> New Kia Niro prototype spotted testing
> Loosely based in the 2019 Kia HabaNiro concept
> Likely to be available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric flavours
> Full reveal expected later 2022
2022 Kia Niro: what is it?
Kia’s small but stylish crossover, the Niro, has long been the poster child for electrification, offering a choice of self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains. Now entering its second generation, this new model seen testing here is loosely based on the humorously named HabaNiro concept car, which appeared in 2019.
But when we say loosely, we mean it. The HabaNiro had butterfly doors and a wide-awake bright red interior. Sadly these won’t make it to the production version of this affordable family run around, but what we can tell is the grille has grown and the front LED lights bear some resemblance to those seen on the HabaNiro.
It also looks to have a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model, which should improve legroom in the cabin.
Speaking of the interior, for the first time we’ve been able to catch a glimpse of what’s going on inside the new Niro, which features a smart-looking piano gloss driver console with a silver rotary dial, plus two large screens taking care of infotainment and the driver display.
2022 Kia Niro: what is it powered by?
As we mentioned, electrification is the key with the current car, and that’s unlikely to change. We expect the range to start with the standard hybrid, which uses a 104bhp 1.6-litre engine paired with a 43bhp electric motor.
The plug-in hybrid model will come with an 8.9kWh battery which currently offers an electric range of around 30-miles, but it’s likely Kia has worked to improve that for the new car.
Finally, a fully electric variant is available with a choice of a 39kWh battery or a 64kWh battery. The Niro’s sister car, the Hyundai Kona, offers the same choice, and in both cars the bigger battery is paired with a more powerful electric motor good for 201bhp. The smaller battery model offers 134bhp.
2022 Kia Niro: when will it be on sale?
We fully expect the finished article to appear before the end of the year, which means it could be on sale late 2022 or early 2023.
2022 Kia Niro: how much will it cost?
While there is no official news on this yet, we expect the price to move upwards slightly from the current car, which means it will probably start at around £27,000 for the self-charging hybrid.
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Keyword: Upcoming 2022 Kia Niro: spy shots