Kia Niro hybrid SUV is the Korean automaker’s first-ever dedicated hybrid vehicle.
Scheduled to go on sale in the US market and Canada at the beginning of 2017, the hybrid offers bold, crossover style while providing impressive fuel economy of up to 50 mpg combined!
Here we have the very-first official details about this cool-looking Kia hybrid crossover, including the official release date, mpg figures, color options, engine specs and dimensions.
Let’s have a closer look at what the Niro is and what kind of hybrid drivetrain technology does it feature under its hood.
What kind of a hybrid is the new Kia Niro?
The all-new Kia Niro is the automaker’s first-ever dedicated hybrid electric vehicle. Simply told, it’s a Toyota Prius-like stand-alone hybrid vehicle that looks like a crossover or SUV.
This exciting Kia hybrid is relatively small compared to an average American vehicle. Still, it’s far from being the smallest Kia vehicle offered in the United States and Canada.
As a matter of fact, Kia’s dedicated hybrid slots in-between the highly-popular Soul and Sportage crossovers with full length of 163 in. and 176.4 in., respectively.
Official release date Kia Niro
The new Kia Niro release date is approaching fast, with the US sales scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2017.
Published here is the list of the official Kia Niro release dates and launching events:
- Kia Niro US-market release date: first quarter of 2017
- Kia Niro release date (Canada): first quarter of 2017
- European launch date: already went on sale
Kia has also revealed it plans to launch the Niro plug-in hybrid car. The Niro PHEV Will be released in US in the second half of 2017 and will be sold as the 2018 model year vehicle.
- Also confirmed is the fact that the Niro will also be launched as an all-electric vehicle!
Kia Niro mpg ratings & engine specs
The new Kia Niro is powered by a 1.6L direct-injected “Kappa” GDI gasoline engine which generates 103 horsepower and 108 pound-feet of torque.
Mated to the engine is a 6-speed DCT (dual-clutch automatic transmission). Also included in the “mix” is the 32-kilowatt electric motor and a 1.56 kilowatt-hour lithium-polymer battery pack.
Kia has noted earlier that this hybrid vehicle will achieve around 50 mpg US. We have now official mpg figures of the Niro hybrid and they are as follows.
Please, note that the Kia Niro fuel economy ratings depend on the trim level, but the model can achieve up to 52 mpg in the city, 49 mpg on highways and 50 mpg combined.
Related news about Kia Niro
For fun: our readers oftenly mistype the “Niro” name writing the following phrases in Google:
- Kia Nitro
- Kia Nero
Thanks for sharing the latest Kia Niro news here. When can we expect the Niro PHEV to be released in Canada?
Will the Niro be built in the West Point, GA plant?
How high will the clearance by on the Kia Niro? Higher than a Prius I hope!
50mpg!??! That can’t be right can it?
When is the niro coming to San Diego Kearny Pearson Kia I want one I want to be the first one to buy one please tell me
When can we expect the AWD…especially in Canadian climate.
When will the Niro be available at Cowboy KIA in Conroe, Texas?
When will it be available in Sherbrooke QC
It’s true!! I have the Kia Niro and so far I have averaged between 49-52 mpg!! I love absolutely everything about this vehicle.
I bought one Monday, FE model, first fill-up was 3.68 gallons for 287 miles do the math. I drive from Lake Los Angeles to LA every day. My AVERAGE is going to be low 70’s it looks like. The 50 is a joke if you drive right–I get 60 average coming back 2600 feet climb from LA to home every day so far. And I go through Santa Clarita–actually helps this car’s mileage, cost me 3-6 mpg on the Golf TDI I turned in last week.
I love it. Want even better mileage? Hyundai Ioniq car uses exact same drive train, rated at 59–you could possibly average 80…not a joke.