► Kia Niro hybrid crossover tested
► Features dual-clutch gearbox
► Good kit levels, seven-year warranty, £22k
The Kia Niro hybrid has two main jobs: firstly, give the South Korean carmaker a family-sized crossover that can hold a candle to rivals like the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Roc.
Secondly, give eco-friendly competitors such as the Toyota C-HR and Ford Puma a run for their money. The hybrid and crossover segments have been growing rapidly of late, so a strong showing here is essential.
In terms of size, the Niro Hybrid is a little harder to pin down, slotting somewhere in between C-segment hatchbacks and SUVs. In Kia's line-up it's larger than a Ceed but shorter and lower than a Sportage, although its wheelbase is longer than the latter and therefore seat space is class leading.
Powered by hybrid tech, so moos like a hybrid?
Underneath a body perhaps designed more with aerodynamics in mind than visual appeal, the Kia Niro Hybrid’s powertrain consists of a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery that’s small enough to be tucked under the rear seats, preserving boot space of between 427 and 1425 litres.
Check out our Best Hybrids and Plug-In Electric cars list
Shuffling power between the engine and electric motor - or sometimes combining the two - the Niro Hybrid develops 139bhp, all of which goes through the front wheels with the aid of a six-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox. With a set-up like this the Niro won’t be setting any speed records, but as an efficient hybrid designed to save fuel rather than burn it, it’s very effective indeed.
The first thing you'll notice is the absence of a continually variable transmission, which gently blights so many hybrids; heftier throttle applications are inevitably rewarded by the engine promptly racing to revs for peak power while the car then catches up to the accompaniment of an episode of Bonanza being filmed under the bonnet.
Thanks to its smooth dual-clutch automatic, progress in the Kia – with engine speed building to match vehicle velocity – sounds far more natural. Quiet too, and the whole affair is remarkably refined if you don't push things along too hard.
The Niro lacks the dedicated, switchable EV drive mode that allows some hybrids to murmur a couple of kilometres under electric motor power only. However, the motor and petrol engine interchange roles so smoothly and quietly in the urban environment that we don't consider this an issue.
Particularly since, over an hour and half of mixed driving, we were rewarded with average fuel consumption of well over 60mpg. That’s far closer to the quoted fuel figure than many hybrids appear to muster in the real world.
Hybrids are hardly noted for their vim...
True, and 0-62mph in 11.5 seconds and the full George of 101mph would appear to substantiate that. But the Niro feels pretty lively round town, and good off the line at traffic lights thanks to its electric motor assist. On the other hand, it tends to have to work rather hard to maintain impetus on motorways.
Perhaps because there's no switchable EV mode, Kia has gone to inordinate trouble to make the powertrain as quiet as possible, especially under urban driving conditions when the petrol engine stops and starts frequently. This has been managed very successfully, with the engine bay ruthlessly well insulated from the cabin. You can barely hear the engine start.
High-speed stability on motorways is good, and there's practically no noise from under the bonnet unless you really floor it. Normal cruising speeds are accompanied only by wind noise from door mirrors and modest tyre roar.
The impending gleam of something called Predictive Energy Control works with the sat-nav to optimise hybrid system performance. For instance, boosting electric motor power on inclines and charging the battery on downhill sections.
But I expect it handles like a cow in ice?
It's OK, actually. The power density of lithium-ion batteries means the pack is small enough to fit under the rear seats, so the Niro doesn't suffer from the tail-heavy behaviour of some rival hybrids. But, even though the battery pack is inside the wheelbase, you can still feel the weight.
It's very easy to drive around town, with light steering and good low-speed manoeuvrability, a lot of it under electric power alone. Out in the bundu, the Niro handles quite tidily through the corners. The steering's accurate, albeit devoid of noticeable feel, and bodyroll is well controlled.
Low-rolling-resistance 16" tyres may be better for economy and low CO2, but it's not the world's grippiest rubber and it’s easy to provoke the front tyres into squealing merrily if you push too hard. Drive to the strengths of the powertrain, however, and it handles very much like a quiet, conventionally powered crossover.
Ride quality is more of an issue, though. In response to public criticism of other hybrid vehicles’ driving dynamics in general, the suspension has been tuned to ensure the Niro handles well enough. The downside is that the ride feels a little tough on 18" wheels to us.
And life on board?
The driving position is good, with reach and rake steering adjustment and comfortable front seats. Good visibility too. And rear-seat accommodation is excellent, with head- and legroom for six-footers in comfort. A load space uncluttered by a battery pack beneath is on a par with rivals.
It’s otherwise all standard, latest-generation Kia fare, the replacement of the revcounter by a power meter the only clue as to the presence of a hybrid drive system. Kia interior quality has improved out of all recognition of late, with soft-touch materials wherever your fingers are likely to wander, and respectable quality switchgear.
Everything looks respectable, but not altogether homogenous in execution. It is, perhaps, starting to feel as if the next generation of interior design might be hurried along a little to raise the bar if premium competition is an aspiration.
Equipment levels are high throughout, with trim levels running 2,3 and 4.
All models include multimedia touchscreens boasting optional 3D navigation mapping, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless mobile phone charging and TomTom Live services – free for seven years to match that enticing warranty. A spanking, eight-speaker JBL audio system powerful enough to blow the wax from your ears is also available as an option.
Verdict
The Niro presents as an entirely companionable proposition. It's quiet, practical, undeniably spacious, drives smoothly and handles reasonably tidily. If you've already looked at a Toyota C-HR, Ford Puma, Renault Captur or heck, even a Lexus UX, the Niro Hybrid is certainly worth considering too.
The ride is a little crashy, which is hard to stomach in what's meant to be a family car, but that's a small caveat in something that's otherwise so staggeringly competent. Spacious, reasonable to drive and with a cost of ownership worth shouting about, the Niro will find plenty of very happy homes.
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