The 2017 Kia Niro is a hybrid like no other. Unlike the Toyota Prius the 2017 Kia Niro does not screen hybrid. Instead, it looks like a small crossover. It also drives like a small crossover car.
Kia realized that some hybrid car buyers might be put-off by the traditional “look at me” hybrid styling so they designed a car that’s more inline with the design direction of the current compact crossover craze.
Kia also did something that’s even more unusual. They made the Kia drive like a traditional car. Gone is the typical hybrid’s CVT transmission, instead Kia gave the Niro a modern 6-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Kia also turned down the typical hybrid regenerative braking so that the Niro stops like a car your grandfather would recognize. In fact there’s not much about the 2017 Kia Niro that screams hybrid unless you look at the car’s impressive EPA city ratings of up to 52 mpg for the high fuel efficiency model.
Power comes from a Atkinson-cycle 1.6-liter inline-4 cylinder that produces 104 hp and 109 lb-ft. This small engine is paired to an electric motor/generator, that produces 43 hp. As you probably know most hybrids are pretty slow from 0-60 MPH so how fast is this setup CVT less perform in a straight line when you put your foot to the floor?
I decided to find out recently in TFLcar’s very first live car review. Recently Youtube has allowed us to stream video live and so I thought it might be fun and interesting to take you along for the review with me as I test and review the new 2017 Kia Niro from 0-60 MPH at the TFLcar test track in Dacono, Colorado.
You can watch that 0-60 MPH live stream review below. However, if you would like to see more traditional video review of the 2017 Kia Niro just click HERE as I also had the chance to drive and review the new Kia hybrid in Texas earlier this month.
