<\/p>\nThe single electric motor<\/strong> drives the front wheels<\/strong> and puts out 150kW<\/strong> and 255Nm<\/strong>. Overall power remains the same as the old Niro, but torque has been cut by a hefty 140Nm, and methinks that might be due to the old model’s propensity to light the front tyres up with the merest breath on the accelerator pedal.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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\n<\/p>\nDespite the reduction in torque, the Niro doesn’t feel slow. Plus, it’s significantly more sedate out of corners, uphill out of a driveway or cross street, and on a wet road. <\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nThe 0\u2013100km\/h claim is a spritely 7.8 seconds<\/strong>, and the Niro feels more than fast enough on any road no matter how you drive. If you need to get cracking, it can do so, and the EV speciality of effortless roll-on overtaking is in play at all times. Instant response, and seamless response specifically, is an addictive thing. <\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/p>\nYou’ll notice the difference between Eco, Normal and Sport. We left the Niro in Normal for almost all of our testing as noted above, but it’s a lot sharper in Sport, and dulled right down in Eco. As expected, then.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nI’m not a big fan of Sport modes in electric vehicles, where the goal is to stretch out as much range as you can get, but I guess if you’re trundling mainly around town and you know you’re going home to charge, it doesn’t hurt to have some fun in Sport mode. <\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nAs ever, we like the one-pedal driving mode, with the caveat that you’ll need to get used to it if you haven’t tested it before. It means you won’t go through brake pads as quickly either. You can also work your way through three other regenerative braking modes via the paddles on the steering wheel. All of these tweaks are things you’ll work out as you spend time with the Niro and decide what you prefer. <\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nNiro was tuned and fettled to suit our local roads by Kia’s engineers here, and that tuning extends to the weight and response of the steering. Whether they are subtle differences from the global tune, or significant, there’s a lot to be said for a vehicle that is designed to be used here. The ride is firm, especially if you’re on a really choppy surface, but it’s not uncomfortable. <\/p>\n
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\n<\/p>\nThe Niro is a heavy little thing \u2013 it does carry a chunky battery pack after all \u2013 so you can’t hide 1727kg completely. That’s where some of the firmness on poor surfaces comes from. It is therefore not as light on its feet as either the hybrid would feel or a comparative petrol-engined SUV. That said, you’re not driving this type of vehicle like a sports car either.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nThe steering tune is excellent, light at low speed and firm up to motorway speeds, with a tight turning circle making for effortless city work. It’s quite manoeuvrable in tight spaces, especially when parking, and that’s a bonus. We also noted that there wasn’t too much road or wind noise, at any speed, even on coarse-chip sections of freeway, which means the cabin ambience isn’t impacted.<\/p>\n
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