Kia Niro
At the heart of the Niro is a compact 1.6L 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 103 horsepower. This engine alone would make the Niro a poor performer, but luckily there is an electric motor as well helping to motivate the vehicle. Combined with the electric motor, the Niro produces 139 horsepower and a very robust 195 foot-pounds of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Unlike most other hybrids, which use a continuously variable transmission, the Kia's dual clutch unit helps provide strong acceleration at the cost of a slight penalty to fuel economy. The tradeoff is worth it; the Niro does not feel anchored to the ground like some other hybrids, while still returning up to 53 mpg in combined city and highway driving in its most basic form.
The Kia Niro comes in five trims, LX, EX, EX Touring, SX and SX Touring. The base LX trim has fewer amenities than its siblings but still comes with all the notable features one would expect in a compact car or SUV these days. Standard features include an 8-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, steering wheel mounted controls for the sound system and cruise control, five USB ports, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic temperature control, heated power external mirrors and 16-inch wheels.
The EX-trim primarily adds an adaptive cruise control system, Navigation system with voice activation, auto-high beams, and push-button start system. Meanwhile, the EX Touring trim builds on the EX by offering cloth and leather seating trim, power sunroof, a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat with 2-way power lumbar support and satellite radio. SX features a power liftgate, power sunroof, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated and ventilated front seats, driver seat memory, an 8-speaker sound system, 10.25-inch touchscreen,
At the top of the lineup is the SX Touring which adds LED headlights and front fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a leather wrapped gear shifter, heated steering wheel and wireless device charging.
Standard safety items on the Niro includes anti-lock brakes, front seat belts pretensioners, stability control, brake assist system, a bevy of airbags and a hill start control system. Advanced safety features across the lineup include active lane departure, blind spot warning, forward and rear collision mitigation, front pedestrian detection, a driver attention alert and a traffic sign information system.