2017 Kia Niro Quick Drive | Consumer Reports
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 бер 2017
- The all-new Kia Niro is trying to break the Toyota Prius' dominant position in the hybrid market. With a lower starting price than the Prius, the Niro has high hopes of becoming a top fuel economy contender.
For more on the cars mentioned in this video:
2016 Toyota Prius Quick Drive: • 2016 Toyota Prius Quic...
Toyota Prius Gets Record-Setting 52 MPG: • Toyota Prius Gets Reco...
Check out www.ConsumerReports.org for the latest reviews, tips, and recommendations and subscribe to our UA-cam Channel: bit.ly/1Nlb1Ez
Follow Us on Social:
Facebook: on. 1IQ2w5q
Twitter: bit.ly/1Yf5Fh2
Pinterest: bit.ly/1P37mM9
Instagram: bit.ly/1I49Bzo
Vine: bit.ly/1Nlbkz7
Google+: bit.ly/1Md3gfQ - Авто та транспорт
More competition is always a good thing.
I’m very surprised by this guy’s lackluster review, I just bought a KIA Niro and so far I’m loving it. One of the things I really do like it is that it just sort of blends in to the scenery, it’s not trying to be flashy or showy and that suits me just fine. It looks more like a regular suv but the mileage is what really matters to me. I’ll bet there’s a little envy where Toyota is concerned, I mean KIA did it right and it just works !
"Low gas prices & Toyota's dominance...means the Niro is facing an uphill battle." There were similar thoughts about the Kia Soul, when the market had cube shaped MPVs like the Scion xB, Nissan Cube & Honda Element. Now all that's left is the Honda Fit. Also, last December, the Niro achieved a world's record of over 77 mpg from Los Angeles to NYC.
I own a Kia Niro. Love it! Average 50 MPG so far, and as high as 57 MPG. It has a ton of space in the back, you can fit a full size bike when the seats are down. Can't recommend it enough.
1205shinky Hey! Thanks for the recommendation. Can you share a littlw bit about the maintenance of the car, with it being hybrid? Is it expensive to get it fixed or tuned up? Much obliged!
Just bought one, pick it up Tuesday. Will follow up after two weeks of driving.
Completely biased towards the big boy Toyota. Review lacks any real information. Didn't even give any credit for Kia 's bold decision to go with an actual 6 speed transmission with Dual Clutch for those who care about Driving experience, character and thrill instead of the boring and much cheaper CVT. It looked like even before getting behind the feel this guy had decided that this car was inferior to his beloved Toyota. He just couldn't ignore the features( blind spot monitoring etc) that were right in his face which is why he even mentioned them. Totally erases any ounce of integrity that Consumer Reports had in my eyes. Please hire people who actually know cars.
It's the only review i've found so far too😢. Even mentioning the auto trans & 1.6 engine is bare bones af. The only competition with this model worth mention honnestly is the ford c-max! A review without a thorough comparison is of course in order. How is the kia security?(my guess still bad!) Is it more or less rustproof than the c-max?(my guess the cmax is a fucking rustbucket! lots of people dont think about this! rust proof your new fords ffs plz!) Does kia 1.6 engine beat out the 2.0 ford engine with cvt?(my guess probably not!) The reason 2.0 with cvt is better because electric motor should reduce the chance of issues to insignificance and the 1.6 engine is bad enough the probability of issues with is high enough that its equal to the 2.0 with cvt, and in that case I'd rather have more power(although a deep dive into these models would be nice!)
I would definitely try one out and for that price might even be tempted to buy one!
Great review Thank you.
Lost me on the not fun to drive. I owned a Prius V and the only good things I can say about is that I got 42 mpg and the cargo space was good. Other than that I was more than happy to turn it in. My current Niro LX averages 49-50 mpg. It's drivability is far superior to the Prius. Did you try the sport mode???
I also have an LX and thru 10 fillups, I am averaging 55MPG. I am happy with the handling, it has a centered weighted steering that is light but enough road feel. It's not a sports car, but I wasn't looking for one. You have to push on the throttle a bit more in standard mode, but it's sufficient for me. If you want power coming from stop or long hills, the Sport mode is plenty, and you can manual shift which is even more power. Even though the Ford C-max is more powerful, the Niro has more torque. The infotainment layout/function is top notch, much better than Honda/Toyota. I very much like the DCT- more control and better feel than any CVT I've driven.
"Full battery of tests" I see what you did there.
very nice
Mini-SUV are all the rage so the Niro can score some points here, especially considering its low entry price & hybrid powertrain to go along with the package. The obvious drawback here is lack of AWD; not a surprise as the Niro is related to the Ioniq which is more economy hatchback than actual SUV.
Looks nice and a great choice for driving around town while getting good MPG. 👍🏽
But one question, 10 missed calls?! 😯 This guy needs to answer his phone every once in a while. I mean the Niro comes with Apple CarPlay AND his phone is plugged into it. I'd say "Hello!" Right now but he'd ignore it like those phone calls.😂🤣
You guys need to test the top of the line touring trim. Beefier wheels and grippy tires make the ride much more dynamic than the lower trims.
Nick Purdy true
... and greatly reduce fuel efficiency.
Not Rappaport No
Yes.
fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=38497&id=38496
Not Rappaport oh there's definitely a hit in fuel economy, no question. But the reviewer is disappointed in the handling with the base trim tires. From reviews I've read, the touring model handles much better. For someone like me, a hit in fuel economy for better driving dynamics might be a decent tradeoff. I'm still happy with over 40mpg on the top of the line touring trim
I think "nondescript" accurately captures the first impression one gets when seeing the Niro in person. I saw it at the 2017 NY Auto Show and was not impressed. That being said, it would make an excellent commuter vehicle or rental.
To me the front (mainly headlights) looks like the Kigan AWD from watchdogs 2 :/
CR has lost credibility here with their reporting on the Niro. My 2017 Niro has been flawless over 16k miles and one year of ownership. Kia has a winner here fellas.
Yesterday I test drove a Kia Niro LX and while the design, fit/finish weren't nearly as nice as economy cars from other brands, the driving dynamics were pretty nice for a hybrid - at least in sport mode. Otherwise throttle response was very sluggish. Brakes didn't feel regenerative and overall it didn't look and drive like a Prius. Handling and noise isolation weren't as good as I wanted, but given the space and cheap price for a hybrid, it wasn't a dealbreaker. Though it's styled to look like a fwd crossover, it's really just a tall wagon/hatchback and smaller in person than expected. Ergonomics, comfort, and sightlines were still good overall. One big turnoff though... The Kia dealer flat out lied to us when we asked what month the PHEV version would arrive and he said Kia wasn't building one - when even the Kia website said it would absolutely coming later this year. He also said you couldn't add a "tech package" to the LX trim when the website clearly let you build one. He was just trying to sell what was on the lot that day.
How can it drive on electric only (up to 40 mph) with a 6-speed gearbox?
The electric motor sits between the engine and the transmission. I believe there is a separate clutch to engage the gas engine.
Cool. Though I'm guessing the Niro isn't something that could be rowed manually...
Jake Root I don't understand your question. It switches power between a large battery and the engine, and this saves gas. Lower speeds are controlled by the battery, higher speeds are controlled by the engine.
vanamburgben -- a battery has instant torque at zero RPM. It doesn't use (nor need) a gearbox. The only hybrids that I know of that also have non-CVT gearboxes never go full electric (the CR-Z for instance). This is one of the main reasons that manuals are expected to die in a several decades. Electric cars don't need gearboxes.
vanamburgben -- are you suggesting it has two transmissions? The car needs a transmission to operate.
Would absolutely consider that while I wouldn't be caught dead in a Prius (aka - the motorized doorstop).
It seems like the more normal-looking hybrids have not done as well historically, so maybe they should have added a few "weird" styling cues, though not so many as the Prius (ugh). The exterior styling seems old, but I like the simple interior.
wait wasn't cmax one of the worst picks a year or 2 ago ?
DigitalYojimbo Yeah the 13 & 14 had poor reliability but it's improved to average.
DigitalYojimbo This is brand new for 2017
Exactly. They improved the reliability but I heard such horror stories I would never buy a Ford...
that is why I don't listen to consumer reports all they do is tell consumer Ford is amazing because they pay them so much.
They hated My Ford touch but now with sync 3 they love the CMAX
People will pick this over Toyota.
Frederick Rothe III Those people won't have a working car after 100K miles. Trust me, worked at Kia. theyre all junk, and their customers are lower class idiots
I don't know, many I know have more miles than that, and are still running.
If you mean ones from the 90's and early 2000's then those are different. Those rarely go to the dealership where I worked. Those run great. I meant the newer ones, 2010-Present.
I don't know, see a lot of them around, old and new.
Eh I would say brands that are in "junk" categories are Chrysler, and jeep. everything else is mid or high tiers
Where is AWD in this suv like hybrid
Akhil Bolla There is none
Its called get good snow tires and learn when to turn off the electronic control when pulling winter hills so you keep up momentum... Maybe a big issue in a place like Seattle or Colorado but most of the North East is doable in FWD. My grandmother drove every winter for most of her life in rear drive awful cornering American cars for christ sake and never had an issue. lol I drive a Chevy Volt and luckily have yet to have an issue.
SECK Snow tires are kind of a ripoff. I live in Chicago and I don't have snow tires and I am fine.
Having a hard time finding a used Niro with safety features. Even the 2017 Toyota Yaris ia has emergency braking. Wtf?
43-50mpg expected, yet the screen display efficiency footage shows you at 15.6 mpg, LoL...
Only 139hp
Why should those safety features be standard? Are people buying their drivers licenses now a days?
Sometimes, the computer is just better and faster at responding to things than the best driver can ever be.
ThePointblank I get that, but my point was if your a good driver than these safety features shouldn't be needed. I've never owned a vehicle with any of these features, heck my car doesn't even have abs, traction control or stability control, and I've managed, it just makes me wonder how much skill people are lacking since most are dependant on these features.
Very nice that you are such a good driver, but car manufactures sell their vehicles to anyone, including people who are not such superior drivers, like yourself. Those people transport innocent children in their vehicles, navigate cities full of pedestrians, etc. The goal of mandatory safety equipment is to reduce injury and fatality rates for all people. This is done by assuming worst case scenarios, and worst possible drivers.
maybe if they took out the big tv screen in the middle of the dash people would pay attention to the road.
Nah. Wont help. Theyll just mess with their phone screens instead.
Best part about this vehicle...........it doesn't look like a robot/Storm Trooper!!!!!! I am not going to lie, I find this vehicle EXTREMELY intriguing. However, I do think that the lack of AWD, even as an option, is seriously going to hurt sales in the increasingly competitive compact crossover market. What say you all? Nissan & Toyota both offer AWD in the Rogue & RAV4 hybrids, so I see no reason why Kia shouldn't on the Niro.
landyachtfan79 - yes I agree although I don't go for AWD. A lot of dealers in my area carry 90% AWD SUV's so it could hurt them.
Given the extreme success they have had with the FWD-only Soul, I don't think they see the immediate need to add AWD.
MPG is much worse than Prius. Prius will save you more money in the long run.
Sorry, I think Kia/Hyundai are getting better but right now I'm going to stick with more reliable Japanese cars.
korean cars are really good! trvmMmmv
Come on, Simpsons fans, you know what you get when you say Kia Niro 3 times fast!!!!!!! Can you name the truck with front-wheel drive, smells like a steak (with optional leather), & seats only 5?!!!!!
you cant compare the price, this drive train is unproven. using double clutch auto manual transmission is gonna be quite hard to be reliable. Prius can go 500k miles with its drive train.
instead of just reading features, CR should focus on testing. .....
Kia's P2 hybrid drivetrain is very similar to their Sonata hybrid which has been around since 2011 and proven very reliable. DCT is the perfect choice for a P2-style hybrid. The electric motor gets the car underway and the very efficient DCT (95% efficient). Honda has used a similar arrangement in their iDCD hybrid Fit.
Can't even reach 50mpg? Not worth it.
0-60 in what? A leisurely 10 seconds or so? No thanks to these under-powered lifeless conveyance machines. You can have fun with a car, get better MPG than econo cars of 5 years ago and have an engaging drive without breaking the bank and do it
I have one. It is 8.6 seconds-I DESTROYED a Prius in the lamest drag race ever!
Like this car but I'll never buy or lease a car equipped with a Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission again.
Why, what happened?
Maestro_T Almost at the end of a lease with my Ford Focus that uses the same Transmission and Clutch had to be replaced and it shudders between gears. Then they had to replace 1st and 2nd gear. It's nothing against Kia it's just that type of Transmission.
Jonathan A Yeah I know that. However when I rented a Hyundai Tucson Sport that has the DCT also and hesitated to Accelerate and Hyundai and Kia are the same company that share some parts.
Robert Schneider this has nothing to do with the technology and everything to do with Ford's choices. There's plenty of DCTs out there that are reliable, just not Ford's.
Alexandre Potvin Really? So why did Hyundais place Recalls out for they're DCT's and Acura had 3 recalls regarding they're DCT's. How come my other 2015 Ford Escape that's equipped with a traditional automatic has just over 80,000 miles with no problems? It's not the automakers, it's the Transmissions
Consumer Reports loves being wrong.
The Kia Niro is a compact hybrid crossover. Naturally it competes against other compact hybrid crossovers like the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, etc.
SuperHollowfied The RAV4 and Rogue hybrids are bigger, faster, and offer AWD where the Niro is smaller, more efficient, cheaper and FWD only.
Kamaka Chang they still compete in the same category, no matter the size difference, they are still in the same size class.
The Rav4 weighs 4500 lbs and gets only 34/30 mpg has a towing capacity. The Niro weighs 3100 lbs gets 50 mpg almost exactly what the Prius weighs and gets mpg. Rav4 is not in the same class.
jimmelay71 they are in the same class. It's called the compact CUV class. Look up what the EPA defines a RAV4 and Niro as. If you feel that one option is better than another, that's one thing. Don't try to make opinions facts however.
Interestingly enough, I just looked up what the EPA defines a lot of these cars. The Niro is classified as a small station wagon. The Prius V is classified as a midsize station wagon.
The most surprising is the RAV4 AWD Hybrid, they consider it a small SUV. That's impossible because the RAV4 is unibody construction, not body-on-frame construction. The RAV4 is most definitely a compact CUV.
Niro doesn't have the what plant am I from looks of the Toyota....
I think I am from an Orchid family myself, but I don't really know. Never questioned it...
planet....
I know. Just trollin' ya. :)
I've been driving a Toyota RAV for 20 yrs but I won't touch a new one because of those BUGLY grills. WTF? They look like hate personified in a car when you see one in your rear view.