Kia launches its first ever hybrid in the U.K., the stylish Niro crossover

Niro combines the in-demand styling of a compact crossover vehicle with the low emissions and high fuel economy of a hybrid car. With CO₂ emissions as low as 88g/km and fuel economy of up to 31.6km/L, Niro will make a significant contribution in helping Kia meet its pledge to reduce the average emissions of its range by 25 percent before 2020.

Not based on any other Kia, the Niro is a dedicated hybrid model with on an all new platform which will only ever be used for electrified vehicles. It also has an all new powertrain featuring a 1.6-litre, 104bhp internal combustion engine and a 43.5bhp electric motor driving through a six-speed double-clutch automatic transmission.

With its crossover design it is anything but a run-of-the-mill hybrid, however. The sleek crossover profile has a class-leading low drag coefficient of just 0.29, while extensive use of high strength steel and aluminium in the body construction helps to keep down weight. Both are significant factors in Niro's impressively low fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Its horizontally structured interior exhibits high-quality fit and finish, and includes the latest connectivity and active safety technologies, including Kia Connected Services featuring TomTom, wireless smartphone charging, autonomous emergency braking, smart cruise control and lane-keeping, blind spot and rear cross traffic warning systems. In a first for Kia, it also offers Android Auto, which links Android smartphones to Google Maps navigation, Google Play music, hands-free calls and texts and voice recognition via pre-downloaded apps.