We already knew the new Kia Niro family SUV would be more distinctive-looking than its predecessor, but details of its cost and equipment levels have now been announced…
On sale Autumn | Price from £27,745
The new Kia Niro appears to have been inspired by the beloved sci-fi character Doctor Who. You see, much like the Doctor, it’s been regenerated with a bold new look yet maintained important quirks; in the Niro’s case these include being available as a regular hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a fully-electric car.
The regular hybrid (HEV) – which you don’t need to plug in, but can’t travel very far on electric power as a result – is the entry point in the Niro range, starting from £27,745. Technical specifications haven’t yet been revealed, but it’s likely to use an updated version of the outgoing Niro’s 1.6-litre petrol engine, which produces 139bhp and averages up to 58.9mpg in official tests.
The most affordable version, called the 2, comes with 16in alloy wheels, a reversing camera and an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. You also get adaptive cruise control and a forward-collision warning system (with automatic emergency braking) as standard. This is similar to what is offered in the entry-level Honda HR-V, which costs £1090 more than the Niro HEV.
Spending £30,495 gets you an upgrade to 3 trim, which enlarges the alloy wheels to 18in and the infotainment touchscreen to a 10.25in unit with built-in sat-nav. It also adds front parking sensors, heating for the front seats and steering wheel, and adjustable lumbar support in the driver’s seat.
The range-topping 4 model costs £33,245, which pushes the Niro HEV into the territory of premium family SUVs like the Audi Q3, Mercedes GLA, and Range Rover Evoque. For that money, you get luxuries like a 10.25in digital instrument display, a power-opening tailgate, a Harmon/Kardon stereo system and imitation-leather seats.
The Niro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) mirrors the Niro HEV’s trim levels, but costs £32,775 in 2 specification, £35,525 in 3, and £38,775 in 4. The Niro PHEV is likely to use the same 139bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine and 8.9kWh battery pack as the outgoing car, which officially yields 201.8mpg and is capable of driving up to 30 miles under electric power alone.
The PHEV will also include a new ‘Greenzone Drive Mode’, which automatically switches the car to electric power in ‘green’ zones, such as residential areas or near schools or hospitals. This will activate based on data from the sat-nav and from your previous drives, as long as you have enough charge.
The successor to the fully electric Kia e-Niro – our 2019 Car of the Year – is called the Niro EV, and starts from £34,995. The Niro EV does not qualify for a £1500 Government grant towards its purchase because the threshold for eligibility was reduced to £32,000 in December 2021.
All versions of the Niro EV come with a 201bhp motor and a 64.8kWh battery, which allows you to drive up to 287 miles between recharges – five more than in an equivalent e-Niro. That means you can expect a real-world range of around 260 miles, which is more than the rival Skoda Enyaq 60 managed in our summer Real Range test.
The Niro EV also comes with a battery heating system as standard, which should reduce the impact of cold weather on range – a phenomenon you can learn about by reading our winter range test.
The entry-level Niro EV comes with the same equipment as the HEV and PHEV in 2 trim, plus 17in alloy wheels and a 10.25in digital instrument display.
For £37,745 you can upgrade to 3 trim which mirrors the hybrid cars, plus the option of adding a heat pump. Kia has not announced how much the heat pump will cost, but it’s well worth considering. This is because heat pumps produce warmth much more efficiently than traditional resistance-based heaters, resulting in a boost to range in cold weather.
Range-topping 4 trim costs a whopping £40,495 and thrusts the Niro EV into competition with our 2022 Car of the Year – the Kia EV6 – as well as the Nissan Ariya and Enyaq 80.
In addition to the extras that 4 trim offers in the Niro HEV and PHEV, you also get updated versions of Kia’s forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. The latter works with the Niro’s lane support system to take control of the car’s acceleration, braking, and positioning in a lane, as long as you remain alert to hazards.
Inside, all versions of the new Niro are reminiscent of the EV6 and Kia Sportage, with a two-spoke steering wheel and a wide dashboard panel displaying instrumentation and infotainment. You’ll also find a variety of sustainably-sourced materials: the headlining is made from recycled wallpaper, and the seats are trimmed in cloth derived from eucalyptus leaves.
Keyword: 2022 Kia Niro SUV pricing and specifications revealed