The Kia Niro may not be the first vehicle that comes to mind when it comes to performance-oriented models. It’s not even one of the sportiest in the crossover segment, but that doesn’t mean it can’t stand the moose test and exceed all expectations. This is what happened recently km77.com moose test, the video can be seen attached at the top of this page.
Let’s start with dry numbers. This particular Kia Niro comes from the hybrid version (not a full EV and not a PHEV), which has a 1.6-liter engine under the hood mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s not particularly powerful with 139 horsepower (104 kilowatts) at 5,700 rpm and 195 pound-feet (265 Newton-meters) of peak torque at 4,400 rpm. But, as we all know, strength is not the most important factor in moose testing.
16 Photo
Whether it’s the suspension adjustments, the electronic stability system or the tires – we don’t know, but the Kia Niro clocked in at 50 miles per hour (81 kilometers per hour) in tests conducted by km77.com. We believe the combination of the three factors above made this great result possible, turning the South Korean crossover into one of the best performing vehicles in our test.
This conclusion is not based solely on numbers. Test drivers said the vehicle had very predictable reactions and never felt out of control around cones. In fact, Niro was able to change his course at the end of the test track, unlike any other car. This is quite a shock to hear because we never thought of Niro as a driving car.
The second-generation Kia Niro has been on sale in the United States since summer this year with the Niro Hybrid wearing a starting price tag of 27,785 including destination charge. The plug-in hybrid version starts at $35,035, while the full electric version starts at $40,745.
