► New hybrid Niro on sale for £21k
► One powertrain, four trim levels
► Emits as little as 88g/km of CO2
Kia’s new Niro, a compact crossover, is the first hybrid to be offered by the company in the UK – and it’s on sale now for £21,295.
The Niro is powered by a 104bhp 1.6-litre direct-injection engine and 32kW electric motor, which work together to provide a combined 139bhp and 196lb ft of torque. It’s exempt from VED and reputed to average 74.3mpg, at least if you go for the ‘1’ or ‘2’ trim levels. Move up to the higher spec levels and, due to bigger wheels and more kit, efficiency falls – leading to higher emissions, VED of £20 per year, and 64.2mpg.
So what do I get for my money?
Grade ‘1’ trim gets you lane keeping assistance, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and 16-in alloy wheels, while grade ‘2’ – priced from £22,795 – adds features including rear parking sensors, sat-nav with a 7-in screen and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
Move up to grade ‘3’ and, in exchange for your £24,695, you’ll get a larger 8-inch touchscreen, 18-in alloy wheels, heated leather upholstery and front parking sensors. Go all out with the ‘First Edition’ spec and, for £26,995, Kia will throw in autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control and a sliding sunroof.
How does it compare to its rivals?
With similarly sized rivals such as the Mazda CX-3 and Renault Captur starting at £17,595 and £14,575 respectively, the Niro struggles to compete when it comes to value for money. Compare it to the likes of the £23,295 Toyota Prius, however, and the Niro offers up both more space and more kit – so it could well be worth a closer look.
Read our Kia Niro review here
