Just over a year after the Kia Niro hybrid at the 2016 Chicago Motor Show, the Kia Niro plug-in hybrid debuted at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The more frugal variant of the eco-friendly SUV is on display at Auto Expo 2018.
The Kia Niro plug-in hybrid is 4,355 mm long, 1,805 mm wide and 1,545 mm tall. It has a 2,700 mm wheelbase. It pairs a 1.6-litre GDI engine with an 8.9 kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack that weighs 117 kg. The latter powers an electric motor that generates 60.5 PS and 17.3 kgf.m (170 Nm of torque). The combustion engine produces 105 PS and 15 kgf.m (147 Nm) of torque. This engine and the electric motor together deliver 141 PS and 27 kgf.m (265 Nm) of torque.
The Kia Niro plug-in is a front-wheel drive SUV. A 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends power to the wheels. The battery pack provides a zero-emissions driving range of 40 km and takes 2 hours 15 minutes to get fully charged. The maximum driving range using both petrol and the battery pack is 840 km. The plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers a fuel economy of 18.6 km/l. The electric motor consumes 5.1 kWh per kilometre.
The Kia Niro for Kia is like what the Hyundai Ioniq is Hyundai, a dedicated electrified vehicle with multiple powertrains. While full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants are already on sale, a pure electric variant is on the way. Its road testing has commenced and market launch will reportedly take place in 2019. The Kia Niro is not an India-bound model.
