AFTER quenching an virtually insatiable demand in Europe, Kia Australia’s (KAU) first-ever foray into electrification has lastly landed Down Beneath within the type of the Niro; a compact household hauler providing native SUV patrons the selection of hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or battery-electric (BEV) motoring.
Resembling one thing of a combination between the outgoing Cerato and a Sportage, six Niro variants are being provided right here throughout two totally different trim ranges with the vary opening from $39,990 plus on-road prices for the Hybrid S and lengthening as much as $65,990 for the EV Sport.
With preliminary estimates sitting at round 100 gross sales monthly throughout the board, KAU is anticipating the hybrid variants to be the volume-sellers and account for round 70 per cent of whole Niro gross sales with the BEVs (20) and PHEVs (10) making up the remaining, in that order.
Chatting with GoAuto on the digital media launch of the Niro, KAU chief working officer Damien Meredith stated it was necessary to point out customers the depth of know-how the model has at its disposal.
“It was actually necessary for us to make a press release that we’ve acquired the broadness of know-how to go ‘bang, bang, bang’ and convey these into market right away,” he stated.
“What Niro does is it offers us a stream into what’s going to happen with EVs, in order that’s actually, actually necessary.
“It’s helped us during the last couple of years, put together our supplier community as a result of they knew EVs had been coming, they knew Niro was coming … it’s a extremely necessary automotive and it does put together us for the way forward for EVs.”
Laying on the coronary heart of each the hybrid and PHEV variants is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine creating a modest 77kW/147Nm which is then supplemented by a ‘everlasting magnetic’ electrical motor, with drive despatched solely to the entrance wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.
Within the hybrids, the electrical motor develops 32kW of energy and 170Nm of torque, drawing its energy from a 1.56kWh lithium-ion battery.
The PHEVs up the ante each when it comes to contributed energy and battery capability; producing 45kW/170Nm courtesy of an 8.9kWh battery pack.
Regardless of the additional energy generated by the PHEV’s electrical motor, each powertrains develop a mixed 104kW/265Nm when all is claimed and achieved.
Claimed gasoline economic system for the hybrid sits at 3.8 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle whereas the PHEV powertrain will reportedly sip simply 1.3L/100km.
To assist profit from the drivetrain’s versatility, the PHEVs have been fitted with three distinct drive modes – automated, EV and hybrid – in addition to the standard sport setting for the transmission.
Automated mode leaves the selection of EV and Hybrid mode as much as the automotive depending on the driving circumstances, EV mode predictably makes use of electrical energy solely (nonetheless the petrol engine will chime in if a heap extra energy is required) whereas Hybrid mode is devoted to sustaining battery cost.
KAU claims the PHEV will cowl as much as 58km on pure electrical energy in accordance the NEDC cycle.
Given it shares the identical primary structure and BEV drivetrain, it ought to come as no shock to seek out the Niro EV matches the Kona Electrical tit for tat when it comes to battery capability (64kWh) in addition to peak energy and torque (150kW/395Nm).
One space the Niro can’t fairly compete with its Hyundai cousin nonetheless is efficient vary – KAU is claiming the Niro will cowl as much as 455km (WLTP) on a single cost whereas the lately up to date Kona will cowl as much as 484km.
This vary deficit may be chalked as much as the Niro EV’s drastically bigger proportions, being 215mm longer (4375mm), 5mm wider (1805mm) and 5mm taller (1570mm), all of which inevitably results in a better kerb weight.
Whereas it loses out on vary, the larger physique means the Niro affords a good bit extra room contained in the cabin than the Kona Electrical, with 451 litres of boot area and as much as 1405L when the rear seats are folded down due to the underfloor packaging of the battery.
Identical to the hybrid and PHEV powertrains, the BEV Niro channels its energy solely to the entrance wheels nonetheless in basic EV model, it utilises a single discount gear to ship the motor’s energy to the bottom.
When the time involves recharge, KAU says the Niro EV will cost from empty to 80 per cent in round 54 minutes when hooked as much as a 100kW DC quick charger or an hour and quarter-hour when utilizing a 50kW unit.
For many who wish to cost their automobiles at residence, a full cost will take 29 hours when plugged into the mains through an ICCB Trickle Charger whereas a 7.2kW AC residence charger will reportedly slash that point all the way down to 9 hours and 35 minutes.
Not like the overwhelming majority of KAU’s line-up, the Niro vary has not been gifted an Australian-specific suspension and chassis tune with product planning basic supervisor Roland Rivero citing how deep the Niro is into its mannequin lifecycle, with a brand new mannequin due in round 12 months.
“Being introduced pretty late in its mannequin life, it (a neighborhood chassis tune) simply wasn’t possible from an engineering useful resource perspective,” he stated.
“On this occasion, we’ve adopted the European tune.”
Mr Rivero added that the delay within the Niro’s arrival in Australia was all the way down to the prioritising of different international markets with extra stringent emissions rules.
“International demand was exceeding manufacturing capability and in that occasion, headquarters prioritised the areas which have CO2 rules, being Europe, North America in addition to the Korean home market itself, however we’ve been lucky sufficient as of late to open it up and get some extra provide,” he stated.
Like different manufacturers, KAU remains to be scrambling to supply extra inventory with wait occasions for members of the SUV line-up specifically nonetheless approaching the six-month mark, nonetheless it assured GoAuto there was round two months’ value of Niro inventory already right here on Aussie soil.
By way of commonplace gear, the 2 trim ranges stay pretty constant throughout the three powertrains nonetheless there are a couple of variations right here and there, particularly relating to the EV.
Commonalities throughout the entire S variants embrace regenerative braking, keyless entry, leather-accented seats with eight-way energy adjustment for the motive force, leather-based steering wheel, automated headlights, LED daytime working and tail-lights, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, multi-connection Bluetooth, digital radio, a reversing digital camera, local weather management, six-speaker sound system, photo voltaic glass and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster show.
As for the variations, the hybrid and PHEV variants each roll on aerodynamically optimised 16-inch alloy wheels whereas the EV flaunts 17s and has a rotary gear selector as a substitute of the standard lever fitted to the others.
The EV continues standing aside with 4 drive modes (regular, eco, eco+ and sport), paddle shifters for the adjustable regenerative braking system, an electrochromatic rearview mirror and single-zone air-con.
Befitting of their larger value tags, the Sports activities up the ante with LED headlights, a much bigger 10.25-inch infotainment system with satellite tv for pc navigation, paddle shifters for the hybrid and PHEV, premium seats, alloy sports activities pedals and categorical entrance home windows.
As soon as once more there are a couple of variations between the powertrains with the Hybrid Sport scoring 18-inch alloys and the EV Sport nabbing an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system.
Normal security gear throughout the vary consists of seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking with automotive, pedestrian and bicycle owner detection, lane maintain help, lane comply with help, good cruise management and driver consideration alert with the Sports activities including blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.
All Niros boast 15,000km service intervals and are lined by KAU’s nationwide seven-year/limitless kilometre guarantee, nonetheless the batteries and electrical motors are solely lined as much as 150,000km.
2021 Kia Niro pricing*
| Hybrid S (a) | $39,990 |
| Hybrid Sport (a) | $43,890 |
| PHEV S (a) | $46,590 |
| PHEV Sport (a) | $50,490 |
| EV S (a) | $62,590 |
| EV Sport (a) | $65,990 |
*Excludes on-road prices
