Kia Niro First Edition review: High quality contender let down by some extravagant alloy wheels - lithium ion battery pack

Kia ticked not one box but two boxes with the new Niro.
It is not only a hybrid but also a crossover, so by hitting both market sectors at the same time, it should have a viable seller.
How does reality match theory?
Niro has benefited a lot from a new platform designed for hybrid and electric-powered trains. The lithium-
Ion battery pack is located behind the rear seat to power the 43 horsepower motor.
This is a 1 join. 6-
Each liter of gasoline engine provides the torque claimed to be 139bhp and 195lb feet.
Happily, the Korean manufacturer avoided matching it with the usual CVT transmission, but added a sixspeed dual-Clutch automatic box.
Our test vehicle, the first version, runs on 18in alloy and motion tires at the top of the tree.
When you go in, the image of the movement will be strengthened, because although it is advertised as a crossover, you are sitting very low and more like an ordinary car than an SUV.
However, the cottage is comfortable once you get in, and the people in front or back have nice space.
Despite the battery pack, there is also a lot of room to boot.
The driver in front has a smart, fairly stylish dashboard, everything is clear and easy to use.
The quality feels high and all the signals are good.
If you are just drifting in a very quiet and exquisite place in Niro.
Of course, it likes to work in Eco mode, so shift ahead and the throttle response is muted.
You can switch to sports if you want, but after trying it a few times, you may not want it.
All you do is narrow the range of available without obvious gains.
The problem with the first version is that these wheels and tires not only narrow the range, but also reduce the quality of driving, steering, etc.
It feels like the car is really designed to run in two lower decorations, which have 16 rims and narrower tires.
Put on these, you will get 55 mpg instead of the 48 mpg on the bigger tires and the gold.
Although there are no exciting options, you will also get a better and more responsive driving experience.
This version is close to 27 k and is hard to recommend.
If you go to a lower one
Then the spec 2 model makes more sense.
Especially now your salary is less than 23.
In the case of sub-groups of 100g/km and low insurance, it began to pile up.
Kia Niro First editionprice26, 995engineering 4cyls straight line, 1580cc, Atkinson cycle gasoline;
Plus the 43 hp electric motor power139bhp at 5700 rpm (total system output), 1000-
Gearbox 6-2400 rpm (total output of first gear system only)spd twin-
Clutch automickerb weight1587 kgs top speed101mph0-62mph11. 1secEconomy64.
17% competitors: Toyota Prius; 2 mpg (combined) CO2/tax band101g/km;