CARS OF THE WORLD

Kia Niro 2022.

The Kia Niro crossover has changed its image in a new generation, but retains three of the settings.

The characteristics of the second-generation crossover have not yet been revealed, but the brand has already announced that, as before, the model will be offered only with electrified units.

The Kia Niro compact crossover debuted in 2016 as a «simple» hybrid (HEV).

A year later, this «five-door» was joined by a rechargeable PHEV hybrid variant, and in 2018 the range was joined by an electric car (EV), which, by the way, was the first mass-market fully «green» parkettes of the brand.

Two years ago, hybrids underwent a restyling, borrowing some stylistic solutions from the electric car.

Europeans especially like crossovers: according to the statistics of CarSalesBase, in 2020 in the Old World sold 77,830 units (+36%), following three quarters of this year — 67,336 units (+21%).

For comparison, in the home market Niro last year sold 21,239 copies (-19%; hereinafter the company’s data), in January-September 2021 it sold 13,855 units (-17%).

Nevertheless, the first demonstration of the new generation model took place in its native Korea — the premiere was held at the Seoul Mobility Show.

It is officially announced that, like its predecessor, the «second» Niro will be available in three versions (HEV, PHEV and EV), but the company has not yet told about the technology.

The new crossover looks more aggressive than the previous model, the appearance is based on the concept Kia HabaNiro, introduced in 2019.

From show car production parkettes got «broken» diode running lights (they are called «heartbeat» in Kia), upward-rear headlights and deaf rear pillars, painted in contrasting colors (the predecessor has windows).

The electric car’s «tricks» are a plug in place of the radiator grille with its own pattern and a hatch for the charging connector located in the front.

The dimensions of Kia Niro of the second generation have not been revealed yet. Length of the previous crossover is 4355 mm (purely electric version — 4375 mm), wheelbase — 2700 mm. Indicators of HabaNiro concept are 4430 and 2830 mm, respectively.

Inside — two-spoke steering wheel, hidden under a single glass, a virtual «dashboard» and multimedia touchscreen system, and Niro received a sensor control «climate», which has separate washers (as in other recent models of the brand).

Chairs are now thinner, in the headrests of the front seats built hangers.

The interior trim uses environmentally friendly materials. For example, the ceiling trim is made of recycled wallpaper, and the seats are upholstered in a fabric made of eucalyptus leaf fibers.

The hybrids have a new Greenzone Drive Mode: the trucks automatically switch to the electric drive in «green» zones, that is, in residential areas, near schools or hospitals.

The Niro determines these zones based on navigator data.

Recall that the installation of previous hybrid crossover includes «atmospheric» 1.6 GDI (105 hp), the total capacity of these versions — 141 hp, while the «simple» Niro HEV equipped with 44 hp electric motor and a battery of 1.56 kW / h, and PHEV — 61 hp engine and a battery capacity of 8.9 kW / h.

The base «electric» of the first generation has an electric motor rated at 136 hp and a battery of 39.2 kW * h (range — 289 km on the cycle WLTP), the top electric car offered with a 204-horsepower engine and a battery capacity of 64 kW * h (range — 455 km).

The five-door has only front-wheel drive.

Hybrid versions of the new Kia Niro will enter the market in the first quarter of 2022, electric car will be on sale a little later.

In Russia the previous family is not presented, the brand did not announce plans to bring to us compacts of the second generation.

In the meantime, Kia does intend to sell «green» cars in Russia: an EV6 crossover hatch should come to us.