Whereas Kia is on a roll introducing new electrical automobiles on its E-GMP platform, the corporate can also be updating different electrified automobiles on its K3 platform, particularly the Kia Niro. For 2023, Kia has fully redesigned all fashions of the Niro lineup and we had an opportunity to pattern the PHEV variant for every week. Not solely is that this re-design refreshing for the lineup but it surely additionally stays in-line with the present design language throughout the Kia lineup.
For the 2023 mannequin yr, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid begins at $33,740 and introduces two trims, offers a handful of exterior colour choices (with a novel aeroblade colour), and presents two completely different inside choices. The one draw back in regards to the aeroblade colour is it’s only out there within the SX Touring trim and solely with the Mineral Blue exterior colour for $195. Kia ought to have provided a number of colour choices for the aeroblade prefer it does in different variations of the automobile. This SX Touring we examined got here with the Chilly Climate Bundle (Rear Heated Seats and a PTC Heater) for $500, bringing the overall of this automobile to $41,480 earlier than any incentives.
Photograph by Tyler Boggs, CleanTechnica
A breakdown of the battery specs of the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid embrace a 11.1 kWh battery pack, which presents a spread as much as 33 all-electric miles (31 for SX). Charging time at a max of three.8 kW for 0–100% is available in at just below 3 hours of cost time. In our testing, we managed 32–35 all electrical miles earlier than the fuel engine kicked in. We all the time stored the automotive plugged in, so we hardly ever had the motor activate throughout our complete week of testing.
Photograph by Tyler Boggs, CleanTechnica
On the inside, the Niro presents some nice tech and some surprises. Do you know that the headliner is fabricated from recycled wallpaper? Or that the seats themselves are constructed from the eucalyptus plant? It’s nice to see producers investing in recycled supplies or eco-conscious supplies inside and outdoors of their automobiles. The Niro presents a wrap-around driver’s show with a 4.3” instrument show and a ten.25” touchscreen that features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This Niro additionally presents a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled entrance seats, dual-zone local weather, a typical measurement sunroof, wi-fi charging, and a Harman Kardon Premium Audio System (which undoubtedly had extra bass than the Meridian within the Kia EV6).
Photograph by Tyler Boggs, CleanTechnica
It additionally has a really distinctive ambient lighting characteristic which we want was extra distinguished within the inside on the door playing cards or heart console than simply on the passenger facet of the dashboard. A small miss on Kia’s behalf is that, whereas the driving force’s show may be very distinctive, it isn’t the total digital driver’s show discovered on the total electrical Niro mannequin, and for this value, it might have been good to see that included within the SX Touring trim.
Photograph by Tyler Boggs, CleanTechnica
The inside is snug and quiet because of the acoustic entrance windshield and window glass, and the seats are very snug to take a seat in whereas driving or being a passenger. You’ve got loads of cargo house with the seats folded up or down relying in your wants. Kia’s Drive Smart Tech can also be a unbelievable bundle right here within the Niro, however don’t count on the total Freeway Driving Help II bundle (like within the Kia EV6 or Hyundai IONIQ 5) to be within the Niro, because it solely comes with the fundamental Freeway Driving Help options — which do an ample job.
Photograph by Tyler Boggs, CleanTechnica
Photograph by Tyler Boggs, CleanTechnica
What’s the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid prefer to drive? We’ll save that portion for the video, which you can take a look at right here. A giant thanks to Kia America for giving us this chance to assessment the 2023 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid.
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