The redesigned Kia Niro made its official debut at the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show this week, arriving with funky new exterior styling and a range of efficient electrified powertrains.
The new Kia Niro adopts the Korean automaker's new corporate front fascia design, which we've already seen applied to the latest iterations of the Kia Sportage and Sorento. A two-tone body with contrasting black elements further sets it apart from the current Niro, while new boomerang-shaped taillights give the crossover more presence when viewed from behind.
Inside, the new Kia Niro features an open and airy cabin with a large infotainment display, which connects with the digital instrument panel to create a single, uniform widescreen that spans from the driver's side a-pillar to the leading edge of the passenger seat. The cabin is also made up of a variety of recycled materials in what Kia says is "a clear statement," of its commitment to sustainability. For example, the headliner is made from recycled wallpaper, while the seats are made from a eucalyptus leaf derivative.
In addition to the redesigned exterior and cabin, Kia is also quite proud of the Niro's new ‘Greenzone Drive Mode’, which is offered as standard equipment on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. This system uses navigation data to detect when the Niro PHEV is near a residential area, school zone or hospital and automatically puts it into its all-electric drive mode. It also recognizes the driver’s frequented places, such as their home or office, and will register them in the navigation system as a "green zone."
Kia says the new Niro will be available with regular hybrid, PHEV and all-electric powertrains starting from next year, but stopped short of providing further details on the vehicle's engine offerings. The current model features a 1.6L four-cylinder engine in the hybrid and PHEV variants, while the EV model utilizes a single front-mounted electric motor and 64 kWh battery pack.
Kia has yet to disclose pricing and fuel economy figures for the new Niro, although we expect these numbers to be released as its 2022 arrival approaches.
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