Road Test: 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring Plug-in Hybrid

Highway Check: 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring Plug-in Hybrid

The Excellent Marriage: 33 All-Electrical Miles+A Miserly Hybrid

Love your gasoline inner combustion engine and don’t wish to leap right into a battery electrical automobile fairly but? Then the wedding of the 2 propulsion techniques is what it’s best to take into account, particularly the impressively environment friendly 2023 Kia Niro plug-in electrical hybrid automobile (PHEV).

The 2023 Niro PHEV is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a single 62 kW electrical motor, producing a complete system 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a easy shifting 6-speed twin clutch transmission (DCT).

The hybrid setup is impressively environment friendly, rated alone at 48 miles per gallon. However the secret to getting the most effective gas economic system from a PHEV is by maximizing the quantity of all-electric driving by plugging in. Including collectively the gasoline and electrical energy, the EPA estimates 108 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equal). MPGe is a measurement of how far a automotive can journey electrically on the identical quantity of power as is contained in 1 gallon of gasoline. To help in environment friendly driving there’s a sprint gauge that goes from Eco (in EV mode) to Energy when the engine kicks in. So studying precisely how a lot stress to use to the accelerator could make a distinction in gas economic system.

In every week of Southern California driving, (80% freeway/20% metropolis) that coated 285 miles, teh Kia returned a median of 61.2 miles per gallon. Had we spent extra time hitting cease lights within the metropolis and in stop-and-go site visitors, and if we plugged in each night time, we might simply have topped 75 miles per gallon. There isn’t a vary nervousness as driving in-town miles on pure electrical energy after which heading out for any size highway journey with the hybrid system, the 2023 Kia Niro PHEV is sort of unequaled for prime mileage and effectivity.

Gas economic system numbers reported by Clear Fleet Report are non-scientific and symbolize the reviewer’s driving expertise utilizing the sprint gauge pc. Your numbers might differ.

Charging

The Niro PHEV has an 11.1-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery that’s replenished by way of plug-in charging, which isn’t any completely different than what you do together with your cell phone each night time. With the three.8 kW onboard charger, it takes beneath three hours to totally cost with a 240V Stage 2 charger or in a single day with a 120V common family outlet. A totally charged battery will ship 33 miles of all-electric driving. The 2023 Kia Niro PHEV doesn’t have DC quick charging. It is very important be aware chilly climate can have an effect on the charging time and driving vary.

Charging can also be by way of regenerative braking that converts kinetic power into electrical power and shops it within the battery when making use of the brakes or coasting. This course of might be seen on a splash gauge displaying the facility flowing into and out of the battery.

Regenerative braking will not be braking within the conventional sense, however is the electrical motor slowing the automotive. The regenerative power is adjustable with the steering wheel mounted paddles. Three pulls on the left paddle places the braking right into a extra aggressive setting, the correct paddle reduces the braking power. I at all times set the regeneration to the best stage for essentially the most highly effective stopping.

Pulling the left paddle fully brings the Niro PHEV to a cease the place it would maintain. When utilizing the brake pedal to cease, the Auto Maintain button will maintain the automotive till accelerating once more. This beneficial characteristic reduces decrease leg fatigue in stop-and-go site visitors.

Driving Expertise: On the Highway

The Drive Mode selector on the steering wheel is for driving in Regular and Sport. New for the 2023 Niro PHEV is the Inexperienced Zone Drive Mode that routinely, based mostly on navigation and driving historical past, locations the automotive into EV mode in residential areas or close to hospitals and colleges. Regular is the place you’ll want to be when on the open highway, letting the hybrid system do its factor. Utilizing the driver-selectable drive modes, charging the battery typically, and utilizing regenerative braking, will get greater than 500 miles from the 9.7-gallon tank full of 87 octane gasoline.

On the town with a full battery cost provides essentially the most environment friendly driving. For most individuals, the 33 miles of electrical vary is greater than they want each day, which suggests they are going to not often be stopping to purchase gasoline.

The motor-driven energy steering was a bit gentle, however nonetheless supplied good highway really feel. Maneuvering on the town, together with parking, was straightforward with a decent 17-foot turning radius. The entrance MacPherson struts with a stabilizer bar and the rear multi-link suspension delivered a easy journey. Tire and wind noise had been low, and the engine in hybrid mode was quiet, besides when kicking in throughout heavy acceleration. In fact, when operating on electrical energy solely, there isn’t any engine noise as a result of no engine is operating. Appears apparent, however it wanted to be stated.

The 225/45 Continental ProContact all-season low rolling resistance tires, mounted on 18-inch alloy wheels, delivered dealing with that was direct with little physique roll, however are finest when on lengthy gas environment friendly runs on the open highway. Whereas there may be nothing sporty concerning the Niro PHEV, it had a really respectable 0-60 time of seven.2 seconds, which is a lot fast to merge into freeway site visitors.

With all this, how does it really deal with and journey? The front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive will not be provided) 2023 Niro PHEV weighs in at 3,336 kilos with a 57% entrance/43% rear distribution. The rear battery placement and a decrease journey peak end in higher than anticipated driving dynamics.

The burden placement, impartial rear suspension and wider tires, on the SX Touring mannequin we had been driving, smoothed out the journey absorbing most highway imperfections. The suspension is on the agency facet which lends to it being a bit sportier, however it might take swapping-out the tires for one thing extra aggressive to actually get a really feel for the way nicely it may deal with. The Niro PHEV will not be rated for towing, and the roof has a 220 pound load capability.

Clear Design

The Niro PHEV falls someplace between a hatchback and a small crossover. It has a clear and easy design. Exterior coloration decisions are Metal Grey, Graphite Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Snow White Pearl, Runway Pink, Fireplace Orange Metallic, Cityscape Inexperienced, Mineral Blue, and like ours, Mineral Blue with the Black Aero Blade.

The Aero Blade is a C-pillar trim piece that may be painted within the physique coloration at no cost, or in a wide range of contrasting colours, lile ours in black, as a $195 choice. The useful Aero Blade improves aero dynamics, wind noise and driving stability by way of an open channel within the entrance that enables air to enter the Aero Blade after which exit out the again. The door molding has small items directing the air circulation into the Aero Blade. Each little design aspect is vital for the stellar gas economic system of the Niro PHEV.

The signature Kia “tiger nostril” grille runs edge-to-edge, resulting in the swept again LED projector head and daytime operating lights, with LED foglights positioned within the backside fascia. The facet profile attracts a pleasant line to the A pillars, resulting in a gently sloping roof with rack rails, a shark fin antenna and an built-in spoiler over the rear hatch window.

The edges, with physique coloration door handles and energy folding and heated mirrors, are easy with contrasting black alongside the decrease doorways and fender arches, blacked-out rear quarter home windows, and the black Aero Blade. Machine-faced wheels with painted gloss black inserts give the hexagonal-design an important look.

The slender, boomerang-shaped horizontal LED taillights and energy liftgate with a small badge to establish the Niro PHEV as a plug-in hybrid, full the design.

Welcoming Inside

The usage of onerous plastic inside surfaces was not a shock, however is completely positive for a small automotive with a low base value. The inside is clear and uncluttered with wonderful visibility because the 6.3-inch floor clearance leads to a seating place with an outlook on the highway a bit greater than a sedan, however not as excessive as an SUV.

Clear Fleet Report was driving the Niro PHEV SX Touring mannequin with snug and supportive heated and ventilated entrance seats. All seats had been coated with SynTex, an artificial leather-based seat materials that’s delicate to the contact, resists spills and is straightforward to wash. The driving force seat is 10-way energy adjustable with lumbar and reminiscence, whereas the passenger will get 6-way guide changes. Entrance and rear head and leg room is roomy, even for 6-foot passengers.

The rear seat has a middle armrest with cup holders and is finest suited to two adults on longer journeys. The bottom of the entrance seats have distinctive seize handles to assist coming into and exiting the rear seats, and the entrance passenger seat has a USB-C port within the facet.

Rear storage options a big flat carpeted floor, made even bigger when the rear 60/40 split-folding seat is folded flat to 54.6 cubic-feet. There’s a hid storage compartment beneath the cargo ground to carry the cost twine. The boxy design permits for storing bigger objects.

The middle sprint within the Niro PHEV SX Touring got here with a ten.25-inch touchscreen housing the navigation and the 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, with a subwoofer. Leisure is thru AM/FM and SiriusXM, with USB ports, and smartphone integration through Bluetooth and Kia Connect, which included wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Bluetooth labored very nicely for voice recognition, and cell phone pairing was fast and simple.

Kia has a intelligent design that switches between the dual-zone local weather controls and infotainment controls. On the slender horizontal display screen beneath the primary contact display screen, there are capacitive contact factors for the temperature and fan, after which by urgent the up-arrow icon, converts the heater management knobs to quantity and channel knobs to regulate the radio. This area saver had a brief studying curve, rapidly exhibiting its advantages.

Consolation and comfort options embody an influence tilt and sliding sunroof, dual-zone automated local weather management with rear passenger vents, rain sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, rear view digicam, good key with push button begin/cease, digital parking brake, cargo cowl, carpeted ground mats ($155 choice), LED inside lights, driver and passenger energy home windows with automated up/down, energy door locks and a cargo cowl. The facility sunroof was a part of the SX Touring bundle.

Security

The Niro PHEV is obtainable with an in depth listing of normal and non-obligatory security options as a part of Kia Drivewise. Since a number of the options can be found on greater trim ranges and thru packages, we advise getting your automotive with as many superior driver help techniques (ADAS) as doable.

Security options out there on the Niro PHEV embody twin entrance, driver’s knee, front-seat facet, and entrance and rear side-curtain airbags, ahead emergency braking and collision warning, lane departure warning with lane hold and lane following help, stability management, blind spot monitoring, rear cross site visitors warning, park help with entrance and rear sensors, automobile stability administration, traction management, hill launch help, tire stress monitoring system and an engine immobilizer.

Pricing

The 2023 Niro PHEV is available in two trim ranges, with these base costs, together with the necessary the $1,295 vacation spot cost.

• EX                      $35,135
• SX Touring          $40,885

Clear Fleet Report drove the Niro PHEV SX Touring, with $850 in choices and the $1,295 vacation spot cost, the whole got here to $41,635.

Warranties

The 2023 Niro PHEV comes with these warranties:

• Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
• Battery – 10 years/100,000 miles
• Primary – 5 years/60,000 miles
• Roadside Help – 5 years/60,000 miles
• Corrosion – 10 years/Limitless miles        

Observations: 2023 Kia Niro PHEV

There’ll come a time when extra new vehicles are powered purely by electrical energy than gasoline. The bridge between that time is the plug-in hybrid electrical automobile, a expertise Kia has mastered with fashions such because the Sorento, Sportage and the Niro PHEV.

The 2023 Kia Niro PHEV is a powerful and virtually good small crossover. The gas economic system is stellar, the design doesn’t scream for consideration with its clear basic look, and comes from an organization providing the most effective guarantee in the marketplace.

It’s snug on lengthy highway journeys and simple to deal with and zip round in-town. On prime of this the Niro PHEV is competitively priced with small crossovers that don’t supply the identical options, security and guarantee, and even near the gas economic system. Go to your native Kia supplier and see for your self.

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Story and photographs by John Faulkner.

Different Compact PHEV SUVs

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Highway Check: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

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Disclosure:

Clear Fleet Report is loaned free check automobiles from automakers to judge, usually for every week at a time. Our highway checks are based mostly on this one-week drive of a brand new automobile. Due to this we don’t deal with points akin to long-term reliability or whole price of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new automobiles or expertise. As a part of these occasions we could also be provided free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of automobiles and information irrespective of those inducements.

Our focus is on automobiles that provide the most effective gas economic system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We additionally characteristic these environment friendly gas-powered automobiles which might be among the many prime mpg automobiles of their class. As well as, we intention to supply critiques and information on superior expertise and the choice gas automobile market. We welcome any suggestions from automobile house owners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for various viewpoints. Please tell us your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.