Many of our friends and cohorts here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis have been
telling us how loaded the Paris floor is with EVs this year, and the premium
German automakers are not the only ones making great strides in the ultimate
journey for eco-friendly movement. Autoevolution reported this
past week on the South Korean crossover being revealed internationally, and
stated right off the bat that the “Numbers are brilliant.” The driving range of
the vehicle is right at 301 miles, and the standard unit with a 39.2kWh battery
comes with a 194 mile per charge range.
Given the massive success of the hybrid and
plug-in hybrid versions of the Niro, it is no surprise that Kia came up with
the all-electric incarnation of the crossover. The tiger-nose grille is where
the charging port is, and the writers from Autoevolution were
excited that the “regenerative braking system is hidden by the new 17-inch
wheels.” We feel that this is truly the vehicle to constantly outshine the
Prius, and the good folks at Motorillustrated.com billed it as
“the most enjoyable hybrid vehicle you can drive right now in this price range.”
Test drivers have claimed that the handling is
sharp and sporty, making it perfect for a winding road, without being
uncomfortable or annoying in the city. With 635 liters of cargo space, it is one
of the most spacious hybrids you can buy on the market today. Currently offered
only as a hybrid, the 2019 Kia Niro will see a plug-in version later on, as
well as an all-electric version. Customers are telling us after their first
look that they are impressed by the normality of the interior, and that this is
the ideal vehicle for those who want “the advantages of driving a hybrid
without feeling like they are in a spaceship.”
The large 7-inch infotainment screen has some
added functions, such as the ability to find charging points that are close,
monitor the state of charge, and use the navigation system to view the driving
range. Drivers can tailor the amount of regenerative braking in four stages
through steering wheel-mounted paddles: the first level of these is a bit of a
coast function, with very little braking. At the other end of the scale,
testers said that the regenerative effect is so well-honed, that it is almost a
one-pedal ride. One of the greatest assets of the new Niro is the battery's
position: it brings a very low center of gravity, meaning the drive feels
nimble through twisty sections of any route you choose!
