Skip to main content

Kia's new Niro promises to offer Prius-fighting hybrid tech in a crossover package

In the midst of the Detroit Auto Show, Kia has published a pair of dark teaser images that preview a gasoline-electric crossover called Niro. The eco-friendly soft-roader will be presented to the public next month at the Chicago Auto Show.

Kia’s teaser shots suggests the Niro is a heavily toned-down version of the eponymous concept that was presented to the public at the 2013 edition of the Frankfurt Auto Show. It adopts sharp headlights, a rippled hood, and a slim rendition of Kia’s trademarked Tigernose grille, but it predictably ditches the concept’s sporty, two-door body style in favor of a more practical four-door setup. All told, the Niro’s front end shares more than a passing resemblance to the new Kia Sportage.

2017 Kia Niro teaser
Image used with permission by copyright holder

WorldCarFans speculates the Niro will be equipped with the same hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains as the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq, a small hatchback aimed directly at the Toyota Prius and the Chevrolet Volt. If that’s the case, the Niro will be powered by an Atkinson-cycle 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 105 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 108 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The four-banger will work jointly with a 43-horsepower electric motor connected to a lithium-ion battery pack, and the drivetrain’s total output will be sent to the front wheels via a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission.

Recommended Videos

The plug-in Niro will be capable of driving on electricity alone for short distances. Hyundai will offer an all-electric version of the Ioniq, but whether Kia will launch a battery-powered Niro is up in the air at this point.

Stay tuned, Kia will introduce the Niro online in the days leading up to this year’s Chicago show, which opens its doors to the press on February 11. The crossover will goo on sale later this year as a 2017 model.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?
Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Read more
EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says
ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.

Read more
Trump team in sync with Tesla on ending crash-reporting requirements, report says
Beta of Tesla's FSD in a car.

The transition team of President-elect Donald Trump is planning to end existing car-crash reporting requirements to safety regulators, according to a Reuters report.

The report cites a document obtained by Reuters that lays out the transition team’s 100-day strategy for automotive policy. In the document, the team says the crash-reporting requirement leads to “excessive” data collection, Reuters says.

Read more