Hybrids at their finest: Kia’s 2023 family-friendly, $29K Niro gets 53 mpg

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The Kia Niro is a kind of vehicles that simply continues to impress us. It’s now in its second era, with barely bolder—positively extra angular—styling however nonetheless the identical extremely environment friendly powertrain choices. There’s a totally electrical model, and a plug-in hybrid, too, however immediately’s evaluation is of the parallel hybrid variant. Ars spent an hour or two driving one final October, however we have now had per week of residing with a 2023 Niro at residence, and if something, our respect for this strong little hybrid has solely grown.

Kia calls the Niro a crossover however parked subsequent to a neighbor’s Volvo XC40, it is apparent how a lot decrease the Niro rides. For all intents and functions, you’ll be able to consider it as a household hatchback, the form of automobile that conquered Europe within the ’80s however all the time struggled right here within the US. Kia’s design workforce opted for extra straight strains for their second tackle the Niro, however it’s not a design that appears or feels threatening, not like a lot of the steel that comes from Detroit nowadays.

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There are some fascinating design particulars that stored catching my eye. The headlight cluster has some reasonably intricate detailing, as does the flip sign embedded ultimately of both facet mirror. Our check automobile got here with a contrasting coloration on the bodywork behind the rear doorways—extra than simply cladding, this additionally homes a purposeful aeroblade that sends air by it to scrub up the move at the rear of the automobile. I’ve began seeing Niros round city with body-colored aeroblades now, so that you all the time have that possibility in the event you’re not into two-tone vehicles.

The Niro’s form generates a drag coefficient of 0.29. A decade in the past this may be thought-about fairly spectacular, however the onslaught of ever-more aero-efficient EVs over the previous couple of years has actually redefined what it means to be low drag, notably for a manufacturing automobile.

Being in a position to slip extra simply by the air helps extra than simply gas effectivity, it additionally has some profit for what they name aeroacoustics. That’s in all probability extra essential within the Niro EV, since that has no inner combustion engine to drown out any wind noise, however even this model turns off its engine as usually as it could (until you are in sport mode), and the comparatively quiet cabin is appreciated.