2017 Kia Niro Hybrid

The 2017 Kia Niro hybrid is offered in 4 varieties- the base trim FE coming at a price of $23,785; the value for money trim LX coming at a price range of $24,095; the exclusive trim EX coming at a price of $26,595 and finally, the Touring that can be availed at a price of $30,545. Its subcompact cum crossover body style emboldens the design language- "Un-hybrid". In addition to it, the subcompact SUV for the year 2017 offers 16-inch alloy wheels, 6 speakers audio system 7-inch touchscreen in the 2017 Niro FE, however, if you want an upgrade to 18-inch alloy wheels, Harman Kardon Premium Audio System with 8 speakers with a USB charger outlet and 8" touchscreen, go for the Niro EX or Niro Touring. 

The carpet floor mats at a price of $130 are a good addition to the interior of  Kia Niro FE as they ensure an immaculate presence in the cabin. That said, you can go for the Mudguards for a cheap price of $95 as they would ensure a clean exterior as well while driving it offroad. Speaking of which the 2017 Kia Niro hybrid is offered in 7 exterior colors and 2 interior upholstery colors as standard. The Crimson Red with black cloth upholstery color is a popular choice among buyers in the country. 

As its name suggests the 2017 Kia Niro hybrid houses a dual-engine philosophy to propel it forward. There is state-of-the-art technology in its 1.6 L 4-cylinder engine as it comes with a 43-hp tractive electric motor that is fitted between the engine and transmission. The engine along with the electric motor delivers the power of 139 hp and a torque of 195 lb-ft. An innovation is observed in its battery as the Niro eliminated the 12-volt battery and incorporates a high-voltage lithium-ion polymer battery to make up for it. The transmission is smooth and responsive owing to its 6-speed auto shift manual transmission and the adoption of front-wheel as a drivetrain makes the Niro economical. 

Being a hybrid subcompact SUV, it is surprisingly quick and covers 0-60 MPH in less than 10 seconds, 9.25 seconds to be exact. The top speed of the 2017 Niro hybrid is a downer as at full press of the accelerator pedal it achieves a meager 107 MPH. Owing to its parallel hybrid system you would not feel that you are driving one as the power delivery to the front wheels is without loss. 

The regenerative braking system incorporated ensures a good kinetic energy reserve by charging the battery at times of braking. This technology is one of the factors that the Niro hybrid achieves an exceptional fuel economy of 52 MPG. The deacceleration is also quick as it achieves 70-0 MPH in 153 ft which is astounding as it's an SUV. 

Based on the comparisons the 2017 Kia Niro hybrid offers more torque than the 2017 Buick Encore, 2017 Toyota RAV4, and 2017 Subaru Crosstrek by 47 lb-ft, 23 lb-ft, and 50 lb-ft respectively. Having said that, we feel that the 2017 Toyota RAV4 is more powerful than the rest due to its 2.5 L engine. Being an AWD, the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek is quicker than the 2017 Kia Niro hybrid, 2017 Buick Encore, and 2017 Toyota RAV4 by 0.4 seconds, 0.05 seconds, and 0.1 seconds respectively. The 2017 Niro hybrid fares well against its sister rival the 2020 Niro EV in terms of performance. 

The subcompact SUV has received top honors from IIHS except for headlights that have been rated as Poor. On the other hand, the NHTSA has not rated the 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid on any aspect- Frontal Crash, Side Crash, and Rollover. Moreover, there have been a total of 3 recalls and 42 complaints registered to 2017 Niro's name. That said, the 2017 Kia Niro incorporates plenty of driver assistance features like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Change Assist. In addition to the active safety features in the 2017 Niro Hybrid, there are some passive safety features as well- seven airbags, and an advanced high-strength steel structure. 

Safety Features:

• Electronic Stability Control
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• UVO eServices 911 Connect Emergency SOS
• Back-Up Camera