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Kia’s first bid into the hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric space was with the Niro small SUV.
Introduced in Australia in 2021, the first-generation Niro was quickly replaced with an updated model that also ditched the PHEV powertrain.
Positioned now as the entry to Kia’s expanding electric car portfolio, the Niro competes against hybrid rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota Corolla Cross, as well as all-electric offerings like the MG ZS EV and Mazda MX-30 EV.
The line-up currently starts at $45,000 for the Niro HEV S (hybrid) and ranges through to $72,360 for the range-topping Niro EV GT-Line Black C Pillar.
The default purchase for somebody looking for a mid-sized hybrid SUV is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. But if that’s too big, there’s the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid, C-HR Hybrid and even the Corolla Cross Hybrid which sounds like the marketplace is getting crowded but is really just a reflection of the appetite right now for cars like these. And that’s the catch; the waiting times for a brand-new example of some of these cars is out to many months and even years. So your plan to shop second-hand makes plenty of sense, but don’t expect any bargains in a market currently being dominated by lots of demand and less supply.
Beyond the Toyota brand (which has been doing hybrids longer than just about anybody else) there’s also the Mazda CX-30, Subaru XV Hybrid, Haval Jolion Hybrid, Kia Niro, Subaru Forester Hybrid, Nissan Qashqai e-Power, MG HS, Honda HR-V e and more. For something a bit bigger, try the Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe hybrids. There are others out there, too, that are probably bigger or more expensive than you need, but it's very much a growing scene in the Australian marketplace.
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In the boot, you'll find 425 litres (VDA) in the hybrid, and 475 litres (VDA) in the electric model, with those numbers swelling to between 1392 and 1419 litres with second row folded flat.
The Niro Hybrid and EV comes in 'Clear White,' 'Mineral Blue,' Cityscape Green,' 'Steel Grey,' 'Aurora Black' 'Snow White Pearl,' 'Interstellar Grey' and 'Runway Red.'
The Niro is predictably wrapped in eco-friendly materials — like recycled bottles in the headliners, and eucalyptus tree fibres in the seats — but how nice an experience you have depends very much on how much you spend.
The entry-level S Hybrid makes do with the most basic cabin tech, the S EV gets a little better, but the GT-Line cars get a genuinely impressive tech offering, with this kind of wall of screens that link the driver's binnacle to the centre screen. Also cool is the integrated touch sensitive infotainment and climate control, which helps pare back the busy in here a bit.
Kia reckons the Niro EV will deliver 460kms in driving range when fully charged. And when it does come time to plug in, a 7kW Wall Box at home will take nine hours and 25 minutes to go from empty to full, or a 100kW DC charger (also the charging max), will take 45 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent.
The range starts with the Hybrid S, which gets cloth and artificial leather seat trim, LED DRL's and LED rear taillights (but halogen headlights), a 4.2-inch digital driver display and and 8.0-inch central touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker stereo. You also get dual-zone climate, 16-inch alloys and electric mirrors and windows.
Stepping up to the Hybrid GT-Line adds a whole bunch of nice stuff, including twin 10.25-inch screens (one for the driver, the other for multimedia screen), bigger 18-inch alloys, perforated bio-leather seats, LED headlights, a better steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats.
The Full Electric trim levels largely match the hybrid's specifications, except both ride on 17-inch alloys, and even the S model gets the twin-screen infotainment set-up.
The All Electric GT-Line also gets a better eight-speaker stereo, a sunroof, and what the brand calls a Premium Relaxation Front Passenger Seat — which tilts back so you can get comfy while charging.
Adults can ride in relative comfort when riding four-up, but squeezing an extra human in the middle could be stretching the friendship a little.
You'll find cupholders up front and for backseat riders, as well as bottle-holder storage in each of the doors. Also very cool is, in the All Electric model, a V2L plug (which is a traditional Australian plug socket) meaning you can charge bigger devices on the fly by simply plugging in.
The Hybrid is pretty conventional, pairing a 1.6-litre engine with a 1.32kwH battery and electric motor for a combined output of 104kW and 265Nm. It gets a six-speed DCT auto and front-wheel drive.
But the EV is a bit different. It gets a big 64.8kWh battery and a front-mounted motor that produces 150kW and 255Nm, the latter of which arrives instantaneously, helping drop the sprint to 100km/h to just 7.8secs - and that's despite carrying almost half a tonne of battery with you.
The Hybrid is pretty leisurely taking more than 10 seconds to reach 100km/h while the EV will take just 7.8 seconds to reach that.