In a time when wait times on some hybrid SUVs are stretching out for a year or more, there is a good chance you could drive a Kia Niro home today
Kia has confirmed that it has a healthy supply of its second-generation Niro small SUV following its launch in Australia last month.
The Niro is available as both a hybrid (HEV) or fully-electric vehicle (EV) though supply is heavily slanted towards the former at the moment.
The Kia Niro is available in both fully electric and hybrid guise
In July, Kia sold 70 Niro HEV models and just three Niro EVs, with both showing a heavy skew towards the top-spec GT-Line grade over the entry-level S.
A spokesperson from Kia Australia told Chasing Cars it plans to bring in between 75 and 100 Niros every month and last month just 73 were sold.
With that in mind, and the current supply skew towards hybrid models, there is a good chance that Australian buyers could simply walk into a dealership, purchase a car and drive away with it that day. A concept that has become increasingly rare since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
Kia is currently bringing in more supply of the Niro that it’s selling
If buyers are after a particular grade and colour combination, they could be in for a longer wait but even still, the spokesperson forecasted a delay of only one to two months.
The Niro is officially designated as a small SUV and thus competes with the likes of the Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR, though its 4420mm length has awarded the Kia above-average-sized back seats and a 425-litre boot.
With this in mind, the Niro HEV could also be considered a contender against popular midsize SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Kia Niro range explained
The second-generation Niro is available in two grades known as the S and GT-Line grades, with prices starting at $44,380 before on-road costs in hybrid guise.
The Niro HEV makes use of a 77kW/144Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 32kW/170Nm electric motor. Together, the pair produce a combined 104kW and 265Nm, which is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Kia claims an average fuel consumption rating of 4.0L/100km and independent, real-world testing by chasing Cars has shown this figure to be around 4.7L/100km.
GT-Line models feature a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen
Niro EV buyers net a 150kW/255Nm electric motor on the front axle which draws from a 64.8kWh lithium-ion battery to provide a driving range of 463km, according to the typically more accurate WLTP testing standard.
Buyers opting for the Niro S grades net an 8.0-inch touchscreen, cloth and artificial leather seat trim, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a six-speaker stereo along with safety features such as forwards and reversing AEB and blind-spot collision avoidance.
Those who opt for the Niro GT-Line receive a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.25-inch digital dash, heated and cooled front seats, a wireless phone charger, front parking sensors, ambient lighting and much more.
Kia Niro 2022: prices in Australia
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
- S hybrid: $44,380
- S electric: $65,300
- GT-Line hybrid: $50,030
- GT-Line electric: $72,100
Keyword: Kia Niro 2022: small SUV supply good, hybrids available now