2021 Kia Niro Hybrid

A little bit smaller than a Sportage, the smart looking Kia Niro Hybrid is ready for the conscientious Australian looking for a vehicle that runs a bit greener than most.  This 2021 model is kitted out with an impressive list of technology features and safety aids and, to drive, the little Niro SUV delivers decent levels of ride and comfort.

Climb inside the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid, and you feel like you’re hopping into a normal car.  Just because it has the Hybrid badge, when you do slip inside the interior you don’t feel suddenly like you’re in a vehicle that’s outside the norm, trying to shout and wave the electric/hybrid pitch about.  This will appeal to many buyers.

2021 Kia Niro Hybrid

Interior quality is good.  The trim is made up of a nice blend of soft touch materials that match up with some smart panelling and glossy fascia.  The hybrid models are loaded with all sorts of likable features.  Leather or part leather seats, cruise control with a speed limiter, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an infotainment screen that talks to your phone.

Wireless charging is available in a Sport Niro Hybrid, and, even without this, there are enough USB sockets and auxiliary points in the cubbyhole in front of the gear lever to run a small music studio!  The touchscreen has a nice bright display, and there are shortcut menu buttons below the screen which make it easy to flick through the various displays and features.

The 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid is available in S or Sport form, the latter adding more technology and luxury, as well as extra safety in the form of blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.  The 5-star ANCAP safety rating for the Niro is a top result that makes this a safe choice in its class.

Parking sensors make driving a doddle when running in and out of those tight spaces around town or at the church/school car park.  The all-round parking sensors will help to keep even the most nervous drivers among us a little more at ease when having to negotiate the supermarket car park.  Of course, the reversing camera adds to the ability to make the most use of the space behind the car as you manoeuvre yourself backwards, while it also delivers a great safety feature in its own right as it displays what you decide to avoid or not to avoid running over.

Top of the range Sport Niros get electric leather seats which, in the front, will find you the perfect position for the journey ahead.  There is copious adjustment in the driver’s seat and in the steering wheel column of a Niro, which adds up to you being able to find the perfect driving position whether you’re tall or short, fat or thin.

Practicality features are a Kia Niro strong point, so cubby holes, compartments for storage, and bottle and cup holders are all well laid out and accommodating.  As far as space in the rear seats goes, it is class leading – absolutely, there is loads of leg and head space for tall people back here.  Underfloor storage, tether points, a parcel shelf, split-folding rear seats all add up to make the boot space functional and useful.

2021 Kia Niro Hybrid

While in the front you may be able to find loads of charging points for phones or laptops, it’s not quite so easy to do the same in the back seats.  You’ll need to come up with some good old fashioned in-car entertainment games (eye spy or car cricket) for the entire family to feel well looked after on any long intercity journey to visit the rellies.  That said, the sound system delivers decent audio, which can even be upgraded to a quality JBL system.

2021 Kia Niro Hybrids are excellent at recuperating energy from braking and putting that back into the battery so you can drive in electric mode for longer.  Hybrids and EVs are great cars for those who are travelling a lot around town and in the cities where emissions are a little more of a concern for health reasons.  The Kia Niro Hybrid comes standard with a conventional six-speed automatic gearbox, and, as a result, the car delivers a relaxed driving experience and feels a little more normal to drive around town than, perhaps, a Prius.  The Prius Hybrid has a CVT gearbox and holds its revs up higher for longer while it accelerates, leading to a steady drone that bellows in the ear.

Out on the open road, where the petrol engine comes into play most of the time, the FWD Kia Niro sits sweetly on the road.  There is a bit of road noise, but not too much to bother you.  Because it is a higher-riding SUV shape, you also get a little more wind rustle from the upright SUV body shape slipping through the air.  Cornering in the new Niro Hybrid at highway speeds feels good.  The small SUV sits well planted right throughout the turns and the steering offers great feedback.

The new-to-Australia Kia Niro comes in regular hybrid, plug-in PHEV hybrid and pure electric (EV) form.  This particular hybrid variant of the small-class SUV uses a 77 kW/147 Nm 1.6-litre engine that is coupled with a 44.5 kW electric motor.

Economy in a hybrid like this one is an impressive feature, and one of the main reasons you’ll own one.  While not quite matching the Toyota Prius for top economy figures, the little Niro Hybrid isn’t far off it, and anyway, the Niro has so much more space and practicality that goes along with it.  In fact, if you like a small FWD SUV and would normally look to a diesel, this might be a greener option that might just impress.

2021 Kia Niro Hybrid

The 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid models include the:

• Kia Niro Hybrid S
• Kia Niro Hybrid Sport

For any more information on the new Kia Niro or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Kia dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!