Welcome to the forum! I have a PHEV, so not completely comparable your hybrid so can't comment about the hesitation other than to say I don't have any issues with mine. I have had zero problems with the infotainment system, but since Kia offers two different systems yours might not be the same as mine. Do you have the smaller or larger screen? The larger would be the same as mine.

 

Welcome, also, to the forum. We may have similar model Niros. Mine is the regular hybrid, an EX model. I've not experienced a hesitation when accelerating, though I tend to avoid situations where I must merge quickly. No freezes in the infotainment either, though I usually just put on the radio or music and leave it. Seldom use GPS except to play with it. Someone who uses their Niro "harder" than this old man might have experienced your symptoms. Good luck, and enjoy your Niro.

Geoff

 

No hesitation joining traffic or infotainment freezes for my HEV

 

Sometimes when I accelerate, there’s a bit of hesitation that surprises me, especially when I’m trying to merge into traffic. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s definitely noticeable. Also, the infotainment screen can be slow to respond and even freezes sometimes, which is frustrating when I’m trying to change music or use the GPS.

I have a 2023 Niro HEV, with ~22,500 miles. I don't ever recall a hesitation on acceleration. I have rarely needed it, but switching to Sport mode just before merging will lower shift points, making the car more responsive. However, contrary to what some claim, Sport mode doesn't magically increase power, it merely makes it available sooner.

The central touch screen can sometimes be less responsive than I would like, but in general my fingers do not get along well with touch screens in general, on computers, phones, tablets, etc. It's one reason why I would never drive a Tesla, let alone own one. I'm hoping that the fad toward more use of touch screens in automobiles has peaked. It's bad engineering, requiring the driver to take eyes off the road to manipulate something on the screen.

That said, I have never had a problem with the touch panel below the screen, which controls the infotainment and HVAC systems — if anything, it seems too sensitive, as the slightest touch can enable something accidentally. I've learned to be very careful when I need to use the PWR knob on the left to change temperature.

I also have a 2016 Honda HR-V, which requires using a small touch panel to change temperature or fan speed. A few months after I bought it, I cut out chevrons from Velcro, which I stuck above and below the temp and fan speed controls, so that I could find them by touch, without looking. Even though the Niro has physical buttons on the central console, I have also affixed things to the seat and steering wheel heating switches for the same reason.

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My guess is that the occasional hesitation you are noticing is due to the nature of a dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT), as opposed to a traditional hydraulic type. There are plenty of online explanations but the short version is that the DCT has 2 clutches and two shafts so it can (sort of) be "in" two gears at once: the one you are using, and the one that the computer expects you to need next. To shift gears, it simultaneously activates one clutch and deactivates the other. That makes for very fast smooth gear changes as you continuously accelerate (and without viscous slip losses on the highway).

The catch is that the computer needs to predict what the next gear will be. If it is not correct, (i.e. you do the unexpected), it will be caught unprepared and it will need a bit more time to engage a different "next" gear, before doing the change using the 2 clutches. That can feel like a hesitation.

So next time you feel the hesitation, consider if you just did something unusual. Or, deliberately change to acceleration after starting a nice gradual deceleration, and feel it hesitate as it scrambles to get the unexpected new gear ready and put into use.

The hesitation is subtle, but those very smooth changes during a predicatable acceleration set the bar very high for a gear change.

 

My guess is that the occasional hesitation you are noticing is due to the nature of a dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT), as opposed to a traditional hydraulic type. There are plenty of online explanations but the short version is that the DCT has 2 clutches and two shafts so it can (sort of) be "in" two gears at once: the one you are using, and the one that the computer expects you to need next. To shift gears, it simultaneously activates one clutch and deactivates the other. That makes for very fast smooth gear changes as you continuously accelerate (and without viscous slip losses on the highway).

The catch is that the computer needs to predict what the next gear will be. If it is not correct, (i.e. you do the unexpected), it will be caught unprepared and it will need a bit more time to engage a different "next" gear, before doing the change using the 2 clutches. That can feel like a hesitation.

So next time you feel the hesitation, consider if you just did something unusual. Or, deliberately change to acceleration after starting a nice gradual deceleration, and feel it hesitate as it scrambles to get the unexpected new gear ready and put into use.

The hesitation is subtle, but those very smooth changes during a predicatable acceleration set the bar very high for a gear change.

The transmission can only be in 1 gear at a time. A very subtle hesitation will occur when shifting and this could be what the OP is experiencing.
The DCT will shift quicker than the average driver would if shifting a manual transmission and having to shift gears when merging into traffic might cause for an unsettling experience.
I agree with the possible change in acceleration/deceleration causing the computer to determine what is going to occur next.

 

My point is explained here in this video : The only thing needed to switch to the next gear is for the clutches to swap roles. The pre-selected gear is synchronized and ready to go on the other shaft. Surely that requires 2 pairs of gears engaged (i.e. teeth in contact): one carrying the drive torque and the other idling along ready to take over the drive role.

 

Ian, the difference is the way you're defining "engaged". While you are correct that two sets are gears are meshed, sync'd, and ready to go, only one set of gears is engaged in the power flow through the transmission. I think you are both in agreement other than this one point.

 

Try switching into Sport mode when accelerating. Its a world of difference!

 

Sport mode is outrageous!!! Surprised blow your doors off lol

 

Sport mode is an illusion. Mostly it just changes the shift points. It has absolutely no effect on the actual power of the ICE + electric motor = 141 BHP.

 

Did you buy this new or leftover or used?

 

Because I was surprised by how well the Niro accelerated in ECO mode I have not used SPORT mode. Maybe I need to give it a shot. My problem is I keep looking at the MPG numbers in the trip meters and then decide I'm going fast enough.

Geoff

 

I find eco mode just fine too.

 

In the PHEV sport mode will also charge the battery, at the expense of lower mpg.

 

• Eco Mode: 8.58 seconds
• Sport Mode: 8.53 seconds

Not bad, that's roughly the equivalent of a '65 Mustang 289 2 barrel carb.

 

In high school my friends and I bought one just like that, a convertible, to fix up and resell lol, didn't work out too good.

 

We never use Sport Mode.

 

I watch old Motor Week videos from the 80's and 90's, and it's surprising how many of those cars would lose a 0-60 race to the Niro.

Geoff

 

Sport mode is awesome! I charged the other day with a/c off and fans off for over 300 mile range not bad pretty impressive

 

Ok, what did you have before?
and what 'hesitation' does it have..... ??

 

I use sport mode for intersections at blind curves (frequent) and for passing (less frequent).

I use eco mode almost all the time.

If the car learns the operator's driving style, I hope it doesn't mash eco and sport together and learn the average. I hope it learns how an operator drives in eco mode and how they drive in sport mode. I want my eco mode to be slow to respond. I don't want my driving in sport mode to pep up the car's response in eco mode.

I may have an unrealistic view of what the car learns. I'm willing to change when given evidence that I'm wrong. Not that I needed any evidence to get here; it looks like wishful thinking to me.