This is pretty impressive for the price point. I actually like the looks too. Modern without being cartoony looking. Toyota could use a few pointers on some of their vehicles (HRF).
Thank you for the review, Dave. I currently have an older hybrid that I used for my work commute. It regularly exceeds the EPA's mileage estimate but I do feel that the car sacrifices some comfort for the numbers. The Niro looks to be an obvious choice for my next ride. I like the the fact that Kia/Hyundai kept a conventional 6 speed auto rather than a CVT in this setup.
I recently just bought a 2019 Niro EX Hybrid but with heated seats only & noticed beginning of this video has also cooling seats which would have been great for the summer, 🤦🏻♀️ oh well, great video btw 👍
wow, great video add usual. I had no idea the Nero was going to be only slightly more expensive than the Soul. I'll have to seriously think about this as my next car.
I just got a Niro 2019 and love it. Avg 48 mpg (previous auto got 22 mpg) which will help pay for it. Only thing that bugs me is that when you turn the car off, the display stays on, i.e. radio, etc. I work from my car so be nice to turn that off without opening and closing the door. Anyone know another way, the dealer didn't know and I didn't find anything in the book.
I Dave. My wife drives a cx5. As a mountain biker, dog owner, shooter, I love the utility. As a commuter, I wish it got better mpg, even though it is really good at 25mpg mixed. If I like the dynamics and space of cx5 will I find similar stuff in niro but with vastly superior mpg?
I'm sorry, but would you care to explain how a vehicle that only averages 50mpg in mixed driving (and does better in the city than on the highway) averaged 76.6 mpg driving coast to coast and established Guinness world record? Were half those miles covered on the bed of a car transporter?? I have had my 2019 Kia Niro LX (rated at only 49mpg rather than 50mpg of the FX) and I have been extremely lucky to pull a full 50mpg no matter what kind of driving I do. And the battery charge does not last long enough to go significantly far on just the motor, so I really really really have my doubts about this bogus claim of 76.6 mpg. Another thing you have to be careful about is using the on board computer calculation to determine average fuel efficiency. I have compared the MPG stated on the computer of several cars that I've own (mostly Nissans) versus the TOTAL miles / Fill up gallons of gas and the computers were CONSISTENTLY OVERSTATING the MPGs my 2-4 mpg on every fill up.
With its lighter weight (due to being a hybrid) and only being FWD, Is this something you would feel OK driving in Washington state? I live in the snow belt in northern Indiana and was looking at a Sportage when I heard about this and the doubling of the MPG of that vehicle. Maybe sacrifice some MPG in winter by getting a slightly grippier snow tire 4 months a year? Appreciate any response you can supply!
I live in WA state and bought my Niro in June. I haven’t been through winter with t yet, but that’s the only concern is ice and snow. All depends on the seasons here and it is very unpredictable. As someone said above, replace with better tires when needed
lol I also live in northern Indiana and my fiance just bought a Sportage and I want the Niro--was going to put some winter tires on it if needed on the front since its FWD; all you really need.
you address the cargo area better than most by far..( I'm a fellow Bicyclist...But real Touring bicycle not those cartoon plastic fantasic you ride:):)..keep up the great back load floor updates..Cheers Allan
hi dave any word on the nissan sport are you going to get one to test drive and review I'm interested in that vehicle i understand its coming this spring in the us market
Torn between this and the Ioniq, leaning on the Ioniq because Hyundai and the MPG. But the storage space in the Kia is nice for my line of work, not sure which one to go with atm
I still think that the MOST important feature is an auto liftgate for when you have bags of groceries and cannot use your hand to open the door! This happens to me several times a week and it's very annoying when I has to put stuff on the ground to open a door. My Jeep's glass opens with remote, but still I has to lift a bag pretty high to get it in the back. I never understand designers don't realize how drivers appreciate such a feature! I keep telling myself, "My next SUV/cross WILL have auto liftgate" and no excuses!
tigerbalm what's so hard about putting bags on the ground? There are a lot more important things in the car. As soon as that sensor breaks, you will wish for the manual.
Umm, when it's pouring down rain, snow, icy parking lots, windy dirty...not as easy as you think...maybe you just make your wife do all the shopping? maybe the elderly has bad backs? You sure don't seam to think things through or thoughtful of others...
tigerbalm Well, if weather is that bad you or the elderly shouldn't be out shopping ; delivery instead? All I'm saying is that in general, the manual liftgate is easy, people buy accessories just to be lazy and then complain about the sensor repair bill, then complain that they don't have enough money. Besides put you grocery bags in a cart so u don't have to carry it to the car??
tigerbalm Hyundai has a couple of cars with that feature. Just stand near the trunk with your key in your pocket or purse and the car senses your there, it opens the trunk hands free.
My new '17 Hyundai Santa Fe has the hands-free auto liftgate. While I wouldn't rank it as its MOST important feature, it is pretty nice, especially having proximity-based activation, no foot kick required. It wasn't a feature I was even shopping for, but it is kinda neat.
Bummer. No spare tire = no sale for me. Otherwise it looks very interesting. My money is on hybrids that have a space for a spare, or a spare. This is a starting point. If a car has a spare or room for one I'll take a serious look at the other features and cost.
John Donaldson I would guess that it has room for a spare, it just doesn't come with one because it lowers the weight and increases MPG's. I have a 2016 soul that didn't come with one but I purchased one and installed it myself. They usually run 200-300 bucks.
The total output should be 147 and 195 not 139. The totals are off. Other car companies add the totals. It's odd that it goes down to 139. Electric batteries are very efficient
That's kind of funny. I went from an Optima to a CUV. I loved the engine and handling of the Optima. I hated how low and long it was. It sucked to parallel park on my gf's university campus. Went with the Encore, but would have definitely stuck with Kia if this was available at the time.
I've had a soul, sportage and now the niro hands down the niro is the best drive and best on gas
Danyelle, is that still the case? Thanks. (I'm going from a Soul Sport to Niro 4)
This is pretty impressive for the price point. I actually like the looks too. Modern without being cartoony looking. Toyota could use a few pointers on some of their vehicles (HRF).
Thank you for the review, Dave. I currently have an older hybrid that I used for my work commute. It regularly exceeds the EPA's mileage estimate but I do feel that the car sacrifices some comfort for the numbers. The Niro looks to be an obvious choice for my next ride. I like the the fact that Kia/Hyundai kept a conventional 6 speed auto rather than a CVT in this setup.
For the first 4.50 mins, I like the idea of having a background music while you were reviewing :) keep up the good job!
I recently just bought a 2019 Niro EX Hybrid but with heated seats only & noticed beginning of this video has also cooling seats which would have been great for the summer, 🤦🏻♀️ oh well, great video btw 👍
Nice review, Dave! Keep 'em coming!
Kia really stepped up lately.
I bought the touring model in 2017. Just passed 100k. It’s still the best car I’ve ever owned!
wow, great video add usual. I had no idea the Nero was going to be only slightly more expensive than the Soul. I'll have to seriously think about this as my next car.
Your audio is great for my smart phone. That mic must be top of the line .
courtney Vegan $600 wireless mic set up - quality counts!
My partner bought a Kia Niro based on your review!
I just got a Niro 2019 and love it. Avg 48 mpg (previous auto got 22 mpg) which will help pay for it. Only thing that bugs me is that when you turn the car off, the display stays on, i.e. radio, etc. I work from my car so be nice to turn that off without opening and closing the door. Anyone know another way, the dealer didn't know and I didn't find anything in the book.
If it's anything like my Soul, a quick press turns Apple CarPlay or whatever media off and a longer press turns the display off.
Really need to test drive one of those. Looks real impressive.
Lately I have been really considering this car.
Are these reliable long term?
I Dave. My wife drives a cx5. As a mountain biker, dog owner, shooter, I love the utility. As a commuter, I wish it got better mpg, even though it is really good at 25mpg mixed. If I like the dynamics and space of cx5 will I find similar stuff in niro but with vastly superior mpg?
Peter T the Niro is better than the cx5. Not quite as big but almost
way less power and a little smaller. if i remember correctly the cx5 rides a little nicer too
my test drive is sat this week !
I'm sorry, but would you care to explain how a vehicle that only averages 50mpg in mixed driving (and does better in the city than on the highway) averaged 76.6 mpg driving coast to coast and established Guinness world record? Were half those miles covered on the bed of a car transporter?? I have had my 2019 Kia Niro LX (rated at only 49mpg rather than 50mpg of the FX) and I have been extremely lucky to pull a full 50mpg no matter what kind of driving I do. And the battery charge does not last long enough to go significantly far on just the motor, so I really really really have my doubts about this bogus claim of 76.6 mpg. Another thing you have to be careful about is using the on board computer calculation to determine average fuel efficiency. I have compared the MPG stated on the computer of several cars that I've own (mostly Nissans) versus the TOTAL miles / Fill up gallons of gas and the computers were CONSISTENTLY OVERSTATING the MPGs my 2-4 mpg on every fill up.
With its lighter weight (due to being a hybrid) and only being FWD, Is this something you would feel OK driving in Washington state? I live in the snow belt in northern Indiana and was looking at a Sportage when I heard about this and the doubling of the MPG of that vehicle. Maybe sacrifice some MPG in winter by getting a slightly grippier snow tire 4 months a year? Appreciate any response you can supply!
Michael Holderman I would definitely put tires with grip and drive it all year round. Saving money with the gained fuel economy
snow is all about the tires. 4wd only helps you accelerate. steering and braking is all about the tires
I live in WA state and bought my Niro in June. I haven’t been through winter with t yet, but that’s the only concern is ice and snow. All depends on the seasons here and it is very unpredictable. As someone said above, replace with better tires when needed
lol I also live in northern Indiana and my fiance just bought a Sportage and I want the Niro--was going to put some winter tires on it if needed on the front since its FWD; all you really need.
you address the cargo area better than most by far..( I'm a fellow Bicyclist...But real Touring bicycle not those cartoon plastic fantasic you ride:):)..keep up the great back load floor updates..Cheers Allan
Best car Dave!All the best from Romania.Adios!
hi dave any word on the nissan sport are you going to get one to test drive and review I'm interested in that vehicle i understand its coming this spring in the us market
Welcome to San Antonio brother
If it can't be had with AWD or 4WD its not a CUV, SUV or "Crossover". Its a hatchback. That said, I like it and would consider it.
Jeff Morse it's not a typical cuv. It's a hybrid.
Torn between this and the Ioniq, leaning on the Ioniq because Hyundai and the MPG.
But the storage space in the Kia is nice for my line of work, not sure which one to go with atm
Test drive both and buy the one that's more practical for your needs.
Am really thinking of you as my daily driver to replace my Prius but a 1.6 litre engine is too sluggish
Wish they made the Soul a hybrid 😊
berryfairy68 isn't there a hybrid version? Or electric?
sharedaccount93 Electric yes but not hybrid 😂
berryfairy68 nothing like the soul
how would this compare in size to a ford escape????
any concern that the battery and gas tank are next to each other? : /
I like the bigger cargo area of my Prius V. If this had a bigger cargo area I would buy one today!
This is NOT a crossover SUV--it is a station wagon--the federal DOT classifies it as so--look at the window sticker....
Do the second row seats recline??
T Urb you obviously didn't watch the video fully. But yes they do..
You obviously didn't read his comment. He said RECLINE, not fold forward. Nowhere in the video did it say that the back seats recline....
Sucks now, today, most, of the cars are not coming with CD player :-(
I'm surprised it doesn't have the panoroof like the rest of the lineup
awesome car for commuter! not really for sport riding~
hey now. he's listening to Howard stern
Hate HS
Is it above or below the Forte?
MJP Silverman separate department. This one is a hybrid.
Great review
How tall are you? The car looks tiny with you in it
The Plug In range will probably be in the mid 20's.
I still think that the MOST important feature is an auto liftgate for when you have bags of groceries and cannot use your hand to open the door! This happens to me several times a week and it's very annoying when I has to put stuff on the ground to open a door. My Jeep's glass opens with remote, but still I has to lift a bag pretty high to get it in the back. I never understand designers don't realize how drivers appreciate such a feature! I keep telling myself, "My next SUV/cross WILL have auto liftgate" and no excuses!
tigerbalm what's so hard about putting bags on the ground? There are a lot more important things in the car. As soon as that sensor breaks, you will wish for the manual.
Umm, when it's pouring down rain, snow, icy parking lots, windy dirty...not as easy as you think...maybe you just make your wife do all the shopping? maybe the elderly has bad backs? You sure don't seam to think things through or thoughtful of others...
tigerbalm Well, if weather is that bad you or the elderly shouldn't be out shopping ; delivery instead? All I'm saying is that in general, the manual liftgate is easy, people buy accessories just to be lazy and then complain about the sensor repair bill, then complain that they don't have enough money. Besides put you grocery bags in a cart so u don't have to carry it to the car??
tigerbalm Hyundai has a couple of cars with that feature. Just stand near the trunk with your key in your pocket or purse and the car senses your there, it opens the trunk hands free.
My new '17 Hyundai Santa Fe has the hands-free auto liftgate. While I wouldn't rank it as its MOST important feature, it is pretty nice, especially having proximity-based activation, no foot kick required. It wasn't a feature I was even shopping for, but it is kinda neat.
Seems like a great car, but I don't like how kias have low seating positions and it feels like you're sitting in a bucket.
Teighlour Swyftte not on this car
well thats cool then, low seats made me not want the Optima Hybrid, but i might check this out instead then.
Oh yeah the optima you can adjust height if you want on the side. This car is a cuv you sit high up like a fav 4
You can also raise the seats in this car. there is a lever on the side to raise it up.
Bummer. No spare tire = no sale for me. Otherwise it looks very interesting. My money is on hybrids that have a space for a spare, or a spare. This is a starting point. If a car has a spare or room for one I'll take a serious look at the other features and cost.
John Donaldson I would guess that it has room for a spare, it just doesn't come with one because it lowers the weight and increases MPG's. I have a 2016 soul that didn't come with one but I purchased one and installed it myself. They usually run 200-300 bucks.
the regular niro hybrid does have a space for an optional spare tire, the plug-in does not
And no real time MPG?!
BAU the tests have shown even the touring can get combined 46-48 mpg. The base one can get up to 55 mpg combined
Got some big 'ole women down in San Antonio!
I'm confused. Is this a SUV?
Serafina Recalcitrant It’s considered a crossover.
Everything these days is a crossover......lol
It's only downfall is no all wheel drive. Fwd only 😕
robinsonmac , AWD would have lowered the mpg considerably
robinsonmac why would you want a and hybrid? it defeats the entire purpose of the car: practical efficiency with style.
The total output should be 147 and 195 not 139. The totals are off. Other car companies add the totals. It's odd that it goes down to 139. Electric batteries are very efficient
Lots of Audi in the greenhouse....Just don't love CUV's. Kia is my choice of cars...we have 2 Optimas!
That's kind of funny. I went from an Optima to a CUV. I loved the engine and handling of the Optima. I hated how low and long it was. It sucked to parallel park on my gf's university campus. Went with the Encore, but would have definitely stuck with Kia if this was available at the time.
Basically a soul in another skin
sportsMike87 Exactly what I was thinking and I drive a kia soul.
Its bigger than a soul
much more room than a soul....same height though
You can't get 50 mpg in a Soul.
It strikes me as more closely related to the Sportage than a Soul, just from the styling of it.
It's a much better looking Jeep Cherokee
IP p. Loopppooiiii
if you're 5'11 then good lord that subcompact is down low
Play now or die That's because its not an SUV, its a CUV.
Benjamín Valenzuela Yeah I just mean I've seen and rode in a few mazda 5s and they make this thing look squashed!
Kia stinger
The taillights look very similar to a Tesla's rear lights.
early forgive province rent ok each big.
I don't like cars. I only watch your videos because I like to stare at your face. #ImCreepy
Looks cheaply made