Look out Toyota Prius, there’s a new hybrid in town. The all-new 2017 Kia Niro is a no-compromise vehicle that combines driving enjoyment with eye-catching design, functional utility and hybrid efficiency.
The Niro doesn’t look like other hybrids, its eye-catching design is athletic – strong, sculpted and modern – and strikes the perfect balance between the hybrid-electric vehicle and CUV segments.
The Niro’s fuel economy is up to 50 miles per gallon combined. In fact, during our test, the Niro FE base model we drove achieved 55.4 mpg in the rolling South Texas ranchlands.
The innovative hybrid system features a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with Sport Mode, to provide a more dynamic and engaging driving experience while delivering extremely efficient operation.
The instrument panel is uncluttered and clean, with colorful and informative gauges at the forefront and perfectly positioned primary and secondary controls handy.
The Niro is offered with a suite of advanced driver assistance and convenience technologies, including Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Lane Change Assist (LCA); Smart Cruise Control (SCC); Lane Departure Warning (LDW); and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).
The Kia Niro is available in four models: base FE starting at nearly $23,000; the mid-level LX and fully-loaded EX starting out at $25,700 and the top-of-the-line Touring model costing just under $30,000.
