The 2017 Kia Niro is the first dedicated hybrid model from the Korean carmaker.
Unlike
the Toyota Prius or the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq from its sister company, the Niro
takes the form of a crossover utility vehicle, rather than a hatchback. That
makes the Niro—which debuted in February at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show—the
first of its kind among dedicated hybrids.
Kia
itself calls the Niro a "hybrid utility vehicle," and hopes this will
distinguish the model from competitors' hybrids. Yet
while the Niro is certainly more crossover like than other dedicated hybrids,
it isn't quite a genuine utility vehicle either. It's styled more like a tall
wagon, with a fairly sleek roofline, and a ride height midway between a sedan
and an all-wheel-drive utility vehicle.
It
will launch with front-wheel drive, and Kia has suggested it has no plans to
add a second set of driven wheels. That's despite the electric
all-wheel drive system it showed on the Soul-based Trail'ster concept at the 2015 Chicago show., which
added a second electric motor to the rear axle to supplement the hybrid
powertrain driving the front wheels.
The
2017 Niro is propelled by a 103-horsepower, direct-injection 4-cylinder engine
running on the ultra-efficient Atkinson cycle, along with a six-speed
dual-clutch transmission. Sandwiched between the engine and transmission, a
32-kilowatt (43-hp) electric motor helps assist the gasoline engine, and can
propel the Niro on its own under certain conditions.
In addition to the standard hybrid model, Kia plans to launch a Niro plug-in hybrid a year or so into the model's product cycle. The standard Niro hybrid will go on sale late in 2016, with more detailed specifications available closer to that time.
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