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# 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring - Quick Review
- URL: https://www.roadblazing.com/2017-kia-niro-hybrid-touring-quick-review/
- Published: 2017-10-12T16:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-02T06:28:33.000Z
- Author: George Straton
- Tags: Hybrids, Crossover Utility Vehicles

(Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch)

### *Recently Roadblazing.com's blog site ChicagoNow.com "Drive..He Said" evaluated the 4th generation of the "Godfather of Green" cars, the re-designed 2017 Toyota Prius.*

### *Noting that while the latest Prius still merits the respect of the growing ranks of competitors, both a polarizing design & timid driving experience conspire to put off potential gas-electric hybrid converts.*

### *If there is such a thing, the all-new for *2018 Kia Niro* sub-compact crossover utility vehicle badly wants to be the "conventional" urban hybrid alternative to Prius' unconventionalism.*  

### **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \***

*WHAT:* All-new **2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring** gasoline electric hybrid sub-compact urban crossover utility vehicle, sharing platform with all-new **Hyundai Ioniq** hybrid/ BEV sportback.

*WHAT MOTIVATES:* 

- **Petrol Engine**: 1591 cc Atkinson cycle, dual VVT-i DOHC 16V I-4 cylinder gasoline engine: 104 horsepower / 109 lb-ft
- **Electric Motor(s)**: 1 x 240V synchronous AC traction / regenerative charging motor: 32 kW, 1 x 240V synchronous AC Hybrid Starter Generator: 8 kW
  - **Power rating** (net hybrid): **139 horsepower** (104 kW) / 195 pound-feet @ 4000 r.p.m.
- **Battery** (traction): 64 Lithium Ion Polymer cells, 240V, 6.5 amp hr, 1.56 kWh
- **Drivetrain**: six-speed dual clutch automatic helical transaxle
- (Stay tuned for a plug-in BEV Kia Niro.)

![2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: Propulsion relies on a 1.6L twin-cam DI gas engine supplemented by a 43 kW combo traction/ regenerative braking fed by a 6.5 kWh Li-Ion battery pack mounted under the 2nd Row seat; Power is sent to front wheel by clutch coupling to a upshift happy, loathe to down-shift 6-speed dual clutch transaxle](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/wordpress/2017/10/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-engine-P1180714-b.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-wheels-P1180726-b.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring:** Sizable 6.5 kWh LiIon battery juices synchronous AC motor in parallel with small displacement atmospheric petrol inline-4; front wheels driven by 6-speed DCT; suspension is fully independent

*WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE:* Fenders = more relaxed than Sportage's, grille = dark lattice bowtie; Lower airdam features dark clad horizontal bars, chrome trimmed bezels for the fog lamps and corner brake ducts.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-ext-fr-P1180594-b.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-ext-rr-P1180603-b.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-ext-side-P1180614-bc.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-power-retracting-wing-mirrors-003c.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring:** a more conventional silhouette than the typical polarizing ground-up gas-electric hybrid design

Chiseled doors comprise Coke-bottle fuselage; Roof with integrated brushed metallic rails slopes aft of B-pillar, with small fixed window separating C & D pillars;

Formidable gloss black rear roof spoiler blends with similar outboard tail-lamp trim; Liftgate makes concave descent to bumper cover; Chrome trimmed dark cladding rises in center lower rear fascia, terminating in diffused pseudo skid plate; **\-1**: Deep recessing of liftgate e-latch release is challenge*.*

*WHY*: Urbanites clamor for their gas-electric hybrids in a more conventional small family crossover wagon package;

*WHEN:* On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Spring 2017

*WHERE:* Kia new vehicle dealers

*WHERE MADE*: Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, South Korea

*WHERE TO:* Up to the challenge of urban scoots and country skedaddles.

*HOW ROADWORTHY:* Kia's stated quest for **Niro** is a "Non \[traditional\] gas-electric hybrid" \[read "Toyota Prius"\] driving experience

Conspicuous in its omission is the absence of an aggressive regenerative slowing mode AKA golf cart braking; Instead the throttle and dual clutch gearbox do the toiling: Going easy on the throttle earns more blue-green tree leaves in the UVO's Eco Driving menu display; In normal drive, the dual clutch transmission eagerly heads for the highest gear, sapping useful engine speed; With the selector moved left to "Sport/ Manumatic" mode, gears are held more steadfast for purposeful acceleration, but with droning high-revving & detriment to fuel economy.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cockpit-driving-power-flow003.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring**: power flow displayed in gauge cluster & media screen; blue tree leaves indicate green factor

Instead of being stuck with Kia Soul's flinty torsion beam rear suspension, **Niro's** 4-link fully independent layout gains more compliance; A battery pack formed lower center of gravity contains most body roll and pitch; Frost heaves transmit mild thuds, and the axles jitter slightly rather than hop; Kia has ditched their obnoxious steering weight variability, having found a middling natural heft, even if road feel is filtered out; Regenerative e-motor slowing doesn't do any favors for an inert responding 4-disc brake set-up, hampering confidence at the end of pedal travel;

*HOW FAR:* **46** combined **m**iles **p**er **g**allon, 476 miles highway range

- 18% < **2017 Toyota Prius Eco Two** fuel economy

![2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: 46 mpg observed combined gas electric hybrid fuel economy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/wordpress/2017/10/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-infotainment-fuel-economy-004.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring**: 46 mpg observed combined gas electric hybrid fuel economy

*HOW BIG/ LITTLE:* **√** Lengthwise splits difference between Kia Soul personal cute ute and Sportage compact family SAV, **√** Sitting on wheelbase 1" > Sportage, yet standing -3" lower in height, comes amazingly close in rear legroom; **√** Packaging battery under rear seat & nixing the donut spare for a tire inflator manages 20 cubic feet of cargo space, nudging past Soul's.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-entry-driver003-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-seats-driver-P1180619-b.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-entry-Row-2-003.jpg)

![2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: 2nd Row seating for 3 adults with generous 38"-inches legroom](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/wordpress/2017/10/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-seats-rear003.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-seats-rear-cargo003.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring:** Splitting the size & space difference between the Soul and the Sportage

- *Compared to 4th generation Toyota Prius \[Eco Two\]*: Despite sharing identical 106.3" wheelbase, 1.5" cabin height > Prius + less sloped rear roof = 4" 2nd Row legroom > Prius; **Niro's** abrupt wagon-style liftgate = 28% hatch area cargo space < Prius

*HOW USEFUL:* **√** Low load floor w/ 60/40% split 2nd Row seatbacks; **+1** Sub-load floor storage management caddy; **+1** Low cowl for improved forward visiblity; **\-1** Seat cushion comfort wanting over longer road stints; +**1** Front pax seat includes height adjustment; +**1** Manageable liftgate reach; **\-1** Minimal door pocket storage; Tow Rating: *Not Rated*.

![2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: manageable liftgate height & useful wide aperture w/ retracting tonneau](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/wordpress/2017/10/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cargo007.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cargo005.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring:** manageable liftgate height & useful wide aperture + retracting cargo bay tonneau shade

*HOW SAFE*: **√** 7 airbags; **√** Rear camera; sonar front & rear Park Assist, Roll Mitigation, **√** Blind spot, rear cross traffic warning, **√** Partial adaptive cruise control, Lane change assist **√** Autonomous emergency braking **\-1** Lane departure warning has difficulty sensing lane markings.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-adaptive-cruise-control003.jpg)

![2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: Adaptive Tech. Pkg. ($1900 opt.) includes Driver assist functions: include Rear cross traffic alert, Blind spot & Lane departure warning, Collision avoidance e-braking](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/wordpress/2017/10/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-gauges-driving-assist003.jpg)

2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: Adaptive Tech. Pkg. ($1900 opt.) driver assistance includes Rear cross traffic alert, Blind spot & Lane departure warning, Collision avoidance e-braking

*HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:* **√** Heated & cooled driver/ front passenger seats; **√** 10-way power driver's seat; **√** Driver's seat & wing mirror 2 position memory; **√** Heated D-shape heated leather steering wheel with large tactile spoke-integrated controls;

***Cool Gizmo(s)*:** **√** Key-fob proximity hands-free power folding wing mirrors; **√**  
Qi inductive wireless device charger

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cockpit-P1180666-b.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cabin-Row-1-center-console-004c.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-infotainment-apps-menu003.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cabin-Row-1-center-console-Row-2-climate-003c.jpg)

![2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring: cockpit UVO-3 infotainment including apps, Android Auto, Apple Car Play](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/wordpress/2017/10/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-cockpit-instruments-apps003.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring:** cockpit UVO-3 infotainment including apps, Android Auto, Apple Car Play

**Details Done Right:** **√** Metallic bezel rotary dials, tipped door switchgear; **√** Dashboard blue tinted vent bezels*;* **√** Piano gloss black applique*s;*

***Nearly Non-Descript*:** **\-1** Hard plastic grain; **\-1** Leather feels fake & lacks hide scent; **\-1** Steering wheel heating switch hidden from view; **\-1** Red night instrument + switch illumination = retina burning

*HOW CONNECTED / "APP" -LICABLE:* **√** 8" matte capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; **√** +1 Large icons; Voice command hands-free communications; 3-D SD GPS navigation; **√** Complimentary UVO telematics includes Park Minder, Geo-fencing; **√** low depth Harman Kardon audio w/ 8 GB juke box

- **√** USB x 2, 12V x 3; 115V AC x 1; Qi inductive wireless device charger; **+1** Generous lower center stack mobile device connectivity/ storage
- UVO-3 Apps: Android Auto, Apple Car Play, Google Local Search, destination import, Siri-Eyes, Pandora, SoundHound, Yelp
- **√** Subscription based: Sirius XM TravelLink Sports, Weather, Traffic; Fueling; Cinema

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-night-ext003.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/d1/42d1f09d-2bf9-43a2-b325-08ba7efa19c5/content/images/2026/01/RB-2017-Kia-Niro-Touring-night-instrumentation003.jpg)

****2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring:** under the lights and alit at night

*HOW MUCH: *$32,445** \= fully loaded **2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Touring**

*WHAT'S MISSING:* Positive transmission action; Steering feel; Progressive brake pedal; native SMS messaging app; Heated rear seats; Heads-up display; AWD option??

*ANY COMPETITION:* **Ford C-Max: +1** Taller euro-crossover packaging, available plug-in BEV; [**Hyundai Ioniq**](https://www.roadblazing.com/2017-hyundai-ioniq-hybrid-limited-bottom-line-review/)**: +1** sportback and available plug-in BEV, [**Toyota Prius**](https://www.roadblazing.com/2022-toyota-prius-awd-e-hybrid-bottom-line-review/)**:** **+1** traditional hybrid experience, genuine hatchback cargo space, available plug-in BEV; [Toyota RAV4 Hybrid](https://www.roadblazing.com/2023-toyota-rav4-hybrid-woodland-edition-greener-adventures-re-driven-review/): +1 upscale cabin finish, ride compliance, road clearance.

💡

**ROADBLAZING.COM BOTTOM LINE:* Laudable first attempt at ground-up gas-electric hybrid vehicle by Kia results in a stylish value of efficient urban & suburban adventure usefulness.