COVER Used-car guide: Kia Niro

Which one?

IF your journeys are generally fairly local, any Niro is desirable, but for longer or faster trips, the PHEV or e-Niro are better suited, although the latter is more expensive. Indeed, unless you have a cheap energy deal it might be that the e-Niro is too costly to run, so do the maths before buying.

All Niros are packed with kit, the entrylevel 2 having 16-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, voice recognition, adaptive cruise control, auto headlights and wipers, privacy glass and rear parking sensors.

The PHEV 2 also has front sensors, which are standard on the Niro 3 along with 18in wheels, navigation, leather, plus heating for the steering wheel and front seats.

The Niro 4 has LED headlights, heated outer rear seats, a sunroof and a JBL hi-fi.

Alternatives

WHEREAS the current Niro has lots of competition, the original was up against few hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric rivals.

For example, the BMW 225xe Active Tourer PHEV is more of an MPV than an SUV, but the Hyundai Kona Electric was a direct rival to the e-Niro. The MINI Countryman was another PHEV of the time, while the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is readily available thanks to lots of fleet sales.

The Toyota C-HR is a self-charging hybrid that’s plentiful and hugely competent; this is closely related to the Lexus UX, which is more luxurious and more expensive.

More recent arrivals include the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Renault E-Tech, which are hybrids rather than PHEVs.

Electric alternatives include the Peugeot e-2008, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Citroen e-C4, plus the bigger Skoda Enyaq.

Interior

THERE’S very little to separate the Niro’s dashboard from the e-Niro’s, the key difference being that the latter has a rotary selector for the gearchange. Other than that, all Niros have a clearly laid-out dashboard that’s finished to a high standard, with a responsive infotainment system and configurable instrumentation.

Cabin space is also good, with plenty of room for four adults plus a child. The Niro has an acceptable 382/1,380 litres of boot capacity; in the PHEV this falls to 324/1,322 litres, while the e-Niro boosts it to 451 or 1,405 litres.

Partwatch

Dealer price Independentprice

Part

Frontbrake pads(axle set) £76.80 £72.14

Frontbrake discs(pair) £165.60 £154.68-£184.58 Door mirror glass(electric) £63.00 £12.99 Frontwiper set £27.00 £25.48

Prices for a 2018 Niro 1.6 Hybrid. Dealer figures supplied by Kia (kia.com/uk). Independent prices from EuroCarParts (eurocarparts.com). *Price from carwingmirrors.co.uk

Recalls

THE Niro has been recalled twice so far, the first time being in August 2018, when 5,012 cars were affected. These were all built between November 2016 and September 2017, and they left the factory with poorly made actuators in the clutch housing. As a result, there was a chance that the oil seal within the transmission could become damaged, leading to fluid leaks, which in turn could lead to electrical short circuits. The solution was to repair or replace the actuator.

The most recent recall came in May 2019 and this time 5,021 Niros were affected, once again made between November 2016 and September 2017. This time the problem was overheating within the Power Assembly Relay inside the battery packs of hybrid and plug-in hybrid Niros. New relays were fitted if necessary.

EQUIPMENT Sat-nav can guide you to the nearest fuel or charging station when you run low on available range

Verdict

THE Niro and e-Niro have won a slew of awards since they were introduced, and we were among many publications to lavish praise on these multi-talented family cars.

In 2019 DrivingElectric named the e-Niro its Electric Car of the Year; the same year it was our Affordable Electric Car of the Year. So it was no surprise that when we pitted a Niro PHEV against a plug-in hybrid MINI Countryman, the Kia came out on top; the result was the same in our head-to-head against the Hyundai Kona.

When we ran an e-Niro on our fleet, we concluded: “The Kia e-Niro is a great family car that happens to be electric. It’s better to drive than many petrol cars, and way cheaper to run. ” Overlook the Niro at your peril.

Contacts

Official kia.com/uk Forums niroforums.co.uk kiaownersclub.co.uk kianiroforum.com