SAVE ‘BIG’ ON FUEL WITH 2022 KIA NIRO PHEV

By NITISH S. RELE – motoringtampabay@gmail.com

As gas prices continue to hover around $3.50 in Florida, you would be remiss not to take a glance or two at the 2022 Kia Niro PHEV (Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). Essentially, the PHEV adds an electric charge that enables the five-passenger compact crossover to go up to 26 miles without using gas. The charge port, located in the driver’s side front fender, uses a 240-volt system that can take 2½ hours or a 120-volt consuming about nine hours. You can effectively go around 530 miles on a tank (11.4 gallons) with its gas, hybrid and plug-in electric features.

A 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine is mated to an electric motor (60 horsepower), which is powered by an 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery weighing 258 pounds. That is adequate enough to put out a total of 139 hp while paired to a laudable 6-speed dual clutch transmission. The crossover offers a regenerative braking system for additional fuel savings. When the ride is coasting or the brakes are applied, the electric power functions as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat through the brakes. Instead, it converts the energy into useable electricity for recharging the battery.

A centered gloss black “tiger nose” grille meets up with sweptback LED headlights to create a sleek and eye-catching appearance. All new for 2022 is fresh Kia badging on the grille and tailgate. Stepping into the cabin, our favorite is the attractively designed 7-inch instrument cluster of analog speedometer and the cool LCD hybrid gauge showing charge, eco and power readings, as well as EV mode. They are flanked by a clean digital driver information center. Standard amenities include 10-way power driver and six-way passenger seats, which are also heated and cooled, leather steering wheel and shifter, dual auto a/c, 10.25-inch touch for navigation, radio and telephone controls, power tilt/telescopic sun roof and push-button start. The 60/40 rear seat folds down to open up 54.5 cubic feet of space.

Kia should be commended for offering several standard safety features, which are optional in competitor vehicles. Some are dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for both rows, driver knee airbag, rearview camera, lane keep/follow and forward-collision-avoid assists, blind spot and rear-cross traffic collision warnings, four-wheel antilock brakes, rollover sensor, electronic stability and traction control, smart cruise control and a tire pressure monitoring system.

It may not have abundance of power but the Niro is an excellent gas/electric/plug-in hybrid effort from Kia. It is sharp-looking, sporty, practical and sips gas (we averaged 54 mpg in city/highway driving). That it comes with a 10-year or 100,000-mile power train and a five-year or 60,000-mile basic warranty is a plus. Lest we forget, the lithium-ion battery is also covered for 10-year/100,000 miles.

NIRO (EX PREMIUM)

Tires: P205/60R16

Wheelbase: 106.3 inches

Length: 171.5 inches

Width: 71.1 inches

Height: 60.8 inches

Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multilink rear

Steering: motor-driven power assist

Weight: 3,450 pounds

Combined gas only: 46 mpg

Comb electric/gas: 105 MPGe

Fuel capacity: 11.4 gallons

Base price: $36,490

Price as tested: $38,025

Web site: www.kiausa.com