[deltasmith]

CarAndDriver published an article about planned updates for the 2020 MY in the European market. Time will tell how they translate into North American markets.



https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a26568828/2020-kia-niro-new-features-photos-info/

 

[Dovidan]

As near as I can tell it looks like mostly exterior & interior appearance changes.
Here is a fairly long video that goes into much detail of the interior and goes for a short test drive.
https://insideevs.com/2019-kia-niro-ev-worth-tesla-model-3-money/ Note the smoking tires LOL! The info I have seen implies but doesn't explicitly state if all the changes will be in the 2020 PHEV or not.

Sounds like the interior gets more soft touch surfaces and is glitzed up with color. I kind of like the blue color in the seat perforations, neutral on the rest of the interior changes.

Lord willing I hope to buy a Niro PHEV EX Premium in the next 6 months. Unfortunately I was not ready to pull the trigger earlier when they had 0% financing and a $1K rebate :| So I'm waiting for that to return :x
I kinda wish I didn't have the additional tempting "new & improved" factor! I'll have to see it in the flesh to determine which style I like best and then see what sort of end of model year discounts may be available for the last of the 2019s.

 

[lafe005]

Extra Extra.!! read all about it!!


Here's are more picture i got from the corporate video from Kia World in Geneva.!


Great news! ... "Other changes include an electronic parking brake" Yeahhhh!!!

 

[deltasmith]

The redesigned headlights strike me as giving the car a somewhat "angry" look. I imagine the interior refinements will be welcome. I was actually most enthused by the references to larger rear brakes (Niro currently gets panned for braking distance tests) and to the introduction of paddle shifters. I've never had an opportunity to play with the latter, but what I've read about them in other cars sounds like something I would appreciate.

 

[lafe005]

The redesigned headlights strike me as giving the car a somewhat "angry" look.

These are the same LED headlignts that the PHEV 2019 has, but the cool part is that on europeen models, these is a adjustment level on the left side. wish we could have this option over here.

 

[Dwag0n]

The radar cruise that works in traffic jams is one I wish was on the older models. I wonder if that is just a software update or if it is physical hardware.

I don't like what they did with the fog lights on the refresh.

How does that headlight adjustment work?

 

[yticolev]

Traditional car manufacturers never update features. Case in point, the North American 2017 models of the Ioniq and Niro had lane departure warning but no lane keep assist. As far as I know, the hardware is identical to the rest of the world models that did have LKAS, but no one is holding their breath to see if Hyundai/Kia upgrade the controlling software. Only Tesla does things like that.

 

[lafe005]

How does that headlight adjustment work?

It "tilt's" up or down the bulb light in the headlight housing. but this feature has never been an option in USA and Canada. Only un Europe.

 

[Arizona Mike]

" the introduction of paddle shifters. I've never had an opportunity to play with the latter, but what I've read about them in other cars sounds like something I would appreciate."


My other vehicle is a '16 Jeep Grand Cherokee which has paddle shifters with an 8 speed tranny. I use it for towing my travel trailer, and find the paddle shifters really convenent when going up and down mountains. You'd find paddle shifters really nice whenever you use sport mode on the Niro. I only use sport mode when I'm running up freeway ramps or crossing traffic on a let turn.

 

[Carlos Arturo Velarde]

Extra Extra.!! read all about it!!


Here's are more picture i got from the corporate video from Kia World in Geneva.!


Great news! ... "Other changes include an electronic parking brake" Yeahhhh!!!

I really like the lights on the outside of the bumper... at first I thought fog lamps but I noticed some smaller lights inside the black-out so maybe they're running lights or turn signals?

 

[lafe005]

they're running lights or turn signals?

They are running day lights.!