2023 Kia Niro - BEV, PHEV, & Hybrid

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › 2023 Kia Niro - BEV, PHEV, & Hybrid - wait ... what?

Batman

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#298734 12-Jul-2022 07:21

so there is a new car coming whenever it is coming but nobody seems to have any details. Kia NZ website just says "contact your dealer"

the most info i can find is here https://www.bergeyskia.com/blog/2022/may/24/introducing-the-2023-kia-niro-lineup.htm

so why PHEV and Hybrid? what is better?

Hybrid if you live in high rise apartment and can't charge? No other benefits?

I guess Kia needs to give use more info?

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#2940881 12-Jul-2022 07:47

I guess it also puts the niro at different price points.

"Self charging" Hybrid > Plug in hybrid > BEV

They will also have different battery packs. And also be able to reduce their overall CO2 outputs across the fleet? Makes sense to me?

I've seen a few vids re the BEV version - looks good, will be interesting to see how close to the subsidy it is priced at.

Just had a peak at the kia au site. They don't list the niro as a PHEV so I'm guessing we'll only get the non plug-in and pure EV versions here too.

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#2940906 12-Jul-2022 09:16

Sounds like the BEV will have V2L capabilities, so you can plug in a kettle or whatever in the event of a power outage or if you're out camping etc. Cool!

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#2941108 12-Jul-2022 12:36

The Niro chassis is not a bespoke EV which means they can slap every drive train combo that they want into it and milk as much money from it as they can.

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#2941182 12-Jul-2022 16:08

There are plenty of reviews on YT e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1ec7qEhthA&t=178s

I am waiting for this car but the pricing is not available yet.

But UK pricing captured off a video review

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#2941191 12-Jul-2022 16:27

I really like the look of this but it looks like the pricing will probably be too close to the EV6 for it to be worthwhile.

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#2941263 12-Jul-2022 18:36

alasta:

I really like the look of this but it looks like the pricing will probably be too close to the EV6 for it to be worthwhile.

I almost bought the EV6 only stopping when it proved too large for my driveway. I had the Niro in my sights but as noted it could be too expensive.

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#2941397 13-Jul-2022 10:04

Batman:

so there is a new car coming whenever it is coming but nobody seems to have any details. Kia NZ website just says "contact your dealer"

the most info i can find is here https://www.bergeyskia.com/blog/2022/may/24/introducing-the-2023-kia-niro-lineup.htm

so why PHEV and Hybrid? what is better?

Hybrid if you live in high rise apartment and can't charge? No other benefits?

I guess Kia needs to give use more info?

As another poster mentioned, The Hybrid is likely to be heaps cheaper than the PHEV.

Can get away with a battery about 1/10th the size, and can make the electric side of the drivetrain a lot weaker, as having the engine fire up under moderate acceleration is fine in a non plug hybrid.

They hybrid is also likely to be substantially lighter (same reasons as above), and could be more efficient in hybrid mode as it will be optimized for this (where as the plug in has to be designed to accommodate high speed electric running etc.)

Should note that Toyota (overseas) has been offering the hybrid Prius and plug in Prius / Prius prime for many years, and now also have a Rav4 hybrid & Rav4 prime (plug in).

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#2944610 21-Jul-2022 07:36

I see the full range is available in NZ!

https://kia.co.nz/vehicles/niro/range-and-specifications/

All vehicles get a rebate.

lchiu7

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#2944627 21-Jul-2022 08:55

tanivula: I see the full range is available in NZ!

https://kia.co.nz/vehicles/niro/range-and-specifications/

All vehicles get a rebate.

There is a Light and Water version, one at $67,990 and the other at $73,990.

Trying to decipher the additional features you get with the Water edition but a quick perusal shows:

- faux leather seats

- LED vs halogen lights

- powered tailgate

That is a lot less expensive than I had imagined so if I don't go through my Atto3 purchase, the Niro could be an option.

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#2944647 21-Jul-2022 09:46

tanivula:

- faux leather seats

- LED vs halogen lights

- powered tailgate

Went through all the differences to try and convince my partner to spring for the extra 😀

On top of these there is:

- No powered lumbar support for drivers seat

- No multi-angle adjustable rear seat

- 8" vs 10.25" infotainment screen

- No integrated 10.25" digital cluster (is this the HOD?)

- 2 less speakers (6 vs 8 with Harman Kardon)

- No wireless phone charging

- No Electrochromic rear view mirror

- No rain sensing front wipers

- No passenger auto up/down safety power windows

- No internal V2L

- No power child safety door locks

- Only rear parking sensors whereas water has both front and rear

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#2944648 21-Jul-2022 09:50

Quite big differences then.

I'd be campaigning for the Water. The Mirror thing is handy, as are the wiper sensors and parking sensors. Nice to have bigger screens too.

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#2944655 21-Jul-2022 10:13

trig42:

Quite big differences then.

I'd be campaigning for the Water. The Mirror thing is handy, as are the wiper sensors and parking sensors. Nice to have bigger screens too.

I would probably go for the Water version. The upgrades are sufficiently different and enhanced to justify the additional cost amortised over at least 7 years.

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#2944668 21-Jul-2022 10:52

I wouldn't be too worried about the difference in audio systems because a car is an awful environment for listening to music, but the halogen headlights and lack of rain sensing wipers would be a deal breaker on the cheaper variant.

One thing worth noting is that wireless Carplay is only available on the cheaper one. Apparently this is quite a common thing due to some contractual issue affecting cars with integrated satellite navigation.

Overall I'm quite impressed. I think this is probably the best value for money electric offering on the market at the moment for mainstream buyers who don't want to take a punt on unproven players like Tesla and BYD.

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#2944673 21-Jul-2022 11:07

alasta:

I think this is probably the best value for money electric offering on the market at the moment for mainstream buyers who don't want to take a punt on unproven players like Tesla and BYD.

Love it - just waiting for the Muskovites to leap to Tesla's defence over this line!*

Perhaps something like '... for more risk-averse buyers who don't want to take a punt on newer car manufacturers like Tesla and BYD' may be a more nuanced way of wording this point?! BYD are fairly new, but Tesla has been producing cars for a decent period of time; they're also fairly 'mainstream' now, given their two cheaper models are some of the best-selling EVs in the world.

It'll be interesting to see how much this is seen as a competition for the M3, given on paper it's a decent amount smaller (as per the image below, sits between an MG ZS and the M3).

* While I've bought a Tesla, I know I'll never reach the level of loyalty Tesla's most devoted fans are at - the most one-eyed of EVangelists out there! One only has to read the NZ FB groups to get enough exposure to this.

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#2944675 21-Jul-2022 11:12

teihoata:

Went through all the differences to try and convince my partner to spring for the extra 😀

…..

I just downloaded the brochure and in the EV specs it shows light spec having wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto while the Water spec has wired.

Surely that has to be a typo….

But the HEV and PHEV are the same. The higher specced models says “wired”.

Im not a particular fan of AA or AC, but wireless would be a bonus not a downgrade.

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