niro EV ‘4’ is also available with an exclusive lighter grey interior, ‘Steel Grey’ body cladding, and ‘White Pearl’ paint for £745 over the £40,495 base price.
