Review: Kia Niro lights a fire with looks, performance

It's rare that we come across a new car that hits all the right notes.

So it's hard to restrain our enthusiasm for the new Kia Niro, a small hybrid crossover.

If you live in a city, it's just the right size to squeeze into those annoyingly tight "compact" parking spaces. Yet inside, there is enough room to handle cargo and people, including a 6-foot-2 bloke like myself who admired the headroom both front and back.

The car is a joy to drive, especially when it comes to its tight turning radius.

The Niro is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that puts out 139 horsepower in tandem with its batteries and electric motor. Doesn't sound like much, but it was plenty for urban scooting. The powertrain, including the six-speed transmission, was well behaved and quiet.

That performance alone would be fine, but consider the gas mileage: At 52 miles per gallon in the city, 49 mpg in the city and 50 mpg overall, the new Niro's numbers come close to the hybrid leader, Toyota's indefatigable Prius sedan, and exceed the Prius V crossover.

Then, there's the styling, which is impressive from outside since small boxy cars generally lack the stature to look bold, modern and inviting. We were even more captivated by the inside, with a dashboard so clean and thoroughly European that, had we not known better, we would have thought we were in a Volkswagen or Volvo.

The new Niro is priced to start at $22,890, plus $895 in destination charges. The price sandwiches it between the slightly smaller, non-hybrid Honda HR-V at $19,465 and the slightly larger, non-crossover Prius sedan at $24,465.

For all the things it does well, Niro arrives in an era of cheap gas when motorists may not pay heed to hybrids. We wonder if Kia will create a non-hybrid version with an even cheaper pricetag. But there's no reason not consider this one if you're in the market for small SUV.

What stands out

Looks: Sharp inside and out

Size: Just right for the city

Price: Affordable for a hybrid crossover

2017 Kia Niro

What? A small five-passenger hybrid SUV

When? In showrooms "in next few weeks"

Where? Made in South Korea

How big? 14.3 feet long

What makes it go? A 1.6-liter four cylinder gas engine and electric motor

How thirsty? 52 miles per gallon in the city, 49 mpg on the highway, 50 mpg overall

How much? Starts at $22,890, plus $895 in destination charges

Overall? Good in so many ways

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Kia Rio 1.4 CRDi 4 EcoDynamics 5-Door

The switch from bargain basement to upmarket quality has been an agreeable one for Korean car maker Kia.

Its small car contender the Rio may have been the model that propelled the brand up the path to UK recognition, but it certainly isn't one for standing still.

A philosophy of offering value-conscious buyers lots of car for their cash remains, but in response to customer clamour you can now lay your hands on a car kitted out like a prestige hatch - which in truth is exactly what the top grade Rio has become.

Four, or more precisely 4, is the magic number that is attracting buyers keen on downsizing without downgrading.

Flagship trim Rio 4 buyers now have the option of a 107bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine or the tested 89bhp 1.4 CRDi turbodiesel, both with six-speed manual transmission and stop/start.

Kit like full leather upholstery, a powered tilt/slide sunroof, heated steering wheel and smart key are all part of the package.

What you get with the Kia is a fresh, modern car you can really enjoy taking for a drive - whether that be a potter round town or a dash down the motorway.

At present there are 24 derivatives in both three and five-door style with prices from $10,095, which represents proper value for money, up to $17,445.

And while there's a coupe-like roofline, head, leg and shoulder room aren't compromised though it can be tight in the back if the front seats need to be slid fully back.

Stowage for bottles and cans is everywhere, while you also get an iPod/USB connection, durable seats and upholstery - important for the re-sale market further down the line - 60/40 split-fold rear seats and a deep boot.

All diesels come with Kia's EcoDynamics suite of measures like low rolling resistance tyres, Intelligent Stop and Go, an accelerator kickdown switch and gearshift indicator.

It all contributes to low CO2 emissions of 105g/km and an official average fuel figure of 70.6 miles, though it has to be said my own mainly urban return was 47.3mpg.

What's certain is that this is a well-refined car of balance, poise and comfort. It also has some decent punch once up to speed if not any great acceleration.

Fast Facts

Kia Rio 1.4 CRDi 4 EcoDynamics 5-door

Price: $17,445

Mechanical: 89bhp, 1,396cc, 4-cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max Speed: 106mph

0-62mph: 12.6 seconds

Combined MPG: 70.6

Insurance Group: 7

C02 emissions: 105g/km

Bik rating: 17%

Warranty: 7yrs/100,000 miles

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Best In Show: Kia Optima

2012 has been a very good year already for the North Korean automaker Kia.  Kia cars have been garnering awards and accolades for their newest models left and right.  The latest of these honors is the Kia Optima's title of "2012 Car of the Year" by Canada's Motoring TV, a weekly national half hour magazine style television program.  The Optima also scored Motoring TV's "Best New Family Car" and the Kia Rio won "Best Small Car Under $21,000" category.  Kia's win marks the first time in the 22-year history of giving out these distinctions that Motoring TV has awarded the same company "Car of the Year" back-to-back.  The Kia Sportage earned the designation last year.

"The Kia Optima can be all things to all potential customers," said Brad Diamond of Motoring TV. "You have the regular sedan, the go faster model with its 274 turbo charged horsepower, and hybrid for those looking to do their bit for the planet."

"The 2012 Optima is a world-class vehicle encompassing a dynamic modern design, a driver-oriented award-winning interior, technology and top safety elements that have all contributed to make it a "Car of the Year" winner," said William Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kia Canada Inc. "Having some of the top automotive journalists in Canada from Motoring TV validate the Optima and Rio further supports our flourishing brand value."

A big reason for the win was the Optima's new five-star safety rating under the recently revamped crash safety testing system conducted by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHSTA).  Only 12 other car models have earned the NHSTA five-star rating.  The new system includes tougher crash tests, and, for the first time, provides consumers with a single overall safety score per vehicle. Standard safety features on the Optima include: 

• Six airbags (dual advanced front and front-seat mounted side as well as full-length side curtain)
• Anti-whiplash front active headrests
• Side-impact door beams
• Height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners
• Three-point seatbelts for all seating positions
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
• Four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Vehicle Stability Management system (VSM),
• Brake Assist System (BAS)
• Hill Assist Control (HAC)

Available in several trim variations - LX, EX, SX and Hybrid - the Optima is sure to offer a vehicle that suits your needs.  Each variation maintains impressive mileage; the 2012 Kia Optima delivers EPA fuel economy ratings of up to 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, among the highest in the class and on par with some smaller cars.  For maximum economy, the Optima Hybrid delivers 36 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.  The Optima combines the amazing fuel economy with an elegant design, everyday comfort, and an exciting array of technological features like  Bluetooth wireless technology with steering wheel-mounted controls, USB and auxiliary input jacks, and Sirius XM satellite radio capabilities.

Kudos To Kia

Kia Motors has continued its rise to brand stardom in recent months, racking up awards and accolades for various achievements. Design, safety, eco-friendly -- Kia has it all.

In November, the Kia Picanto won the International Forum (iF) Design award. The three-door Picanto, only available in Europe, won the award for its "pure design quality, workmanship, innovation and eco-friendliness." The Picanto boasts a sporty exterior, Bluetooth voice activation, and other nifty features, as well as a low CO2 emissions rate of 95 g/km. Along with its 7-year/100,000 mile warranty, and low price, it's no wonder the Kia Picanto won the fourth Kia iF Design Award in three years.

Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer said: "Receiving the iF product design award for the new Kia Picanto is a great success for our design team and it is welcome recognition of our brand's design-oriented strategy."

A month later, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named their Top Safety Picks for 2012. A record 115 models all made the cut for various vehicle segments. The IIHS rating tests include:

• 40 mph frontal offset crash tests
• 31 mph side-impact tests
• A roof test requiring the vehicle to withstand a force of four times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. (The IIHS roof test is more severe than the government's, though a tougher federal rule takes effect for 2013 models.)
• A 20 mph rear crash that also tests the head restraint protection

The Kia Soul and Forte sedan both won Top Safety Pick awards for the small-car classification. The Optima won for midsize moderately priced cars, the Sportage for small SUVs, and the Sorento for midsize SUVs.

Vroomgirls.com came out with their first ever Cars of the Year Awards for 2011. Who did they choose for Best Hatchback? The Kia Rio SX! In their words the Rio is "fantastically roomy, agile on the road, zippy and low priced. Honestly, what more could any driver want?" We couldn't put it better ourselves. The Rio also gets great gas mileage at 30 mpg-city/40 mpg-highway.

Two weeks ago Kia scooped the What Car? Ultra Low Carbon Award for its environmentally efficient range of cars, in particular the Rio and Pecanto models. The Rio, with CO2 emissions as low as 85 g/km, making it the cleanest non-electric car in the world. What Car? Magazine honored the Picanto last summer at their Green Awards ceremony.

Paul Philpott, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, received the Ultra Low Carbon Award saying, ”Kia has been striving over recent years not only to deliver exciting, attractive, high-quality cars - but also to deliver real benefits to customers in the form of cleaner technologies that don’t carry a price premium. We are delighted that What Car? – one of Europe’s leading consumer magazines – has recognized our efforts.”

To learn more about buying your own amazing Kia contact Gary Rome Auto Group today!