Yahoo Autos 2023 Kia Niro Makes U.S. Debut, Includes EV with 253 Miles of Range
The North American version of the 2023 Kia Niro has made its debut at the 2022 New York auto show.
Hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, and EV versions will be offered, with the EV boasting a 253-mile driving range.
The hybrid model is said to be targeting a 53-mpg combined rating from the EPA, and the plug-in hybrid claims a 33-mile electric driving range from its 11.1-kWh battery pack.
Kia unveiled the 2023 Kia Niro lineup today at the New York auto show, including an EV model with 253 miles of driving range. While we've seen the redesigned Niro already, we haven't seen the U.S.-spec version or received info on the PHEV and EV variants. But luckily the crossover's brash new styling carries over unchanged from global market variants.
The standard powertrain will continue to be a hybrid setup that consists of a 139-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, an electric motor, and front-wheel drive. Kia says this version of the Niro should receive a 53-mpg combined estimate from the EPA, which is 3 mpg higher than the outgoing model with the same powertrain.
A plug-in-hybrid model will also be offered that uses the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder but adds a more powerful electric motor and an 11.1-kWh battery pack. All-electric driving range should be around 33 miles per charge, according to Kia. The company also says that the Niro PHEV can recharge its battery completely in under three hours if it's hooked up to a Level 2 charger.
For those looking to go electric, there will still be a Niro EV this time around. Like the current model, it uses a 201-hp electric motor and a 64.8-kWh battery pack, but range is boosted to a claimed 253 miles per charge. The Niro EV will support DC fast-charging and is said to be able to recharge its battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 45 minutes on such a connection.
All three models have a more sculptural look inside and out, with interiors that utilize sustainable materials. More tech is embedded within the Niro's new look, too, including newly standard driver-assistance features such as pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving feature will be optional on all three models. The system uses information from the Niro's navigation system as well as onboard sensors to provide an additional layer of capability to the adaptive cruise control. We've tried the system out on other Kia and Hyundai products and it works fairly well, although it's not a completely hands-off affair.
The interior should be more spacious than before, as the redesigned Niro has grown in length, width, and height, a boon for buyers who found the last-generation car a bit too snug. Kia says the 2023 Niro hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV will go on sale this summer.
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