A Week With: 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring

Kia’s been making large modifications to its line-up, not simply the kind of automobile, but additionally to the design of the brand new fashions in addition to the mainstays.

Overview

All new for 2023, Kia’s Niro has been handled to the identical excessive type redesign as the remainder of its showroom siblings. What’s extra, Niro brings the worth proposition upon which Kia’s popularity rests into even sharper focus. It’s completely outstanding how a automobile that appears this good and is full of this many options could be supplied at such an inexpensive worth level. 

Exterior

Simply probably the most distinctive styling function of the Niro SX Touring mannequin with which I spent the week was its Gloss Black C-pillar trim. Harking back to the aspect blade adorning Audi’s R8 supercar, the styling aspect provides the Niro a decidedly upscale look, whereas concurrently making the little Kia stand out from all the different two-box designs at the moment inhabiting grocery retailer parking tons throughout America. 

Inside

Surprisingly upscale in look, the inside therapy depends upon sustainable supplies and what can solely be termed a sculptured sprint to deliver elevate the idea of frugality into a complete new realm. The general look, plus the slick ambient lighting parts had me questioning how Kia packs this a lot type into such an affordably priced automobile.  

Getting again to that complete sustainability factor for minute although, recycled supplies and pure fibers — together with eucalyptus leaves — comprise the headliner and fabric. Nevertheless, this isn’t to say the Niro’s cabin is a plastic free zone. The inside design staff strategically positioned it so it doesn’t stand out as being the dominant materials. 

I had company from out of city visiting that week, so we spent plenty of time touring about within the Niro. We discovered consolation to be good in any respect seating positions, although I do want they’d specified clean upholstery for the doorways’ armrests. The textured materials employed there irritated my elbow over the course of longer drives. Cargo capability, even with the rear seat deployed, was fairly admirable although and all of her baggage match — with room to spare — no drawback. 

Powertrain

The 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring makes use of a 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder engine teamed with a hybrid electrical motor, which is powered by a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. A 6-speed twin clutch computerized transmission with paddle shifters feeds energy to the entrance wheels. Whole system output is 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. 

Kia’s “Inexperienced Zone” tech makes use of the nav system to advise the Niro to modify into EV mode beneath circumstances by which most energy shouldn’t be more likely to be required. At one level, working low on gasoline, I noticed the gap to empty readout show larger numbers when the Kia was working on electrical energy and decrease numbers when using the ICE. Creeping alongside in bumper-to-bumper visitors on electrical energy alone was very reassuring as I stored an eye fixed out for the subsequent gasoline station. 

The EPA says to count on to see 53 mpg within the metropolis, 45 on the freeway and 49 general. I averaged 50.

Security and Know-how

Right here is the place the little Kia will get much more spectacular. Customary gear on the SX Touring Niro consists of sensible cruise management with cease and go functionality, lane following help, freeway driving help, ahead and rear going through parking distance warnings, blind spot warning, and on and on and on.

Infotainment options resided inside a smooth glassed-in panel that additionally housed the Niro’s operational instrumentation. A Harman/Kardon audio system, wi-fi telephone charging, twin zone computerized local weather management, CarPlay and Android compatibility, in addition to the aforementioned nav system, might be accessed utilizing the ten.3-inch touchscreen aspect of the panel.

I actually appreciated the competence of the Niro’s lane maintain help and sensible cruise management. Touring about that week discovered me coping with extra visitors than I had seen in years. Moderately than enduring the stresses and frustration that go together with cease and go visitors, I left the Niro to handle the state of affairs—which it did in an exemplary vogue—whereas my pals and I loved music and dialog. 

Driving Impressions

With 139 horsepower on faucet and 195 lb-ft of torque, one can’t moderately count on the Niro to be labeled as quick — and it meets these expectations handily. In different phrases, whereas the Kia compact crossover SUV is certainly sporty wanting, it isn’t precisely sporty in the best way it goes about closing the hole between factors alpha and bravo. 

Nevertheless, the powertrain strikes the little crossover alongside each competently and confidently beneath all usually encountered circumstances. There’s greater than sufficient energy to merge onto a busy freeway, even when it does take the Kia roughly 9 seconds to hit 60 from a standing begin. Dealing with is sweet, if not precisely excellent; then again although, its experience high quality completely is excellent. 

2023 Kia Niro SX Touring Specs

Wrap Up

With its distinctive look, on a regular basis practicality and inexpensive worth level, the 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring places 53-mpg gasoline financial system throughout the attain of a complete lot of individuals—and with out wanting low cost. Merely mentioned, Kia vividly shows its penchant for providing an abundance of content material for comparatively small quantities of cash with the Niro.

2023 Kia Niro SX Touring ­– Steadily Requested Questions

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