Kia Niro Hybrid Plug-in (2020) – First Impressions

Kia Niro Hybrid Plug-in or Niro PHEV is almost the cheapest plug-in hybrid in Poland. Thanks to Kia Motors Polska, we have the opportunity to get to know the car in the latest version of the model (2020). First impressions? Positive. If someone is afraid of the ranges of modern electricians or has nowhere to charge, such a plug-in can be their first step in electromobility.

Kia Niro Hybrid Plug-in (2020) Specifications:

• segment: C-SUV,
• drive: naturally aspirated petrol 1,6 GDi + electrics (plug-in), FWD,
• Add: 6-speed dual-clutch DCT transmission
• general power: 104 kW (141 hp) at 5 rpm
• electric motor power: 45 kW (61 HP)
• battery capacity: ~ 6,5 (8,9) kWh,
• reception: 48 pcs. WLTP,
• combustion: 1,3 liters (claimed on 16-inch wheels)
• total weight: 1,519 tons (data from the registration certificate),
• sizes:
  • wheelbase: 2,7 meters
  • length: 4,355 meters
  • width: 1,805 meters
  • Height: 1,535 meters (without railings),
  • registration: 16 cm
• loading capacity: 324 l (Kia Niro Hybrid: 436 l),
• fuel tank: 45 l,
• mobile app: UVO Konnekt,
• autonomy: Level 2, Active cruise control with lane keeping and distance to the vehicle in front.

Kia Niro PHEV (2020) - advantages and disadvantages after the first contact

Kia Niro Hybrid plug-in (2020) it is an updated version of a car of yesteryear with a nicer headlight line and better equipment than in previous years. It is still a crossover from the beginning of the C-SUV segment, it has a naturally aspirated 1,6 GDi combustion engine, battery with a capacity of ~ 6,5 (8,9) kWh and offers 48 WLTP range unitsat least according to the manufacturer's declaration. On the first day of testing weather permitting on the route Nadarzyn -> Warsaw (Praga Południe) we passed exactly 57 kilometers on an electric motor.

However, let's make a reservation that it was a quiet ride in city traffic jams.

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Shortly thereafter, we took a detour to work test, or actually on vacation. From the eastern part of Warsaw we took the S8 route to Wyszków (Warsaw -> Pisz), this time with five people (2 + 3) on board and full luggage compartment... At the time of departure, the battery was replenished by 89 percent, the internal combustion engine started at 29 minutes after 32,4 kilometers of driving.

This gives 36,4 kilometers of battery power. When driving fast, it decreases rather quickly, but we will talk about this in the next part of the material:

Plug-in Kia Niro Hybrid. The moment immediately after the start of the internal combustion engine. The tachometer is the thin red line between the center of the dials and the speedometer and fuel gauge.

Interestingly, the discharge of the battery does not go to zero. An internal combustion engine usually starts at about 19-20% battery capacity, does so for a while, and then goes out - at least that's what we've had experience with. Shortly thereafter, about 18-19 percent went to regular work. Everything is smooth, but audible. Starting an internal combustion engine is like a distant gurgling in the stomach or running into cross warning stripes, which can happen in difficult parts of the road.

Once someone gets used to the comfort and quietness of an electrician, this sudden sound will come as a slight surprise to them. A slight vibration under his right foot will remind him that he is already driving an internal combustion vehicle. Then it is worth remembering the levers that regulate the recuperation power - they will come in handy.

Hybrid plugin = compromise

"Compromise" is probably a good word to describe most plugin hybrids. The Niro Hybrid Plug-in electric motor delivers 45 kW (61 hp).so we won't be using it for quiet races. Not with Fr. 1,519 tons weight... But enough for a normal ride (and in the editorial office they drive it). And trust us If at least 1/3 of the cars in the city had electric motors, the movement would be much smoother..

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Whether with a plug-in hybrid or electric, starting from the headlights can be a little frustrating: the latter was unable to shift into gear, the latter reacts a second after its predecessor, the latter finally accelerates as if it had the brake on. What seems to be the norm in an internal combustion car (shoooooooooooooooooo ...), when it is powered by electricity, it starts to seem sluggish.

Landing

Ага.

This applies to almost every plug-in hybrid, except for individual models: the built-in charger is single-phase, and the outlet is only type 1. The Kii Niro Hybrid Plug-in charger has a power of 3,3 kW.so even with the very best charging bar you'll get up to 2:30-2:45 hours. Therefore, access to an outlet – whether at home or at work, or finally in a P+R parking lot – is crucial.

Paradoxically: a plug-in hybrid is more important than an electrician... Faster on-board chargers (7-11 kW) are built into the electrics, they also allow you to replenish energy with direct current. With hybrids, things are slower. If you don't have a charge, you are driving on gas. With good weather and a calm ride, we achieved Niro Hybrid Plug-in fuel consumption 2,4 l / 100 km, but this is only the first 100 kilometers from the moment you receive the car:

Fuel consumption: Kia Niro Hybrid Plug-in (2020) after the first 100 km in good weather. We go a little faster than on the counter, here we turned on maximum recuperation to collect some energy when going down the tunnel (Wislostrada, Warsaw).

However, if you commute to work by train or have access to a power outlet at home, in a parking lot, or near a station, you will mostly worry about gasoline in winter or when the car decides you need to burn a little fuel to keep it from aging. Here is the EcoMoto (actually: ecoMOTO) charging post at the East Station in Warsaw:

The wires are blocked in both sockets, so there is no problem that someone pulls them out as a joke.... Or that some taxi driver will turn you off. The engineers at Kolejowe Zakłady Łączności, the manufacturer of EcoMoto devices, came up with an interesting idea. When you start the download, you will receive a printout with the code ("1969") that is needed to complete the process.

This will keep the battery charged when you return to your car after a few hours:

EcoMoto charging station. Pay attention to the printout with the code to protect you from malicious shutdown. The car was connected from 23.17, the average charging power is 3,46 kW. This is slightly more than the 3,3 kW declared by the manufacturer.

So the first 1,5 days of car experiments ended. So far, it's nice, quite comfortable, and the free energy in the bars only makes you smile.. The next stage is a longer trip, namely the weekend route Warsaw -> Write and come back.

We will share with you the experience of driving on good and similar surfaces, talk a little about the quality of the interior, share information about free space and the UVO Connect app.

Editor's note www.elektrowoz.pl: the materials from this series are a record of the impressions of communicating with the car. A separate text will be created to summarize everything.

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