Kia has released first images of the facelifted Kia Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, which will debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show next week.
Improvements include minor styling changes, a more upscale and high-quality interior, and new interior colour options, Kia says. The Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Niro (a full EV joined the range last year) also feature Kia’s new UVO Connect telematics system, which brings additional ‘connected’ functionality.
We start with the visual changes. This facelift aligns the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants with the appearance of the e-Niro full EV, also known as the Niro EV. The brand’s ‘tiger nose’ remains, but it’s more prominent now thanks to the deletion of the black outline and a funky grille insert.
More obvious are the new bumpers, which house new double-arrow LED daytime running lights and optional LED fog lamps. These are located at the edges of the face, where vertical vents used to sit. Kia says that the standard projection headlamps have been redesigned with the brand’s ‘ice-cube’ design, but the pics here show the optional full LED headlamps.
At the back, the crossover gets new LED signatures and a fresh bumper – the latter sports arrow-like elements on the sides that mimic those in front, and a wider skid plate. The Niro Hybrid now comes with more variant options, and is offered with a choice of two 16-inch wheel designs and a new 18-inch dual-tone diamond-cut rim. The Niro Plug-in Hybrid is available with new design 16-inch alloys with dark grey inserts.
There are no accompanying interior pics, but Kia says that the Niro’s cabin has seen upgrades in visual and material terms for a more upscale atmosphere. The dash top is now soft-touch, and there’s new gloss black trim. Two colour packs – Red-Orange and Plum – are new options for a dash of flair. Red-Orange adds contrast stitching and dash trim, while Plum comes with perforated leather and satin chrome dash trim.
Kia is also introducing an optional new 10.25-inch widescreen for the main display, and a 7.0-inch TFT Supervision instrument cluster for the driver. The standard items are an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 4.2-inch TFT instrument binnacle. Steering-mounted paddle shifters for the six-speed DCT, and an electronic parking brake (accompanied by larger rear brakes) are the other changes.
Safety wise, the latest Niro adds Stop & Go functionality to the Smart Cruise Control. Lane Following Assist is available for the first time on the Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, following its introduction on the Niro EV. It works up to 180 km/h.
Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, Blind-spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning, and Intelligent Speed Limit Warning are all carried over.
No changes to the powertrain, which combines a 1.6 litre Kappa GDi engine with a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack (Hybrid) or an 8.9 kWh unit (Plug-in Hybrid). The ICE puts out 105 PS and 147 Nm, while total system output is 141 PS and 265 Nm. Kia claims that the PHEV can achieve 65 km of pure electric city driving, or a WLTP combined cycle electric range of 49 km.
With a regular compact SUV shape (as opposed to a unique green car body), the Niro has caught on pretty well in Europe. More than 270,000 units have been sold globally since 2016, and 100,000 of those were in the continent. Unique among hybrid cars in Europe, the Niro is sold with Kia’s industry-leading seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard. European sales of the facelift start in Q2 2019. Would this work here?
GALLERY: Kia Niro Hybrid, pre-facelift
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
It looked like ABeng lazily designed the exterior and the interior is so bland, even Iriz facelift looks miles better than this boring car.
The real game changer from Korea, habisla Proton X70 from China!
Kia first making cars in 1974.
Proton first making cars in 1985
Proton and Kia beza 11 years
Wow, Kia is so far ahead of Proton. And yet, Kia just started 10 years earlier than Proton.
Yet, Kia/hyundai sell 8 million cars globally but Proton only sell 50,000 cars locally
We must learn how to work hard like the Koreans.
Copy paste: “The same joker that claims Proton was setup in 1957. No wonder he likes joke cars.”
Please do show where it is stated that Proton was setup in 1957. Otherwise, looks like another fake news from you
Copy paste: “KIA was setup in 1947. Do you know how to count?”
Kia was founded in December 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, eventually producing Korea’s first domestic bicycle, the Samchully, in 1951.
Starting in 1986 (when only 26 cars were manufactured, followed by over 95,000 the next year),[13] Kia rejoined the automobile industry in partnership with Ford. Kia produced several Mazda-derived vehicles for both domestic sales in South Korea and for export into other countries.
Kia was founded in December 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, eventually producing Korea’s first domestic bicycle, the Samchully, in 1951.[1] In 1952, Kyungsung Precision Industry changed its name to Kia Industries,[6] and later built Honda-licensed small motorcycles (starting in 1957), Mazda-licensed trucks (1962) and cars (1974)
I read it LOUD and CLEAR. Kia started making cars in 1974!!!
Kia Motors started making Mazda licensed cars in 1974. Tolong baca dengan teliti ya
wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Motors
Founded December 1944; 74 years ago
wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTON_Holdings
Founded 7 May 1983 (35 years ago)
74 minus 35 is just 10 years? Where did you learn maths?
john, still not good in English. Where you read 1957? lolz
Just google Wikipedia and learn to read first. Kia first started with cars in 1974. This is 10 years before Proton did
I just googled it and I can see Kia started making cars in 1974
Wikipedia does not lie!
Wikipedia does not lie but you failed in reading comprehension
Copy paste:
“wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Motors
Founded December 1944; 74 years ago
wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTON_Holdings
Founded 7 May 1983 (35 years ago)
74 minus 35 is just 10 years? Where did you learn maths?”
Wkipedia doesn’t lie, yeah. But you did.
In the 80s, Korea was so backward. Not just the car industry. Korea was like third world country.
Malaysia was 100X more progressed than Korea in 80s
But in 2019, Korea is now FIRST WORLD and one of the highest GDP per Capita in the world
First 2 parts you seemed to talk about North Korea. Last part you seemed to talk about South Korea. Do you the difference between North Korea and South Korea? Don’t be a katak.
I have never read this before. Can you furnish us with a link that someone has said Proton opened in 1957?
Yes. I have never heard this too. So please tell us where did you find the link that told you Proton opened in 1957 since Kia was opened in 1947?
Kindly learn how to read properly. Kia only started manufacturing cars in 1986
Learn how to read
Starting in 1986 (when only 26 cars were manufactured, followed by over 95,000 the next year),[13] Kia rejoined the automobile industry in partnership with Ford. Kia produced several Mazda-derived vehicles for both domestic sales in South Korea and for export into other countries.
I think local grads must learn how to do better research by reading whole articles.
Yes I think you should.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Motors
Founded December 1944; 74 years ago
wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTON_Holdings
Founded 7 May 1983 (35 years ago)
74 minus 35 is just 10 years? Where did you learn maths?
I can confirm that I just opened Wiki and found out that Kia first made cars in 1974 and Proton in 1984
10 years apart
Kia was founded in December 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, eventually producing Korea’s first domestic bicycle, the Samchully, in 1951.[1] In 1952, Kyungsung Precision Industry changed its name to Kia Industries,[6] and later built Honda-licensed small motorcycles (starting in 1957), Mazda-licensed trucks (1962) and cars (1974)
So you admitted that KIA was already a very large conglomerate with deep pockets, extensive engineering knowledge and having the ecosystem and the larger market to start with, all which made them a better success as compared to Proton and if Proton had such beginnings as well, they too would be as success a story? I thank you for your humbleness in admitting your mistakes.