In a world where the idea of electric vehicles is all the rage, plug-in hybrid’s (PHEV) are the evolution from internal combustion to EV. Vehicles like the 2021 Kia Niro S are bringing petrol and power points together.
The Kia Niro S PHEV is incredibly fuel efficient, as you might expect, thanks to its combined use of electric and combustion engines, with a claimed fuel economy of just 1.3-litres/100km. In testing, we managed 3.9-litres/100km. Still remarkably impressive.
Offering efficiency, SUV versatility, and environmentally friendliness in one tidy package, the Niro features a nicely contoured bonnet, matched by wing-like headlights. The colour of our test vehicle (Runway Red) further enhanced to look.
The lovely deep rich red highlights lines and shape to standout in sunlight. Less impressive is the plastic looking gloss black tiger nose grille. The sporty 16-inch alloy wheels look the goods though, and the whole car presents well.
Thanks to grey roof rails that are tastefully paired to the front and rear lip of the car, and chrome door handles, it really is an SUV with character. The back end feels a little oddly stretched in the spacious Niro, but it’s quite the unique design.
Colour options are vast, with Clear White, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, Silky Silver, Runway Red, Platinum Graphite, Sunset Orange, and Deep Cerulean Blue to choose from.
Jumping inside the 2021 Kia Niro S PHEV is effortless too. The interior is incredibly roomy for both front and rear passengers, with plenty of leg room. The seats are nice and comfortable, and are upholstered with cloth and leather trim.
A leather-appointed steering wheel is also a nice touch, complementing the similarly-wrapped automatic shift knob. For the uninitiated, plug-in hybrids tend to start in EV mode, silently, which can throw you, if you’re new to the platform.
For the number crunchers, the petrol engine offers 77.2kW of power and 147Nm of torque. It’s electric counterpart delivers 44.5kW of power and 170Nm of torque. The 24.7Ah 360V lithium-ion polymer battery is located below the rear seats and boot floor.
Overall, the 2021 Kia Niro S PHEV is a well-rounded SUV, providing the consumer with all the modern touches and inclusions you would expect, and at a reasonable price ($50,586 drive away). And there’s a 7-year warranty to boot.
For the full review visit Exhaust Notes.
Review by Sabih Dean in September 2021
Car review by our partners Exhaust Notes Australia. The test vehicle was provided by Kia Australia. To find out more about the 2021 Kia Niro S Plug-in Hybrid, contact your local Kia dealer.
