2024 Kia Niro: Is The 2024 Kia Niro AWD? Take a look at the updated 2024 Kia Niro EV if you want to get an idea of how rapidly the market for electric vehicles has evolved over the last few years.
It was a fairly big event when the first-generation Niro Electric Vehicle (EV) debuted for the 2019 model year (coming after the Niro hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, respectively). Kia’s first electric vehicle (EV) that was not derived from a normal gasoline model was the Niro, and it was also the company’s first EV designed for large sales numbers.
Even while the second-generation 2024 Niro EV has more technology, more room, and a more outgoing design than its forerunner, it is still very much in the shadow of the Kia EV6, which was released a year earlier.
Formerly Kia’s primary offering in the electric vehicle market, the Niro is now being repositioned as a more cost-effective alternative to compete with vehicles such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV/Bolt EUV, the Volkswagen ID.4, and the Nissan Leaf.
Kia has plans to sell the Niro EV in two different trim levels known as Wind and Wave, but the company has not disclosed the prices for each one. It is important to note that the base price of the previous-generation 2022 Niro EV was $41,245, and it is possible that the new model will have a higher price due to the improvements.
Kia has also stated that the 2024 Niro EV will not be eligible for the redesigned federal EV tax credit. This is due to the fact that the vehicle will be produced in South Korea.
Overview
The environmentally friendly reputation of the 2024 Kia Niro is going to get a dose of hipness thanks to a striking new exterior design. The four-cylinder engine in the standard hybrid model produces 139 horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid variant’s output is increased to 180 horsepower by virtue of the addition of a more powerful electric motor.
It will be one of Kia’s entry-level vehicles, and it will be positioned next to the boxy Soul at the tiny end of the range. The inside, which is lined with sustainable materials, reflects the outgoing aesthetic of the outside and appears quite premium for what will be one of Kia’s entry-level cars.
When a driver is in a “Green Zone,” which includes residential areas, the vicinity of institutions such as schools and hospitals, and areas that are frequently visited by the driver, such as their office or home, the Niro will automatically switch into electric vehicle mode using navigation data. This will be a standard feature.
Design and Interior
As was the case with the model before it, the Niro is one of three vehicles in the Niro portfolio, which also includes the Niro Hybrid and the Niro PHEV (plug-in hybrid models). The tall wagon body style of the first-generation Niro is carried over through all three iterations, but the design is considerably more assertive.
The 2024 Niro is the work of the same brave design department that developed the EV6 and the 2024 Kia Sportage. Whereas the previous Niro was a wishy-washy combination of style cues from cars and SUVs, the 2024 Niro has a more cohesive look.
The conventional “face” of an automobile has been redesigned with a feature that resembles a visor, a grille that protrudes forward, and lighting components that are hexagonal in shape.
Kia asserts that the “Air Blade” features located around the taillights, which are concealed by contrasting trim panels, lower the amount of aerodynamic drag experienced by the vehicle.
The interior design of the Kia was also given some creative thought, and the company decided to go with a lot of curved surfaces that merge together to provide a good visual flow between the door panels and the dashboard.
It doesn’t appear like the designers just glued some iPads to the dashboard as they did in some other vehicles since the dashboard displays are very beautifully incorporated into the vehicle.
Kia also says that the inside is 100% vegan, and that it employs sustainable materials such as recycled wallpaper (in the headliner) and eucalyptus leaves (in the seats) in order to further reduce the environmental effect of the Niro EV.
The newly redesigned Niro EV is 2.5 inches longer than the vehicle from the previous generation, and its wheelbase has grown to a total of 107.1 inches, an increase of 0.8 inches. This corresponds to a car that is rather small yet has a considerable amount of interior room relative to its size.
In comparison to a Chevy Bolt EUV or a Nissan Leaf, the Kia offers better headroom and legroom in both rows of seating, while it is less spacious than the Volkswagen ID.4.
In a similar manner, the Niro EV’s load capacity of 22.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folding is more than that of the Chevrolet and Nissan, but it is less than that of the Volkswagen.
Tech, Infotainment, and Driver-Assist
The basic entertainment system incorporates a touchscreen display of 10.25 inches and a digital instrument cluster measuring 10.25 inches, both of which are housed inside the same housing to provide the impression of a one continuous screen.
In addition, wired versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard equipment (Kia does not sell wireless versions of this touchscreen), and wireless charging for mobile devices is also included. The front seats have access to one USB-C port and two USB-A ports, while the rear seats have access to a pair of seatback-mounted USB-A ports. The total number of USB ports in the vehicle is five.
Although it is unfortunate that there is no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the front USB ports and phone tray are at least in a good location for plugging in electronic devices. The information and entertainment system itself was simple to use, with a touchscreen that responded quickly and logically organized menus and options.
In addition to blind spot collision avoidance for pulling out of parallel parking spaces, standard safety features include forward collision warning (with pedestrian detection), automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, a driver attention monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert.
Adaptive cruise control is also included, and it has features like as stop-and-go capabilities and navigation-based curve prediction, which are not included in the baseline versions of systems offered by competitors such as Honda and Toyota.
Kia’s Highway Driving Assist II system is now available. This system includes autonomous lane centering for highway driving and boasts a machine-learning feature that modifies the system’s reactions to your particular driving style.
Highway Driving Assist II has capabilities that are roughly comparable to those of the ProPilot Assist system that is available on the Nissan Leaf and the Travel Assist system that is available on the Volkswagen ID.4. These capabilities include the ability to control acceleration, braking, and steering while still requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.
However, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV may be outfitted with the Super Cruise system, which enables drivers to operate the vehicle without using their hands on certain portions of the highway (however, the Bolt EV does not come with this feature).
The Digital Key system, which was previously available on other Kia vehicles as well as those of sibling companies Hyundai and Genesis, may also be purchased for use with the Niro EV.
The Digital Key feature of the Niro EV allows drivers to use a smartphone or another device in lieu of the key fob; however, for the time being, the feature is only compatible with iPhones, the Apple Watch, and Samsung Galaxy phones.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The revamped 2024 Niro hybrid will, much like the model that came out in 2022, be propelled by a hybrid powertrain that generates 139 horsepower and is comprised of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor.
The Niro 2024 will only be available with front-wheel drive and will come standard with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox with six speeds and front-wheel drive. To reach a total output of 180 horsepower, a plug-in hybrid powertrain contributes an electric motor that is much more potent than the others.
We have not yet had the opportunity to put the new Niro through its paces in a test drive, but as soon as we do, we will update this article to include our driving impressions as well as the test findings.
Infotainment and Connectivity
It is anticipated that the whole Niro series would come standard with a huge infotainment display measuring 10.3 inches. This display ought to run the most recent version of Kia’s UVO infotainment system.
Standard features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; optional features include a wireless smartphone charging pad and an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless interfaces.
