Hybrid System

The 2018 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is made up of three trims - LX, EX, and EX Premium. All three trims are powered by the same Full Parallel Hybrid System. This system is made up of a 1.6-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine with gasoline direct injection and dual continuously variable valve timing. These two processes optimize the performance of the internal combustion engine, maximizing its output to 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque.

Making up the other half of the hybrid system is an AC synchronous permanent magnet motor, powered by an 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. The motor has an output of 60 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque, bringing the total output of the system to 165 horsepower and 234 lb-ft of torque.

Fuel Economy and Charging

Plug-in hybrids also have two measures of fuel economy: miles-per-gallon (MPG) and the miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe), or a measurement that converts the power used by an electric vehicle into a term that's familiar to most Americans.

• The Kia Niro’s fuel economy when the internal combustion engine is the main power source is 48 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway

• Usually, those measurements would be reversed with a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (internal combustion engine vehicles are typically less fuel efficient when driving in the city), and the reason for the reversal is because the more energy that is used when travelling at higher speeds i.e. on the highway, the less the vehicle can travel with the electric motor also running.

• When the Kia Niro is powered by a combination of its internal combustion engine and battery, it has a fuel economy of 110 MPGe in the city, 99 MPGe on the highway and a combined city/highway fuel economy of 105 MPGe.

• Additionally, the Niro has an electric driving range of up to 26 miles, and the vehicle’s total driving range (a full tank of gas an a fully charged battery) of up to 560 miles.

Exterior Features

The 2018 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid doesn’t differ much from the original Niro in terms of looks. When it comes to the features though, there are a lot of standard features across the lineup. These consist of roof rails, solar control glass, a sound absorbing front windshield, privacy glass, heated rear glass, automatic headlights, LED daytime running and positioning headlights, and fog lights. Past the base trim (Niro Plug-In Hybrid LX), trims come with heated exterior mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, a Smart Welcome feature that plays a little jingle when entering the vehicle, LED rear combination lamps, and only the EX Premium gets LED headlights. A rear spoiler, a black fender, and plug-in blue accents are all standard for aesthetic features; 16-inch alloy wheels are the only option of wheels for the lineup. All trims have the option of one of six body colors - Snow White Pearl, Silky Silver, Platinum Graphite, Gravity Blue, or Aurora Black Pearl.

Interior Features

Like the exterior, the interior of the 2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid is pretty packed. Standard across the lineup is a drive mode selector, smart key with push-button start and engine immobilizer, dual-zone automatic temperature control, an auto windshield defogger, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and mood lighting (red tinted hue). The Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX and EX Premium trims come with a cargo covering (optional on LX) and rear vents. Although leather upholstery can only be found on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob come standard. Heated front seats are available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX and EX Premium trims, but only the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium comes with ventilated front seats, driver’s seat integrated memory, and a heated steering wheel. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat also comes standard, and when folded down, the total cargo volume opens up to 54.5 cubic-feet; 19.4 cubic-feet with the rear seats up.

Entertainment

Technology doesn’t skip a beat with the 2018 Kia Niro Plug-in, offering UVO eco (a plug-in hybrid tailored infotainment system) on all trims, with a 7-inch touchscreen ad six-speaker system on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid LX and EX trims. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium comes with UVO eco on an 8-inch touchscreen with voice-command navigation and a Harman/Kardon Premium Surround Sound 8-speaker system. All trims come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities. Bluetooth wireless hands-free connectivity and steering wheel-mounted controls for audio and the phone are also lineup standards.

Safety Features and Warranty

The 2018 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid has all the expected standard safety features, such as advanced dual stage front airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, stability and traction control systems, a brake assist system, child-safety locks, LATCH-tethers for LATCH-ready child seats, and a rear-camera display. There are also advanced safety features available, including front and rear parking assist, blind-spot detection, lane change assist, and rear-cross traffic alert, all standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX and EX Premium trims. A rear-camera display, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and smart cruise control are all lineup standards.

All Kia models are backed by an industry leading warranty. The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid is backed by a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a 5-year or 100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty. The hybrid electric components also get a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty, and roadside assistance is offered for 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first.