3/17/2023 0 Comments The expanse wallpaperThe Niro PHEV takes that basic powertrain setup, but adds a more powerful motor – 83 hp, which is not only greater than the HEV’s but 23 hp more than the previous-generation PHEV. The electric motor is always present when you lay into the throttle, providing smooth electric torque and minimizing how much you hear the rather thrashy small-displacement inline-four. It’ll even maintain a lower gear for an extended period of time when you pull on a paddle shifter. Like other Kia/Hyundai hybrids, this one benefits from a geared transmission that makes it feel a lot more normal to drive than anything with one of Toyota’s CVT-like hybrid transmissions. If you’re wondering, most versions of the Prius return 52 combined. The old Niro topped out at 50 combined or 43 on ritzier trims. Estimated fuel economy is 53 mpg city, 54 mpg highway and 53 mpg combined in the LX, EX and SX trims, and 53/45/49 with the EX Touring and SX Touring. The battery also packs more energy, and most importantly, the 2023 Niro hybrid is more efficient. Total system output is the same 139 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque as before, though a lower curb weight likely contributes to the 0-62-mph time being reduced from a glacial 11.5 seconds to a snail-like 10.4. It is once again a combination of a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated inline-four (unlike the Sportage’s turbo) and a 43-horsepower electric motor integrated with a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The 2023 Kia Niro hybrid powertrain is basically carried over from before. The Niro EV and HEV offer a maximum of 22.8 cubic feet behind the back seat when utilizing the lower cargo floor position, while the PHEV has only 19.4 cubic feet since the combo of big battery and gas tank eliminates that lower cargo floor position. The cargo space expands by 4 cubic-feet, but is still less than all of the above Kia SUVs. Kia had not announced the exact combinations of exterior paint, blade color and trim level at the time of this writing. The expanse of lower trim is usually gloss black, with the exception of the EV, which is eligible for the silver trim seen in the below photos. It will be available in gloss black or body color in the PHEV and HEV, while the Niro EV gets the choice of Steel Grey (pictured) or black. There’s more tastefully applied LED lighting at the rear, including the new high-mounted taillights that bracket the Niro’s most notable styling element: the Aero Blade. The PHEV and HEV differ slightly from the EV (note its nose-like, center charge door), but the common combination of narrow upper grille slit, LED lighting cluster and larger lower grille create a cool, streamlined look. The new styling alone should be enough to keep those fortunes ascendant. In fact, the previous-generation Niro enjoyed its best sales last year despite its advanced age and looking awfully frumpy compared to the rest of Kia’s sleek SUV fleet. At the same time, demand for hybrid cars has diminished, opening the door further for what was once an oddball in the segment. The demand for electrified SUVs, including ones made by Kia, has been driven skyward by soaring gas prices, increasing environmental awareness and better products. Yet the market environment has dramatically changed. The recipe is just the same as it was previously: a small crossover SUV offered with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric powertrains. – The timing couldn’t possibly be better for an all-new, next-generation 2023 Kia Niro.
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