The RAV4 Hybrid Rival That's Actually In Stock (Kia Niro Hybrid 2023 review)
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- The new Kia Niro hybrid is a bit smaller than the Toyota RAV4, but there is actually supply of the car available in Australia now.
Time codes:
0:00 - Introduction
0:56 - Design
1:55 - Interior and tech
4:47 - Back seats
5:56 - Boot
7:00 - Running costs
7:43 - Driving dynamics
12:25 - Verdict
The second-generation Kia Niro hybrid has arrived in Australia with S and GT-Line variants. There is a fully-electric version and a regular petrol-electric hybrid that functions just like its main rival - the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (and the smaller Corolla Cross hybrid which arrives soon).
On test here is the Kia Niro GT-Line Hybrid ($50,030 before on-road costs), but you can get the cheaper S hybrid for $44,380. The package is FWD and bundles a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor.
As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct - so this is an independent, honest review of the Kia Niro.
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That's not RAV4 rival, you're missing the point guys, larger Kia Sportage Hybrid is. Direct competitor of Niro is upcoming Corolla Cross Hybrid. Compact crossover =/= midsize SUV.
The Sportage hybrid isn’t sold in Australia and isn’t on the horizon right now. The Niro is almost midsize, so looking realistically at this, it’s fair to call or a RAV4 hybrid rival or alternative - albeit one that’s smaller.
Great review~~ great car. Your channel just got one more subscription.
About widescreen android auto - it should be available after you update the head unit by downloaded software to a usb stick. Takes a while to update it. I just did it yesterday for my 2020 Niro (aka the old one) and lit ooks so much better
so the Hybrid GT Line can not get premium sound and sunroof ?
Wow at 55.2k driveaway that is already more expensive than a RAV4 Hybrid Cruiser AWD.
yep, they are milking the market
Will all the external gloss back panels end up covered in scratches like the gloss black interior trim on cars?
Ordered one in the UK. £32k for top spec with everything. 2 years free service as well. Not to badly priced here for the level of tech you get. 7 years warranty is a big advantage as well.
Is that you mate?
...😆 How did I find you here of all places man?! Hope you're doing good. Id like ti talk to you about this car if its you!
@@JackyRogue such a small world mate haha. A
Saw one in person, but the shiny black plastic on the center console, dash and doors was disappointing.
1st (Lol!) Nicely done review Thomas!
Kia will make a Killing in Australia with these!
Even looks Ok! ..I like its look better than any new Cupra....
Its excellent, that KIA still make the effort to sort the suspension and ride, more suiting to our roads in Australia.
And it's decision to NOT use a silly CVT gearbox, which simply doesn't suit EV/Hybrid electric motors.
I took delivery of mine three weeks ago. its really good, didn't much love the XV that we tested though I have serious Subaru bias with my ownership history and the cx30 handling was unacceptably terrible. I actually get about 4.2 l/100 using the active cruse on the Monash freeway (aka carpark) peak hour traffic as I think it uses the energy recovery breaks over friction breaks and the lane keep assist basically just centers it all the way into town with very light finger touch steering to help it along. Few things I don't like is the lack of seat position memory and the better speakers from the electric would have been nice. For some reason when it was delivered none of the Kia online services worked. You can apparently app control and pre heat the car as well as control most of the functions through voice command but I haven't been able to activate and waiting for service appointment to get that all fixed up next week. My sister had her Rav4 Cruiser delivered about 6 months ago after a 10 month wait and she likes it but has two kids and needs the slightly bigger car. Rav4 screen is terrible and I didn't like the seating position as much but still would have bought one instead if I could have received it in 2022 and not 2024. Also would have gone to a Lexus UX but two dealships I dealt with basically wouldn't bother returning calls or engaging with me at all, maybe because they know they can't give me anything until 2025.
Congrats! The Niro's haven't even launched yet in the US. We have been waiting....and waiting....and waiting.
Yes, waiting for my Rav4 XSE has made me start looking around for other options. Have never been a Kia fan, but may have to change my idea.
Is the dual clutch transmission dry or liquid? Does it have port fuel injection to clean the intake valves, along with direct injection for better gas mileage?
6 speeds so wet DCT probably
Have you tryed to put the niro full configuration, into a VW Tiguan or equivalent? Then you have 20.000 more on your bill.
Oddly they are much cheaper than hybrid rav4 in NZ. PHEV model in NZ starts at 50k after govt rebate comes to 44300k
This vs the Corolla Cross should be interesting!
Ha. Corolla Cross should phone in sick on the day. It’s just horrible.
Great review, thou for $55k drive-away, no sunroof. I paid $34k for my haval Jolion Ultra and love the panoramic sunroof!
People do a lot of weird comparisons on this channel, but this comment wins 1st place
What's a haval?
@@jasonlewis2990 - 🤣
Test drove one today. (GT spec). Agree with almost all...however the engine noise is enough to give you headache within minutes. Noisiest engine I have ever experienced.
Ouch, not for that price.
The RAV4 cruiser all day long.
Bit expensive...🤔🤔🤔
Not ugly, not pretty. It's fine for commuting. Not being stupid heavy will help too.
Battery warranty is interesting. Wonder why it's not unlimited? Something they're not telling us about battery technology?
Degradation from charging is just a reality of current battery tech, so I guess you have to draw the line somewhere. They all limit it at the moment, Kia certainly isn’t alone.
@@chasingcars Oh righto. Thanks.
Significantly better than "Cap'n Skaky Hands"
Subtitles would be nice
At that price if it was the Sportage a mid size SUV wouldn't be so bad but to pricey for a compact SUV that's why there siting in the showroom there not exactly flying out the door
Does anyone honestly find a use in a sunroof? I grew up with vehicles that had a sunroof and we never used it. For people that need a sunroof, what do you use it for?
I always use mine
Nope. When you’re 6’3” They’re a pain in the neck - literally. It’s the only thing I don’t like about my car. If could have ordered it without one I would have. I never even open the bloody cover. Waste of [head]space.
Panoramic glass roofs with shade blinds work well. More natural light
@@intheknow6499 Fair point. I’ve got a new 2022 RAV4 Hybrid, and I’m only 5’ 9” and I often wonder how taller people than me jump in and out. I have the sun roof. Hardly ever use it.
except when it rains, my rooftop is open whole the year because of fresh air without climate control, 2nd i am smoker, 3dt good light in the car.
RAV4 looks so huge in comparison to this.
RAV4 is 180mm longer which isn’t nothing, but the Toyota also has chunky styling cues.
@@chasingcars last time I had chunky styling cues was when I was had gastro. Didn’t like it then. Don’t like the RAV now.
No awd is a big no from me. Also the overall maintenance cost is ridiculously expensive
Still not sure why you'd bother with a hybrid like this, when a Skoda Kamiq MC is cheaper, better speced, just as quick, has similiar power and torque, handles better with adj suspension even, and gets 750kms plus on a tank just with one petrol motor?
It is even worse value when you compare the Niro EV version at 72k which is slower! You could do 180,000kms on the price difference alone, not even taking into account the $10k of electricity costs to travel that distance too.
Because everyone wants to jump on the EV bandwagon.
$10k electricity costs?
I had gone to check kias out. Externally i liked em , but choice of materials inside ...that piano black and fonts on entartainment unit ...was just horrible.... looks like cheap plastic and was a complete let down ...to me !!... at the price kia is placing itself at ...i think thwre are better options.
Too expensive. Would rather wait for Rav awd cruise hybrid.
money is not the problem, rather buy Niro than boring everyday same looking CHR
Expensive car Aussies will not buy. Once again Australia is the dumping ground.
This car looks like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
Should’ve gone to Spec Savers.
You’ve got your shades on. Or should I say airline sleep eye masks.
Beautiful two tone? Who you trying to kid mate, that looks pox
Design is subjective.
Very expensive servicing cost
Sure is compared to Toyota.
@@allaussie even compared to BMW, I mean the first 5 years of my x4 servicing is included in my sale price, and additonal 3 year is about 1400, or 2000 for 5 years. While my RAV4 is about 250 a pop. I don't know how KIA can justify such expensive servicing costs.
@@milkoowen6800 I think the Rav4 is about $230
@@allaussie Correct. I have a new RAV4.
I don't for a second believe Kia when they suggest you could walk in off the street and buy one. Like a lot of other popular models, they'll probably have one or two base spec examples in non-metallic white and if you don't like it, well, wait 6-12 months. Just marketing BS from KIA imo
We’ve spoken to a number of dealers. Some had immediate stock. Some had arrivals within a week. Others had inflow from 1-6 months. Custom orders can generally be satisfied within 3 months, Kia says.
I've checked 4 local dealers and between them they had 1 new car (Sportage)! Only Mazda seem to have some new stock at the moment
Piano black on the outside of the car now mmmmm NO
Too expensive verses the toyota reliability.
It is a bit pricey, I thinks it’s more interesting but there is the 7 year warranty to combat ‘reliability issues’.
Toyota is no more reliable than half a dozen brands on the road - Kia being one of them - but their marketing department excels at pushing their reputation over the facts. And their sheep disciples just lap it up. Christ, they can’t even build an EV without the wheels LITERALLY falling off!
Exactly - 70K for a plug-in hybrid for a small Kia is insane and that’s why they have plenty of stocks in today’s market.
Not to mention Kia / Hyundai EV is not time proven
@@nathanma1482 What video are you watching? This is a Hybrid for $55K. The EV is around $70K.
Also, Kia have been building EVs for over 7 years, how is that not time proven?
@@intheknow6499 Yep. I meant the EV. I though it was PHEV like the Sorrento. Nevertheless, 72k+ for either EV or PHEV for a SMALL Kia is over. I would rather wait for the basic EV6 istead for the same amount of money. 7 years is definitely not time proven for me. Anyway, I haven't see much Kia (EV or Hybrid) running in Oz in the pass years. How could you claim Kia is more reliable than Toyota hybrid system that has been running over 20+ years comparing Hyundia/Kia hybrid which only availible in the market in the past 2 years? where do you get your data from? Out of those EV / PHEV / BEV - How many of them have driven over 300km+ ? Do you know how much does it cost to replace its battery after warranty? can they run as reliablity under australia (hot) weather? These are all my questions. I also don't believe your statement that "Half a dozen" car makers are more reliable than toyota. It is just your personal opinion and different to the result of market research.
Sorry but i had trouble sometimes understanding what you were saying . Maybe where your mike was but it seemed like your voice just drifted off towards the end of your sentences .
$570 per year to service .. you gotta be joking ... 7 year battery warranty/ 150000k life starting to get more than expensive .. now heading into Bull Shite zone ... Kia have every oportunity to storm the market but are over priced for what is nothing more than a warm fuzzy greenie feeling
That strip is hideous.
So overpriced. Shame as it would be good for suburban dwellers and younger people
You could not get a Cruiser Hybrid for 50 k
Plus ORC, I guess. And you’d have to wait.
Well technically you could, with the most basic Cruiser Hybrid (Glacier White, 2WD Hybrid) which ends up to $50607 driveaway. Well this is before the incoming price rise 🤷🏻♂️
its pretty ugly.
Ridiculous price, no electric sunroof too....buy something else, this is a rip-off
That’s the general consensus. Quite pricey.
Why can't kia make a nice looking, easy on the eyes car?!? this is not attractive . design score : F
Mutton dressed as lamb is the way Kia is going. Flashy, stylish, modern looks but still same junk under the hood. Don’t even get me started on Kia’s dual clutch transmissions 🤢
drama queen much? not the end of the world, your complaints = first world problems bro.
@@socialdef3 Do you realise the entire point of review channels is to consider the pros and cons of each vehicle? BTW - Kia just dropped the dual clutch from the Seltos range. Sportage will be dropping it too in its next iteration. Kia admit this decision was made due to poor customer feedback. Put simply, the dual clutch was rubbish.