With a background of classic rock played by Chicago high school students, Kia Motors introduced its all-new 2017 Niro Hybrid in the small utility vehicle category, aka CUVs, that is now more crowded than the cafeteria at lunch time. The Niro joins the lineup of Kia’s so-called EcoDynamics environmentally friendly category with an aim to triple the brand’s global green car line by 2020.
Nearly every car maker has or will have an entry with CUV prices starting under $30,000 and heading north. Kia officials say it will strike a balance between a functional design and efficient hybrid when it launches this fall. A combined fuel economy of 50 mpg by the EPA is projected.
Styled at Kia’s design centers in California, and Korea, the Niro has wide and low proportions with a long roofline and short overhangs that give it – in design babble – an athletic profile. Contours on the hood lend “visual interest,” along with voluminous wheel arches, rocker cladding, roof rails, and a rear skid plate. Actually, the design is a 180-degree reversal of the expressive direction the Soul presented.
Interior roominess comes by way of the Niro’s 106.3-inch wheelbase, body height, and wide stance. Seats with increased pad density in the cushions aim to achieve a comfortable ride.
A 240-volt lithium ion battery is stored underneath the rear seats to increase cabin and cargo space and allow a flat load floor. Noise suppression comes from careful body sealing, and the use of expanding foam inside the A- and B-pillars. An acoustic windshield glass and carefully shaped side mirrors mitigate wind noise.
Engineers minimized system noise and vibration at the source with specially designed engine mounts, equal-length driveshafts, and even added a damper inside the steering wheel hub to minimize vibrations felt in the steering
Weight reduction was a critical Niro development aspect, and in addition to the body, AHSS was also used to engineer other elements, including lightweight seat frames. Further, engineers were able to bring down the overall weight by using aluminum for the hood, tailgate and several suspension elements including the front lower control arms, front and rear knuckles, and in the brake calipers. Even the parking brake pedal contributes to the weight savings through the use of fiber-reinforced plastic construction.
A new Kappa 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine marks the first combination of the Atkinson Cycle, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), GDI and a long-stroke-narrow-bore specification. It’s dedicated to hybrid applications, A 43-horsepower electric motor is transmission-mounted and works in tandem with the gasoline engine to produce 146 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque.
Niro, like many Kia products, will come with blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, smart cruise control, lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking.
Technology will also help save fuel by coaching the driver on when to coast and brake. “Predictive energy control” uses the onboard navigation system and cruise control to anticipate topographical changes on the road ahead, determining when it is optimum to recharge the battery and when to expend stored energy.
Other features include Smart Air Intake, which reduces drag by carefully managing the intake of outside air for the HVAC system, and also an accompanying auto defog system that prevents condensation from building on the glass by monitoring cabin air conditions and adjusting the A/C compressor.
Kia’s telematics system aims to keep Niro drivers connected at all times, with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and 14 telematics services. The enhanced setup comes with up to 8 GB of music storage, access to onscreen apps such as Pandora and Soundhound, along with Wi-Fi tethering capability. All this is displayed on a small 7-inch touch screen.
“The Niro hits the sweet spot by offering the best combination of outstanding mpg, an engaging driving experience, utility, and most importantly, a stunning design that doesn’t shout ‘hybrid,’” claims Orth Hedrick, vice president product planning KMA.
“The subcompact CUV market continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments in the world, and the Niro offers a uniquely alluring yet practical package that consumers haven’t seen before.”
