Kia Niro to arrive early 2017; first hybrid crossover

Dec 20, 2016

Waukegan, Gurnee, and Kenosha drivers in the market for hybrids that won’t break the bank should start getting excited about the all-new Kia Niro. To be released in early 2017, the Kia Niro will be a crossover sized between the currently available 2017 Kia Soul and 2017 Kia Sportage, and equipped with a hybrid drivetrain system built from the ground-up to compete against the top players in the market.

The 2017 Kia Niro represents a major step in the brand’s plan to triple its green car lineup by 2020, as the company’s first hybrid-only vehicle. Rather than adding hybrid or electric drivetrains to existing vehicle builds, the Kia Niro was designed from the ground-up to achieve maximum fuel efficiency while minimizing some of the quirks of green vehicles. Rather than the typical CVT usually found in hybrids, the Kia Niro will rock a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that should feel more familiar and responsive to drivers of non-hybrid vehicles. To keep weight to a minimum, the engineers used a high-strength steel in various parts of the car’s frame, as well as aluminum where possible. The result is a vehicle that feels and looks more like a typical crossover than an eco-conscious statement.

Kia Eco-DAS (Driver Assistance System) will be included to help future Kia Niro owners squeeze the most out of their gas tanks. Two main features of the Driver Assistance System are the Coasting Guide and Predictive Energy Control, which coach drivers about when to coast or brake, and will anticipate the elevation changes of the road ahead to manage energy flow more efficiently, respectively.

Though we’re still awaiting official pricing and release dates, be sure to keep an eye out for more on the 2017 Kia Niro from Classic Kia, your Kia dealer in Waukegan, IL.