2nd-gen Kia Niro debuts in South Korea

Kia has attended the Seoul Mobility Show in South Korea with the second generation of its Niro crossover SUV. Highlights include a redesigned exterior, nature-friendly cabin with EV6 styling cues, and a new part-electric drive mode. The sales are scheduled for early 2022.

The new Niro takes much after the two-year-old Habaniro Concept, which had a “tiger’s nose” grille, sophisticated headlights, and contrast-rich accents on the c-pillars and side sills.

A look inside reveals a dual-spoke EV6 steering wheel, a gear selector knob, a touch panel for the HVAC, and an infotainment display merged with the digital dashboard. The front seats have been downsized slightly to provide more legroom for the rear seat occupants. Recycled materials are used throughout: for example, the seats come wrapped in bio-polyurethane and a fabric woven from eucalyptus plant fiber. The ceiling trim is made from reprocessed wallpaper.

The company will be offering the Niro in hybrid and all-electric variants, too, but neither has any specifications associated with it at the moment. The hybrid will feature a new mode called Greenzone Drive, which essentially means ‘all-electric’ and helps minimize emissions and noise in densely populated areas.

Prices are pending. Kia says the hybrid will reach the market in the first quarter of 2022 and the EV in the second quarter.