All-New Kia Niro REVIEW - PHEV and Hybrid driven back to back !
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- The All-new Kia Niro comes in a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric powertrains. Kia have sold more than 70,000 Niro sales in the UK since 2016 launch 55% of which are fully electric
The Niro Hybrid features Kia’s Smartstream 1.6-litre gasoline direct injection engine paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is combined with a 32 kW (43 bhp) electric motor, giving the powertrain a combined maximum power output of 139 bhp.
Pricing for the Niro Hybrid starts from £27,745 and rises to £33,245
Like the Hybrid, the Plug-in Hybrid is powered by the same 1.6-litre engine and gearbox. It’s paired with a larger 62 kW (83 bhp) electric motor, resulting in a combined power output of 180 bhp.
PHEV models are priced from £33,525 to £39,025 for this top-spec ‘4’ model.
The Niro EV, not on test today, is powered by a long-range 64.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and a 201 bhp (150 kW) electric motor. Kia estimate a range of 285 miles.
The Niro EV is priced from £36,245 to £41,745 for the top-spec ‘4’ model.
Video Contents by Chapter
00:00 - Introduction
01:46 - External Styling
03:44 - Rear Styling and Practicality
05:37 - Rear Passenger Room
06:55 - Trim Levels and Drivers Tech
10:42 - Niro Range and Pricing
11:55 - PHEV - EV Driving
14:47 - PHEV - Eco Mode Driving and Efficiency
18:02 - PHEV - Sport Mode Driving
20:06 - Hybrid - Eco and Sport Driving
23:17 - Final Impressions - Which would I buy ?
Subscribe: tinyurl.com/d44d8cmd
Buy your Petrol Ped Merchandise at Legacy Legends - tinyurl.com/msrdvw6x
Follow Petrol Ped
Instagram: tinyurl.com/ya4bp5pw
Facebook: tinyurl.com/vrzh3u2d
Twitter: tinyurl.com/zj85kphc
Watch more videos!
Newest Videos: tinyurl.com/yumeha8m
Road Tests and Reviews: tinyurl.com/e9eds5hn
Events: tinyurl.com/f2z5a5vm
Features: tinyurl.com/tf2k59z4
Welcome to the official Petrol Ped TH-cam channel! On this channel you will find a variety of content like high quality car reviews, launch events, press drives, event coverage from Goodwood and other awesome automotive experiences! Make sure to subscribe, turn on ALL notifications and join me on my petrol fuelled journey!
Business Enquires: ped.greaves@gmail.com
In Partnership with...
The Market by Bonhams: bit.ly/3hvgfDm
Bonhams: bit.ly/3K6okdV
IG: @themarket_auctions & @bonhamsmotoring
Twitter: @market_auctions & @bonhams1793
Facebook: @themarketauctions & @bonhams
Cars Insured by Lockton Performance - tinyurl.com/3dbt2c39
#PetrolPed #Automotive #KiaNiro - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Which model and trim spec would you go for ?
Nero plug in Hybrid 4 for me from the choice in these , though the full EV will be interesting ,see how that is when its reviewed .
Hybrid 4 👍🏻(non plug in)
I refuse to pay the additional car excise duty on any car, so I would need to know the pricing of the level 4 EV. Otherwise probably level 4 PHEV. 😎
PHEV 2 value for money 😎
in europe the HEV vs PHEV is about 9K euro difference (the same setup: Style, from 9K u can buy 4500Liter petrol at the moment) ... the phev price is frikin too high definitely not worth it
I think Kia / Hyundai and Genesis are going to be the next Toyota / Lexus. The level of detail and explanation are second to none. Wonderful video and keep up the incredible work!
Thanks 🙏🏻
It looks gorgeous. I love this sleek yet rugged look.
Yep 👍
Morning pal, like the front, I can see the Focus pointer. Wheels look nice too. As I’ve said before, this marque have come a long way, very impressive.
Brilliant review
We’ve had a Niro 4 hybrid for about 2 1/2 yrs and love it not as economical as i would have hope but a great car. And the good news is that we have just place an order for a new Niro 4 plug in hopefully arriving before Christmas, your review has really helped us decide to go for a plug in this around.
Thanks again and keep up with the brilliant reviews 👍.
Wow. That’s great to hear 👍
Used to have a Nero a couple of cars ago it was a hybrid I really loved that car looks like I might be getting another one thanks for your great review 👍🏻
Cheers 👍
Great review , loads of info and well put together again .as always , nice one Peter .
Thanks Paul 👍
Brilliant review as always Pete! Your conclusion makes a lot of sense! Well done mate ! Tom
Thanks Tom 👍
Great video and review Sir Pete! Kia just seems to be doing better and better!
Cheers bud 👍
Well done on the 150k sub's!
Thanks 👍
Nice one yet again ped id go for as high a spec as i could afford and from owninga full electric id wsit for the full electric version cheers yet again pete for another awsome video with odles of brilliant content 💥🍻👏👍🏼
Kia's on a roll! They offer some nice cars and this Niro seems to be just another seller! Nice comparison. Cheers.
Indeed 👍
Hi PP, look at the start for your slip up. I love your videos by the way, very focussed and down to earth. Apologies for being an ex teacher, it just grinds on me, even the beeb presenters make this error! 😀
Thanks for another great review. As an e-Niro owner since March 2019 my dealer here in France is wanting me to have a test drive in the new one which arrives here in September. I did look at the new Niro Hybrid which was in the showrooms when I had the 60,000 km service on mine a few weeks back. The extra 20 mm in width, length and wheelbase will give it a slightly wider appeal as a family car and those existing Niro owners who’ve driven the new one say it is more comfy and feels more ‘grown up’...perhaps and over-used expression. The idea of a PHEV I understand fully, but I could never see the point in practice. The EV has more range than I can drive without a break, even in the winter on the autoroutes... and you still have the complexity of engine/gearbox servicing and other oily bits. The EV is in fact the Ockham’s razor of cars which is why they are taking over from ICE power. Looking forward to your review of the EV.
I get the feeling you would've wanted to test the Entry Level model first Pete , Still a good car but personally i think someone wanting the base model will be more interested in value for money !
Always love the reviews 🙏🙏👍👍👍
Love the Kia Niro!
Great video mate
Thanks 👍
We ordered ours can’t wait
Congrats 👍
Very nice replacement from Kia! Can’t wait to test the full BEV myself as a possible replacement for my 2020 Ioniq electric.
Btw I’ve watched your blogs for years now and was slightly shocked to see you at our friends garden party recently, Iain and Liz from Royston.
Will there be any more on the Classic electric channel as well? Keep on!
No way…small world 👍
Hi Ped, I have been off-line for a couple of weeks, glad to be back. Very comprehensive review on the new Kia Niro models, you have the ability to translate the driving experience very accurately via your commentary, which few others can manage so effectively. Kia and Hyundai have a sensational range of cars, and putting up some very serious competition against the established brands.Availability remains the bugbear for all manufacturers, with little sign of abatement. May have to hang onto my 50 mpg diesel Jaguar E Pace for a while longer! 👍🇬🇧😎
Welcome back 👊👍
I bought a Kia Sportage just under 7 years ago in France I have decided to look at the new Sportage and the Niro. So why KIA why not change and look at another car well that is easy. I bought my car as I said 7 years ago, have | had a problem with it not one single thing. I have had the car serviced changed tyres brake pads and filters. There is not a single bit of rust on the car and it has passed it's control technic or MOT here with flying colours and they are strict. I paid 25000 euros for the car and after 7 years have been offered 12000 euros back on a new car on top of that the car has 135000 Kms on the clock. She runs better now than new and has never ever let me down and on top of that the interior and extrerior has worn unbeleivably well. In a nutshell I don't want to part with the car but the age of the car has forced me to thing about change. So into the 21st century I go to test the hybride version of each. On wednesday my wife and I will test drive both cars. I know my wife will be more worried about the colour and will for the sake of an easy life decide Niro or Sportage but for me it's the KIA mark that I am buying all in all amazingly good well built cars.
Have you and your wife decided, sportage or Niro? and why?
@@shuikuentam1755 Sportage just like the car and so does my wife
Really interesting review. The Niro EV just popped up as an option for my next car so I ordered it straight away. Looks like I made a good choice, will be looking forward to your review on that one.
Great choice. I’ll be getting my hands on one ASAP 👍
Good vid Pedro, I'd go for the plug-in level 4. The dashboard still looks like a "static magnet" but then what car doesn't. Cheers.
love this car ordered my spec 4 2 months ago in white with grey c piller can't wait.
Congrats 👍
when does it come released?
We don't have "wobbly" in the states...lol. Great review, the plug in is what I would get for sure.
Very interesting with you I think at the moment I would go for the hybrid version the one thing I’m not sure on the tall is the front lights and the rear lights I know it’s all new design
Brilliant video as always thanks you so much petrol ped
I enjoyed watching the Comparison of all three Models. My favourite Trim Is the 4 as I think It looks the most stylish In the Range
Looks very nice
Thank you! I appreciate the excellent presentation! For a true comparison between the Niro PHEV and HEV you would need to stick with the same (level 4/SX Touring) trim. That way you'd notice the actual functional differences between the two are minimal. I chose the HEV because I like the idea that it gets extended, eco-friendly mpg ratings through self-charging, without the need to plug it into any specialized equipment to benefit from the electric assist that boosts my mpg. With this one we can actually use the mpg as a measure of comparative economy, because, if I'm averaging 55mpg over a specific period, I don't need to calculate for alternate energy purchase or offset for cost of charging infrastructure and increased home electric usage or for the higher purchase price of the (PHEV) vehicle. It's an everyone-friendly, eco-conscious step in the right direction... especially for independent-minded folks who want to retain the right to keep their options open. 😉
Well Done. Great review and very timely. I sat in a HEV at my local dealer.(only model available and no demo yet)
Defo PHEV for me!. I had an Outlander back in '15 and I rarely put any petrol in it. Most of my driving is round Poole/Bournemouth during the week and an 80 mile round trip every other weekend, with no charging facility on turn round. The EV mileage was pathetic (claimed 25, actual best22 and only 18 in the winter) With a realistic 35 /40 miles on this Niro I reckon i could do all my weeks local driving for about £2-£3 instead of £8 for petrol.
Can't wait for my test drive and getting the piggy bank out!
They are really good 👍
Well that was as good as expected!
Looks good, can the contrast stripe on the rear 1/4 be specified in particular colours? Think that would make an aesthetic difference.
I’m with you Peter - hybrid just makes so much sense.
Great review 👍🏻
the rear stripe only comes on the top spec 4 model and does have colour choice at an extra cost - but did see another review that said its also available on the 3 trim - so maybe different specs in different countries.
depending which basic colour you chose you can specify the c piller colour it i£150 ,option
@@markashton64 Good value 👍🏻
The Monaco is still looking sharp, timeless 👍👍
Thanks 👍
Nice video . My company vehicle is due to be replaced shortly and hopefully as of yesterday ( 15th July ) the boss has sorted me out with 3 hybrid . My local dealer has just got one so have had a look around but no drive . Had a sportage for 4 years And really impressed with that so looking forward to my first Niro .
👍
Looks like a win-win situation with both as long as you opt for the higher level trim.
Yep 👍
That cupholder design is straight out of the Volkswagen Tiguan (2017+) and is very useful.
I considered a PHEV but went full EV as my old 2017 Audi S3 2 litre petrol got 42 to the gallon on a run. My EV servicing cost is £279 for 3 years servicing and its first MOT, brake fluid change and pollen filters plus wiper blades and that is the total cost. I bet the servicing cost on the Hybrid is £200 a year plus greater brake wear than an EV and extra for brake fluid (about £30 or £40) plus wiper blades £60 a set.. I will look forward to the hybrid versus the full EV car. My Cupra Born was £2k less than the top spec Niro and has most of the same features plus has more rear leg room.
Another quality review. Personally, I'd wait for the EV and I'll be very interested to get your views on that when you get to drive one.
It will be good 👍
My current kia ceed gt line is due for changing next July. This is a very interesting video in my continuing considerations with kia 🚗 🚘
Well worth a test drive 👍
On my second Kia after years of running Landy’s, VW’s and the odd Volvo. Really reluctant to change to a different brand these days. Just love the look, spec and reliability of Kia’s
Which one are you running ?
Already placed an order for the Niro EV in a level 4 trim, with the Grey pack interior and cladding ( due to arrive for new plate in September ). This will be my first dip into the world of EV's, and it feels like I've made a good choice.
You certainly have 👌👍
How are you finding the vehicle
Have the full ev version. With 2 bikes on bike rack on the tailgate got 1.9miles per kWh. Used 100 miles range to travel 57miles. No bikes on the back get 4.6m per kWh.
Great review and the aesthetics both inside and out are a big leap forward over the old car - agree the Level 4 trim did looks a lot better, but then so it should at £5K+ more. PHEV’s work well as long as your journey mix is biased to short runs within its EV range and you can charge it at home, but I think the pure EV version will be the one to go for.
my 21 niro hybrid hev does between 60 and 70 MPG normally , i have on a hot day ( as this affects the battery ) got 120 MPG. I use sport mode and eco mde
Interesting to know about the efficiency of the HEV model
Excellent review as always.Phev level 4 for me I would say.Not sure about that rear air intake,I think it might get clogged with dirt etc.Nicer looking car than the current model though.
Easy to clean with a jet wash 👍
Hi Ped
Yet again a good informative introduction to the new Nero. I know the old saying you get what you pay for, but the level 4 would be a good choice and I guess will reflect in residuals in the future.
Indeed 👍
Plug in Hybrid and level 4 for me. Having had a Sportage in the past they have really moved up a level not that I wasn't happy with my Sportage at the time.
👍
Good morning Petrol Ped, I recently ordered the new HEV Sportage in GT line S and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
However, regarding PHEV cars (and HEV I suppose); I was always taught to take it easy with a cold ice engine until it warms up properly - if you are driving in ev mode from start for say, 10 miles then switch to petrol running as your doing 50mph, surely you’d be causing problems to the ice engine because it’s cold? Or have I got this all wrong? I would have loved to have gone for a full ev vehicle but because of the mileage I have to do for hospital appointments (west coast of Cumbria to Newcastle) I’m concerned about range especially in hot weather (a/c) of cold weather (heaters on) etc.
Take care.
Hybrid only!
We've got a 2020 Niro 2 which works brilliantly still, but I'm inclined to change it to this new design which looks a lot more sleek.
I love my Niro HEV SX Touring.
Great car 👍
Very interesting review , be looking out for the BEV version review when you do it, personally I would go for the level 4 if I was buying but I have a company car and do 4000 miles a month , be interested on your view of whether one of these would be a viable option or not ?
Hopefully get my hands on the BEV soon 👍
Great review and description of drive handling. Love this car, but it can dive away from you a bit when exiting a highway. Soft ride quality is a fair trade for this draw back in the turns I think.
Totally agree
Excellent reviews , I drive a niro 2 hybrid , consumption averages 70 mpg , I'm on my 3rd kia and they just to seem to be getting better each time , though I do miss my proceed gt , a much underrated car .
Hi, how much is it to fuel full tank and to charge full ? I am a little confused about the running cost!
The only plug in hybrid I’d ever consider is the Octavia vRS variant… I am thinking about the Hyundia Tucson N Line hybrid as a potential replacement for my i30N maybe next year.. If Kia bring out a sports SUV hybrid then I’d certainly look at one.. 🤔
my priorities... ride,seat comfort,mph,value....but LOVE the better tech screen...lowest trim with the best tech screen....thinking hybrid....but plug-in hybrid with tax incentives fascinates me
Did the PHEV hybrid have 18” wheels compared to the HEV Hybrid entry 16” wheels/tires?
Your thoughts on the handling on each tire size.
Thanks!
The biggest mistake all car manufacturers are making is deleting the simple tactile buttons & knobs. How on earth are you supposed to concentrate on your DRIVING when you’re preoccupied with finding the fan speed/volume/maps “buttons” on a touch screen? Safety is being replaced with “Oh it looks uncluttered doesn’t it?”🤪😣🔍 Aside from that, impressive vehicles.😎👍🏼
Ford had their day when they introduced their "new edge" design. It brought them huge sales, and a permanent spot in the sales top 10. But others are now hitting the spot. Both Kia and Hyundai are really knocking it out of the park for stylish, individualistic design. I think we can expect the South Koreans to have a presence in the sales top ten way more than in the past......
Yep 👍
Im intrested in a plug in version but wounder over the correct consumption of petrol when the juice is out.
I have a 2023 bmw active tourer 225e xdrive with a range of 57 miles but they said You won’t get it. But I do. It has been charging to 65 miles of electric range Wonderful. Until last August I had a software update. Oh dear I’m now getting a range of 42 miles and BMW are dragging their feet in telling me why. I’m really disappointed. Enjoyed your Kia review.
I'd take the I20N you've recently driven please! 😂. Both the Niro and its cousin Hyundai Kona make excellent EVs though, with great real world efficiency and range 👍
Tune in on Monday 👍
Hi just a quickie where’s the water go in those rear air vents ?
Nice review! Are you able to confirm if that PHEV here is in interstellar gray? It’s rare in these videos and wanted to see how it looks.
Sadly I’m not sure if the colour 😢
one of the better looking EV's i have seen, did they ever do or planning to do the Stinger EV.
Not sure to be honest 😬
We have hybrid 3 lovely thing great mpg
Very nice!
No mention of seat comfort, do they have a spare tire, does the regular hybrid get the mpg they claim and what kind of transmission does it have?
Literally ordered the Nero 4 Hev o Friday delivery due in October
Nice 👌
Impressive car. I thought it looked a lot more SUVish than before
nice car
I looked at all three models but couldn't have the EV as where I live I would not be able to charge at home. So the HEV was the easiest to go for. Having looked at the 2, 3 and 4 the 3 has the most going for it as there is little difference between 3 and 4.
I really wish you could have done a review on both level 1 Niros instead.
Back from holibobs in Spain, catching up. Who's idea was the contrast colour on that rear panel? Needs a slap for that! Interior isn't quite Mercedes, but not bad (Wife has a 2021 A Class). I could live with that, but I'll stick to my 1989 Volvo C30 oil-burner for now.
As a former phev discovery sport owner I too was disappointed with the ev range but also the rate of regen. A journey outside.of ev power soon wrecks the mpg figures, even with 30 ev miles a 200 mile journey still only returns mid 30's. Phevs do need to be close to 50 miles of range to justify the extra money for me.
sport mode do on motorway through the uk
But will it do over a ton down the hill off the ridgeway before you have to leap on the brakes at the hump just before the peace tank?
What was the mpg on the hev version
Beefier anti-sway bars would fix the lean and keep a softer ride.
❤ just ordered my hybrid Niro 4 won’t be here till April 23. But I’m currently in a Niro 4 old style. ‘21. Would probably would have gone for a plug in, but infrastructure where I am is still naff.
Great car. Congrats 👍
Well we had the Niro plug in Hybrid 4 for a couple of weeks now and are very happy with it - ofc. I do not read instruction manuals so vids like this is useful ;) Actual Owner review is coming soon on my channel.
How long it takes to fully charge your battery? Would be great if you can share your experience (both using home charging and outside charging) 😊
In the rear I'm not convinced in a crash adult's are not going get head/face whacked by the rear of the front seat. Definitely looks lots better in and out.
Please review the MG HS PHEV. Would be curious to know your thoughts on it.
Definately Not a Guru reviewed it a few weeks ago.....
@@Brian-om2hh Who reviewed it?
I have a couple of issues with the new Niro, and this is true of many new cars nowadays. Firstly is the boot space. In an attempt to improve the aerodynamics of the car and make it visually more appealing, the roof slopes down with huge pillars. The boot then becomes a dark deep hole with no windows. I preferred the old version that was designed more like an old fashioned estate, a much nicer place if you carry dogs, and easier to load and unload items from it. The gap between the rear seats and rear window also seems to be much smaller which makes it less practical. What I'd really like is a Volvo 245 estate plug in hybrid!😉 The second issue I have is the interior of the car. I'm not a fan of this minimalist design that all car manufacturers seem to be adopting. Presumably this is mainly cost driven but for me it makes them such a dull place to be. The interiors have become like over grown games consoles. Yes I know, I'm an analogue man in a digital world, but hey, I'm making comments on social media using a pc so there is hope for all of us! 🤞
@john trinick, I hear you; I feel the same way. The interiors of ''old'' with buttons, switchgear and analog dials did the job perfectly well and I cringe at these new digital interfaces so few of us even wanted. Oh well...looks like I'll have to deal with this since, other than maybe Mazda and Porsche, everyone is doing this to their cars.
I still like this new Niro enough to deal with the digital'ness and touch'ness.
That seems to be the modern way - more money for less and less.
Is fast charging available for this Kia Niro Plug in hybrids? Normally how much time it will take to full charge if we are using outside charging point (Let’s say fast charging point) for charge our vehicle?
This is where BYD Plug-in-hybrids are hitting the spot as their EV range is 80miles plus. Shame they aren't yet available in the UK.
yeah but....China...
@@ThePilotGear But what China? They are making everything that anyone in the world buys.... Everyone bangs on about "Human Rights" as if the USA gives a rats arse about human rights when they declare war on a country (that happens to have oil or gold in it).
Hybrid, i drive the Ford Puma ST line hybrid doesn't have the EV part to it, but when you put your foot down and the Elec Motor kicks in, it sometimes wheel spins lol
👍
the old model Niro was much, much nicer than the new version... i drive the old version, and i simply love it... i don't like how the new version looks...
Hi Ped. I live in Maryland; outside of Washington D.C. I currently drive a 2009 Santa fe limited which I've owned since it was new. I've never driven a hybrid, but the two kia hybrid vehicles that I'm interested in, are the 2023 kia Niro plug in limited (top spec) and the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Limited. I can't wait until I get a chance to drive both models, my decision will be based on whichever one I can get the best deal on.
Both great cars 👌
Assuming an average 10,000 miles pa you pay about £10K more for 55mpg hybrid compared to a Honda diesel at 1.6 Litres CDTi (55mpg). You have to spend an awful lot more on diesel than the price difference. At an extra 20p per litre of diesel I have to run a hybrid petrol car for 62 years to break even assuming maintenance costs are roughly similar. This also does not include the extra cost of electricity to charge if a PHEV, but the calculation is more abstruse since the mpg figures for PHEV are a bit fairy dust. So would gor neither spec! But if I have to choose one I'd go for the hybrid.
A couple comments on THIS review and those of MANY other automotive reviewers, versus the general public. It seems to me that many/most of these "Reviewers" fancy themselves as "Wannabe Race Car Drivers". It always seems to come down to "Sportiness" as to whether a car is any good or not. Quite frankly, I would suggest that 90% of the population does not think of their transportation appliance as some sort of "Theme Park Experience". They don't care what size of engine is under the hood or how many gears there are in the transmission. They just want it to start when they need it, be reliable, and deliver acceptable fuel economy. Also, I defy anyone to look at the exterior styling of their vehicle whilst they are driving down the road. In my mind, that is purely an EGOTISTICAL emotion as to what other people think of me and my possessions.
With that being said, I reveal that my wife and I personally drive a 2022 Kia Niro PHEV in the highest trim level. We have ZERO problems with how this vehicle looks (in fact we think it looks better than this new Niro with the stupid contrasting colour C Pillar which looks like the vehicle has been in a wreck and hasn't been painted yet) and we truly appreciate ALL the useful/comfortable features this vehicle possesses. In fact, I am unaware of ANY other vehicle in this size category (EV or ICE) which offers such content level. The 2022 version of the Niro PHEV only has an EV Range estimate of 41 kilometers (26 miles) yet we routinely get closer to 50 km or 30 miles of range for all our "in city" driving AND that is sufficient to meet an extremely high percentage of our daily driving needs. We've had this vehicle for just about a year now and close to 10,000 km or a bit more than 6,000 miles. Since we picked up the vehicle at the dealership, our "Gas Mileage" has been 1.4 litres per 100 kilometers which translates to just over 200 Imperial MPG. On one 1300+ kilometer road trip we averaged 4.9 litres per 100 kilometers (about 58 Imperial mpg) and again that is slightly better than it's highway rating. We find this vehicle has exceptional Ingress/Egress characteristics and a comfortable ride, partially due to the taller sidewall height of it's 16" tires. The Harmon Kardon stereo is excellent and it is just an overall nice place to spend time while travelling. We love this car!
We also possess a 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Ultimate and our BIGGEST complaint about that vehicle is it's abysmal "Ride Quality". There go those ubiquitous low profile tires again! I would suggest that this is purely a result of Hyundai acquiring a former BMW suspension design chief. While I admit that our 2021 Sonata does handle extremely well, I personally don't WANT to feel every little tar strip in the road and I can't remember the last time I ever tried to corner on the sidewalls of the tires so I don't give a damn about it's "Sportiness". It's a frickin' hybrid and people buy those for efficiency, not some amusement experience. IF Hyundai wants to crank up the suspension on their "N-Line Sonata", I could care less as that is being marketed to a totally different audience. We'd previously owned a 2009 Hyundai Sonata for over 9 years and had zero complaints about either it's ride or handling. It was just an overall exceptional vehicle and what prompted us to order another Sonata. Wish we could have test driven one first but the dealer only had a Sport Model to test drive, not a hybrid. Lesson learned!
Thanks for this 👍
Level 2 a bit disappointing for internal trim, piano black very impractical , looks tacky on car interiors and very soon starts to show every minute scratch to say nothing of greasy finger prints! Full on electric variants only for folks with money to burn and modest range needs, full electric will very soon become very expensive to run as electricity prices rocket and demands on the national grid increases massively. Great review Pete as always👏👍😀
THREE!
Nice comparison. Your review emphasises the big differences between the three "trim" levels, partially explained by the £2750 hike between each one. I hadn't realised that the '2' spec (in either the HEV or PHEV) gets an old-fashioned auto gear selector (and no paddles on the steering wheel) as opposed to the neat rotary dial (what Kia calls shift-by-wire). For me that totally spoils the otherwise hi-tech look & feel of the cabin, so I can't imagine many going for level 2 spec unless pennies are really tight. As a first move away from purely petrol car, we have gone for a level 3 HEV. Can't yet face the faff of all that regular re-charging, and the boot space in the HEV is significantly larger than the PHEV.
The 2 felt really basic 👎
I have ordered an HEV level 4 the first week in January 2023 still waiting for a delivery date. My main dealer has no idea when it will be coming into the country along with Kia UK who said it expected in the coming months but don't know when..... The suck it and see comment.
Thank God that I didn't want to order a Sportage in January as they said it would September at the earliest!...... They are still saying its all to do with the chip shortage it's wearing thin now. My thoughts are they can not get their act together because of the success of the new models.... And they are still advertising on the TV knowing they can't supply!!!
i have read a article that they are having massive recalls engine failures etc
Considering the Niro. Leaning towards the PHEV. My question is connectivity. I cannot get a firm answer that on the higher trim level with larger screen that it will Not connect with my Android. Yet on thr smaller set up you can. Help plz from the States. Cheers Z
Sorry Michael. Not sure about that one 😬
Shame there isn't a GT line model spec I would want more power in the petrol hybrid so I would rather buy the Sportage GT line S for the extra money. The niro does look good thou.👍
Not thought about that 👍
Are they going to do one with the i30n engine? That would be my choice.
That would be cool 👍
For me it’d be the PHEV, for pure range anxiety avoidance. I can’t help but think that EV, although less polluting than ICE vehicles, is just pushing the problem elsewhere. Batteries are tremendously damaging, especially in he way that the raw materials are brought together, then there’s the end of life issues, how they are handled etc. I’d hope that more tech and development is put into hydrogen cell technology.
The raw materials issue remains with hydrogen, because fuel cell manufacture requires platinum......plus those fuel cells degrade over their working life. But the main user issue with hydrogen is that it cannot produce the energy used in the manufacture of it. It's way too inefficient..... There are few issues with recycling old EV batteries if it's done correctly. Both VW and Renault are now recycling them in Europe....
On the hev... At what speed the combustion motor becomes the primary motor?
It depends how firmly you press the accelerator. It doesn’t stay in EV for long 😬
Good info but aittle brevity would be nice.
What exactly do you mean 🤷♂️👍