2016 Kia Niro first drive

The Kia Niro may look like a fairly conventional crossover, but underneath is a brand new platform and a very eco-friendly hybrid powertrain. Shared with the Hyundai Ioniq, it promises sub-100g/km CO2 emissions thanks to the efficient 1.6-litre Atkinson Cycle petrol engine with electrical assistance.

Combined power output is 139bhp, which is channelled through a standard six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox – there’s no CVT gearbox here. Thanks to the power-dense nature of the lithium-ion battery, it’s able to sit beneath the rear seats so it doesn't reduce boot space. 

Size wise, the Niro is a bit bigger than the Cee’d hatchback, but smaller than the Kia Sportage SUV. Although prices are yet to be confirmed, it won’t be the cheapest crossover on the market due to the hybrid powertrain. Even so, it should be a good couple of thousand pounds cheaper than a basic Prius.

The question is, have they pulled it off? Well, yes and no. On a mixed test route in and around Frankfurt, the Niro seemed to steer better than any recent Kia product we’ve tried. On the motorway, the car tracked straight and true without needing the constant correction that other models from the Korean company require.

Sadly, clear roads and corners were in short supply on our brief drive, so on-the-limit impressions will have to wait. What we can say is that the Niro resists roll well and doesn’t take much persuasion to get its front tyres squealing. Thank the low rolling resistance tyres on the 16in wheels of our test car for that.

Of course, no one is going to buy a Niro for driving thrills. More to the point, the car proves comfortable for the most part, although it does transmit shoddier road surfaces into the interior more than some rivals. This, of course, comes with the traditional caveat of needing to get one back in the UK before we can pass full judgement.

That said, the electric motor and petrol engine work together smoothly with only the briefest of hesitations every now and then. Kia has worked hard to reduce noise and vibration from the four-cylinder engine and it shows. Listen carefully and you can hear it fire up, but only just.

Step out of a diesel car (you can't get anything but the petrol hybrid in the Kia) and into the Niro, and it’s the lack of vibration through the controls that you’ll really notice; it’s very refined under normal use. The engine does start to sound thrashy near the top of the rev range, though.

Still, the use of a six-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox means you avoid the constant drone that blights CVT hybrids, such as the Prius and Outlander PHEV. There’s even the option to change gears yourself by knocking the gearlever backwards and forwards.

Inside, you’ll find a dashboard that should be familiar to anyone who has been inside a modern Kia recently. There’s both a strong family resemblance and a similar mix of materials too.

That means plenty of squidgy plastic on the top of the dash and front doors along with a steering wheel and gearlever that feel good too. Areas you don’t interact with as much are hewn from harder plastics, but they look decent enough and will no doubt prove hardy – after all, the Niro still gets Kia’s seven-year warranty.