[atc98092]

No real issue with a hybrid in the cold. It will impact the battery performance of course, but with the HEV you aren't getting any significant EV range anyway, so not really a factor.

Moving from the EX to SX you still keep the 16" wheels, so better on less than ideal roads and slightly better for fuel economy. With the SX you also gain front parking sensors (which I really missed with my cars that only had rear sensors), Digital Key (not something I care about, but some might), passenger window one-touch up/down (the driver's window has it in both trims), auto-dimming rear view mirror (I really like that), power folding side mirrors.

The SX also provides ventilated seats (you'll love them in the hot summertime), driver's seat memory (really worthwhile with two different regular drivers) and a heated steering wheel (I never realized how much I love that until I got my first car with one). The SX has a noise-deadening windshield so the car's a bit quieter inside, sunroof with power shade), LED interior lighting (mostly helps with bulbs that almost never fail), power liftgate, and LED fog lights. And of course you already mentioned the HK upgraded radio. Overall I think the radio sounds pretty good, regardless if I'm streaming from an online source, listening to SiriusXM, or listening to a local FM station that has an HD Radio signal.

All of that is to say you get a significant upgrade for the money. Only you can decide if those upgrades are worthwhile for you, although the radio and windshield alone might be enough. The only recommendation I can make is that I'm on my second Niro, after having the '19 version. After trying a Chevy Bolt and VW Taos I decided I wanted my Niro back. And since I am officially retired in six days, this might be my last car purchase. Although I would still like to get back in a pure EV, so the Kia EV6 still calls to me.

 

[atc98092]

I've never had heated seats, never felt the need thru the 50 Chicago winters I've been driving. The Taos is still on my list because I like VW and cargo capacity is a plus, but I want better MPG.

Heated seats are a Godsend for people (like me) that have a medical condition that we're cold when others think it's perfectly warm. The Taos is a decent car, I gave mine to my daughter to replace her 11 year old GTI, mostly because she's as cold as I am and the heated steering wheel is a fantastic thing to have. But she now also has wireless CarPlay and a backup camera. The Taos isn't that great on fuel just driving around town, which of course is where a hybrid shines. My average is only around 23 MPG, but I have to caveat that with the fact I live on a tall hill that wrecks economy in any car I drive. But on the freeway it easily gets its EPA 35 MPG, and some get close to 40 or better. And the cargo capacity of the Taos was the major draw for me when I got it.

I might have gotten a Tiguan if there had been any SEL trims available at the time, but I was pressed for time to buy a new car because GM had just bought my Bolt back the day before and I had to leave town for a trip the day after, so no time to shop around. At the time, every Kia dealer had anywhere from $3000 to $8000 additional dealer markup on virtually every car, so I didn't go for the Niro at that time. That ADM was the only reason I didn't just right back into a Niro, as I really do like the car. Driving the PHEV is almost like driving a pure EV, because mine has the cold weather package (so has an electric heater) so the engine seldoms fires up on mine. I'm at about 4500 miles now, and the engine hasn't been used for more than maybe 400 miles at the outside.

 

[atc98092]

(accidentally hit the post button, above)

Just an FYI: you can click the vertical dots to the right of your post and select edit to go back into your post and continue. I’ve had the same thing happen to me when I’m using my phone to post, so don’t worry about it.

 

[atc98092]

Another potential decision point is timing. Will tariffs jack up the price and if so, when?

It's simply too soon to say. People make statements but never actually follow through. And I believe the only talk of a new tariff is for Mexican assembly. The Niro is built in South Korea, and I don't believe there's any talk of adding a tariff on them. Of course, a tariff on the competition might allow dealers to roll back into those additional markups, but we simply don't know what is going to happen.