[jeffry24]

Just got a call from Destination Kia in Albany, New York saying they had 4 Niros delivered today. Wondering if they have arrived at your US dealership. I may take a ride over to test drive tomorrow.

 

[Broncos]

Actually haven't talked to my dealer in a while, I may shoot him a call and see what the status is and if I can get an updated time line. Let us know if you do and how it goes !

 

[fernando]

One dealer got 2, Touring trim with advanced and touring w/o. I test drove it, seemed comfortable and spacious. I liked it. The engine is a little louder than the prius. Sometimes when it downshifted I could feel the shift. It looked good in dark grey.

 

[Alex]

One dealer got 2, Touring trim with advanced and touring w/o. I test drove it, seemed comfortable and spacious. I liked it. The engine is a little louder than the prius. Sometimes when it downshifted I could feel the shift. It looked good in dark grey.

I might be one of the the odds owners out here or very much in line with who Kia was trying to make it for but I like the fact that its a bit loud. A Sporty SUV is something I always wanted and if there's one important thing a sporty SUV has to have, its specific characteristics to help make it fit that sporty mold.

Did you find the engine sound and even feel to be a downfall or something positive about it?

 

[fernando]

I found the engine sound just noticeable since I've been driving a volt. So neither positive or negative just something I noticed. I test drove it again today and bought it. I really like the volt, but it's cramped, I digged the prius, but prefer the layout of the Niro. I wish I could get the touring without the large rims and without the sunroof but the parking sensors were important to me so I got that one.

 

[Jay]

So it's not a fluke. Someone besides myself does not like sunroofs. My hatred of worse-than-useless sunroofs will relegate me to the LX model even though I would pay extra to get the electronic goodies on the touring. I, too, want the gas-mileage wheels and tires. Hello, Kia. Anybody in marketing listening?

 

[fernando]

The touring launch with package has all the electronic goodies but without forward/rear parking sensors and without a sunroof. The 18in rim tires are definitely grippier than my chevy volt tires but you can tell they don't coast as well. I did my first real drive in all city driving today and got 46mpg.

The perfect niro for me would be the touring with advanced package with no sunroof and 16inch rims.

 

[Alex]

So it's not a fluke. Someone besides myself does not like sunroofs. My hatred of worse-than-useless sunroofs will relegate me to the LX model even though I would pay extra to get the electronic goodies on the touring. I, too, want the gas-mileage wheels and tires. Hello, Kia. Anybody in marketing listening?

It's just too bad that because we're buying into a segment that has a larger amount of buyers that want sunroofs, we're subject to having it without much choice. Just something we'll have to learn to live with. I just hope down the road we won't experience issues, like leaks coming from the sunroof assembly.

So far I haven't noticed that happening with other Hyundai's so we should be in the clear, but that's never a 100% solid indicator. What is is actually owning it.

 

[Jay]

The touring launch with package has all the electronic goodies but without forward/rear parking sensors and without a sunroof. The 18in rim tires are definitely grippier than my chevy volt tires but you can tell they don't coast as well. I did my first real drive in all city driving today and got 46mpg.

The perfect niro for me would be the touring with advanced package with no sunroof and 16inch rims.

OK, I had to have another look at the touring launch, and you're right--no sunroof, but no ATP available even as an option?! Surely, I'm misunderstanding. I so don't get the touring launch trim at all. With the EX, I can get most of the driver aids by opting for the ATP. I get the wheels/tires I want and no sunroof(yes!) but no RCTA and BSD. If I go up one trim to EX, I can get all driver aids including BSD and RCTA but then they slam me with the hated sunroof.

 

[Jay]

It's just too bad that because we're buying into a segment that has a larger amount of buyers that want sunroofs, we're subject to having it without much choice. Just something we'll have to learn to live with...

Well, that's the presumption, but is it the case really? Or are the marketing guys just going through the motions. Why pay extra for a hole in your ceiling that adds weight and complexity to your car, that weakens the chassis, that will eventually leak, and that decreases headroom? I have been forced to have sunroofs on my last three cars which I NEVER USE and despise every time I look at them./rant over

Two people in this thread (maybe three) don't want no stinkin sunroof. Kia, listen up!

 

[underthepond]

The touring launch with package has all the electronic goodies but without forward/rear parking sensors and without a sunroof. The 18in rim tires are definitely grippier than my chevy volt tires but you can tell they don't coast as well. I did my first real drive in all city driving today and got 46mpg.

The perfect niro for me would be the touring with advanced package with no sunroof and 16inch rims.

How comfortable are the seats with the cloth/leather compared to the Volt. I have a '14 Volt that I have limited access to plugin now. The Volt is awful for my new back issues and headroom is zero when I sit more upright (the volt carves out a hole to claim more headroom in front) - I'm 5'10".

I think I want the 16" tires and want the tech package. My Volt has the backup sensor which will be sorely missed.

I spent 9 mos. driving my Volt on gas and didn't really miss the EV performance. How is the performance compared to the Volt?

 

[fernando]

How comfortable are the seats with the cloth/leather compared to the Volt. I have a '14 Volt that I have limited access to plugin now. The Volt is awful for my new back issues and headroom is zero when I sit more upright (the volt carves out a hole to claim more headroom in front) - I'm 5'10".

I think I want the 16" tires and want the tech package. My Volt has the backup sensor which will be sorely missed.

I spent 9 mos. driving my Volt on gas and didn't really miss the EV performance. How is the performance compared to the Volt?

I have the touring which has all leather seats. The niro does have lumbar support. The headrest in the niro is much more comfortable. I haven't really found my ideal position but in the limited time I've had with the Niro I think the position is a bit more comfortable than the volt since you are more upright. I never had issues with the volt leather seats. The Kia leather seats seem thicker. The headroom in the Kia is much much better.

I would have preferred the 16in rims, the 18in ones don't coast as well as the volt does. I only got the touring because I really liked the parking sensors in the volt so I wanted sensors again. The volt sensors activate at probably double the distance that the Kia ones do. However, the Kia sensors I like because they are on all the time vs the volt that had to be turned on manually or automatically in reverse. I think the Kia ones require shorter distances so they can be on all the time. Plus they show you in the center cluster if the obstruction is on the right, center, or left.

I like the drive better in the volt because there are no gear shifts and the ride is more quit. I drove my volt 80% EV so I almost never heard the generator and I like the no-noise more than hearing the engine. I really like that the Kia isn't so low to the ground and it handles better with the 18in rims. I use to scrape the bottom of the volt all the time, I haven't scraped this one once and I've tried in streets where it would normally happen.

 

[Alex]

Glad to know that about the 18's, which confirms the fact I get the 16's and look for my own set of wheels to get. Lots of aftermarket wheels to choose from these days and it gets even better if you're willing to buy used. OR look to other Kia models to see what would pair well, which is always the cheapest route and you get good quality wheels.

 

[PAULRIDES]

New owner of an EX with the package of Sunroof and some of the Advanced Safety Gimmicks ( BSM, Lane Departure, Stability Control).

I thought it had parking assist -- but guess it is only the backup camera which is very good.

Also, surprised the braking assist only works in Cruise Control Mode -- I sort of let it do that one day when approaching stopped cars in front of me. I left it in cruise control and held my foot above the brake (noticed car slowing and finally stopped about 3 car lengths from stopped cars). SURE wish that worked in non-Cruise Control l driving.

I went with EX they had in stock over the Touring they had in stock cause: I liked the white car, cause it was cheaper by like $3K, cause I prefer cloth seats and these look nice with leather and cloth, cause I did not want expensive 18 inch wheels to buy tires for later (assume they would be expensive), cause it has more junk (electronics, etc.) than any car I ever owned and that stuff scares me as more to go bad. :-( The Touring has even more (not knocking the Touring).

So I filled up today at 469 miles driven and used 9.11 gallon (51.48 MPG --- error of course depends on how full it was last fill up vs this fill up. Computed average had been showing between 52 and 55 MPG.
Most all those miles are below 50 MPH on county roads and some in town stop and go.

So, far I love the drive, comfort, noise level, handling, and enough power for my use (ECO Mode). Time will tell about the rest.

 

[Lonewolf904]

don't really care for sunroofs but that's just me

 

[PAULRIDES]

don't really care for sunroofs but that's just me

I do not like sunroof either (hardly ever use it -- except maybe slide the shade back on a cloudy hazy day when there is no sun as that brightens interior up). Comes with the TECH PKG. GROAN