The Kia Niro is designed to help people make a first step toward electrification

It’s no secret that almost every car company is racing toward an electrified future. Kia is banking on its Niro crossover SUV not only to help the company make the transition and secure its place in the ever-changing automotive arena but also to encourage many people to take the first step into electrification.

“Kia has redesigned Niro to provide people with a clearer path to clean mobility. The range of eco-friendly powertrains will encourage even the most hesitant customers to make the switch to more sustainable forms of movement,” said Kie Europe President Jason Jeong.

By packing the Niro with enhancements that would make it more attractive to a wide range of car buyers, the South Korean automotive brand hopes to dominate the highly competitive crossover segment and offer its customers an electric vehicle that would suit them.

“The already popular Niro benefits from Kia’s latest tech advancements and can meet the mobility needs of all drivers, attracting new people to the brand. The current Niro family is Kia’s third best-seller, and the new version will further extend Niro’s position as a volume model within the Kia portfolio and help accelerate Kia’s global sales of eco-friendly vehicles to two million units in 2030,” Jeong said.

These enhancements begin with the low- and zero-emission powertrains made available to the Niro which includes a hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and battery electric (BEV). By allowing their customers to choose between different varieties of eco-friendly powertrains and simplifying the selection process, Kia hopes to draw more people into choosing their products.

The HEV and PHEV models will be using Kia’s 1.6-liter Smartstream gasoline engine mated to the brand’s second-generation six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The former is paired with a 32kW permanent magnet synchronous electric motor while the latter works in conjunction with a 62kW e-motor.

The BEV, on the other hand, will use a 64.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and electric motors that offer fast charging times with an outstanding range.

In line with the brand’s trifecta of green engines, Kia adds an array of sustainable options to the Niro’s raw material pool.

“Niro currently occupies an important position in the Kia lineup, providing an accessible electrified model at volume. It is a crucial model for Kia, and therefore it was a natural progression that, following our re-brand, Niro also received a re-brand of its own. The all-new Niro will offer existing customers the Kia heritage they value while also broadening the brand’s appeal to new environmentally-conscious buyers,” said Jeong.

Photos from Kia

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