Practical, high-tech, and fuel-efficient, the new Niro strikes as a sensible choice. But is it good enough to compete against this year’s best SUVs?
. What about this Niro, new for 2023, makes it an SUV? Other than Kia's marketing preferences, we're still unsure., a fact that hindered it in off-road assessments. Features editor Christian Seabaugh hit its limits."I had to bail on the sand as it bogged down and couldn't get moving," he said."In a first for me, it barely made it up the hill climb, spinning its wheels all the way to the top.
Indeed, the Niro picture is a triptych: It's offered as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and a full EV. With the most power and torque, the EV was the driver's choice, yet all share certain dynamic attributes."It's surprisingly not bad on the handling course," associate editor Duncan Brady said."The tires could use more grip, but I'm sure buyers would trade lateral g's for mpgs.
A few details diminish the Niro's practicality. Its cargo area is deep, but the second-row seats don't fold flat. The EV's front-mounted charge port could introduce complications at public plugs. Worse, its 85-kW peak charge rate isn't competitive; consider the
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