Just got back from a test drive of the Niro at my local KIA Dealership. My wife and I were very impressed. The car is attractive and the interior is solid, very roomy and comfortable. The tech is what I'm looking for and I thought it handled well. The price point looks good also.
I currently drive a Ford C-Max. I'm looking for a new car and want a hybrid again. The Niro is definitely on my short list. The posted EPA mileage is impressive.
My one big concern is acceleration. Based on the test drive the Niro appears to have much slower acceleration than my C-Max - I guess that's the tradeoff tot get the great EPA rating. The Niro is only 139 hp combined gas/electric where the C-Max is 188 hp. It is hard to accurately judge on a short test drive so I'll probably test drive again. I do like the Niro's 6-speed transmission over the C-Max CVT.
I think I'll wait for a few months to see actual owner's experiences with acceleration, MPG and quality.
I currently drive a Ford C-Max. I'm looking for a new car and want a hybrid again. The Niro is definitely on my short list. The posted EPA mileage is impressive.
My one big concern is acceleration. Based on the test drive the Niro appears to have much slower acceleration than my C-Max - I guess that's the tradeoff tot get the great EPA rating. The Niro is only 139 hp combined gas/electric where the C-Max is 188 hp. It is hard to accurately judge on a short test drive so I'll probably test drive again. I do like the Niro's 6-speed transmission over the C-Max CVT.
I think I'll wait for a few months to see actual owner's experiences with acceleration, MPG and quality.