Good to see you posting update. 2025 PHEV in US has the heat pump included as standard in the upper trim. Also the GVWR isn't the actual weight of the car, the number included what it can haul. Actual wegith is likely 3497lb
@@gilbrook Geez, I'm embarrassed to say yes, but yeah. I do not recommend it (should have made that clear in the video) of course (waste of money) but my work requires a heavy tread... saving for good all seasons.
@@KiaNiroPluginHybrid For safety sake, I’m considering outfitting 2025 Kia Niro HEV SX with year round Michelin CrossClimate2 tires. Nothing to be embarrassed about.
Fantastic! Can’t thank you enough for the detailed analysis of how the car functions in every day life. I live in Canada and have one of these cars on order. Would you or anyone else be able to comment on how the stock stereo sounds?
Really enjoy the sound quality. When we first drove it, some of our music sounded a bit thin, but make sure you jump into your audio settings and you can bring the 'highs and lows' up to your liking. This was worth tinkering with. The interior is really sharp looking at night. You may even find yourself turning off the display or running it in clock mode, I tend to ride like this and between the music and simple lines, I think you will like :)
Very useful real world performance info. Thanks for sharing this. Considering a few options for an eventual purchase: 1) Toyota Camry, 2. Subaru Impreza, 3. Kia Niro. I am partial to hatchbacks for the practicality. The roof rails on the Niro are a bonus. I like the greater ground clearance with the Niro. Reliability is the greatest concern. Still not persuaded that the cost savings at the pump would offset an eventual battery replacement, hence the Subaru Impreza consideration, even though we would rarely need the AWD. We can buy a lot of gas for $10K up front difference in price. We have a 2007 Honda Fit, manual, and it is pretty hard to beat. I'm 6'4" and the headroom is great. Perfect urban runabout, and we haul a lot of stuff, too. Note to Honda: Bring back the Fit!
Yeah, great thoughts on this choice. Coincidentally my wife and I bought the 2007 Fit when it first came out. Man, that was the perfect car for us...totally a fan. Had a 4 speed stick 89 Civic hatch that beats the FIT and almost beats this Niro for MPG's :) . My goal is to get 10 years or more out of this battery and hopefully it can still retain 7 or 8 KWH of its original capacity. I have no plans of ever changing the battery, who knows where society and battery tech will be in 10 years. Good luck. Thanks for watching
Roof rack has been quite with no issues... I've never actually used it though, so I can't actually review how rugged it really is. Max weight is 230 lbs I believe. Seems nice and solid
Thank you for the update. I am considering buying the Hybrid SX or SX Touring version. I rented a Kia Sportage Hybrid this past weekend for a road trip and loved the quiet smooth ride. It confirmed to me I prefer smaller cars. I think the Niro would be perfect size car for my needs. However, I was concerned about the shared infotainment/climate set up. I knew about it from watching RU-vid videos and did not think it was an issue. I figure I would adapt. But I admit for my road trip I found the dual purpose annoying and found that it took my eyes off the road more than I like! Was there an adjustment period for you too? I was disappointed I disliked it so much. I am now wondering if it could be a deal breaker for me...
I hear you. For me, it has been annoying a few times, but overall , it a nice clean look, and most people don't know that you can select either button (top climate / or bottom media) and it will flip screens. You don't have to think so much, just click it and make an option. I love the size of the car, so I get into the flow of driver operation and really love how it handles. Good luck with your choice, so far it checked all my boxes
The car weighs about 3350 lbs. The gross vehicle weight is the weight of the car plus the max weight it can carry. They give the max per axle, thus the 2 weights you showed.
I appreciate you hosting this series, as I am contemplating a purchase of a used Niro PHEV. Your videos delve deeper into details than the others devoted to this car (Bravo!). I am a fellow New Englander, and as such, I am concerned about winter conditions and, in particular, how cabin heating functions. It would be very helpful to me - and to other viewers, I think - if, in an upcoming episode, you could give a detailed account of how this works in the PHEV. The information I have found online has been fragmented and somewhat unclear. As I understand it, the engine plays a role in heating and will start solely to heat the cabin. I have mixed feelings about a 1.6L engine starting for this purpose. Does the warm coolant flow through a heating core like on all ICEs? Is this the only heater? Is there also an electric heating element (PTC) or a heat pump for battery-powered heat? Also, other than your impressive winter tires (which you have described and which I would expect to purchase), what other winter-oriented features does your car have? Do you have heated seats and steering wheel and, if so, do you use them (and do these allow you to keep the cabin temperature lower)? Is some kind of warmer for the HV battery used on the PHEV? And is "battery conditioning" used for the PHEV? Anyway, it's a big ask on my part, but with winter just around the corner, it could make for a topical episode.
Yes, good questions. With the KIA connect app you can turn on your climate controls, your heated seat setting and your steering wheel (really nice) all remotely. There is an electric PTC (Positive Temp Coefficient) heater behind the traditional heater core which will condition the cabin air without the engine . This electric heater runs on high voltage battery power. This said, every morning in our Vermont Winter I was able to heat the car and turn on my heated seats and wheel without the gas engine coming on. I did this each morning with my phone while packing my lunch for 10 minutes. Now, if you turn all the heated seats (front and back) to high and have the heated seats on high, and the steering wheel this may cause the engine to kick on somewhere in your commute and run at 1400rpm to supplement the continues high voltage you need...then the traditional heater core would be active. The car has a HSG (Hybrid Starter Generator) that both starts the engine and generates a tun of high voltage power. Now, the batter is liquid cooled but I do not see evident of any heater in the pack. I have a 3600pg manual, and I just don't think they included a heater. The Battery Management System is tracking cell temps, but no clear heater present. Battery Conditioning is an excellent question. I don't know yet. I believe the slow nature of 1200watt home charging is good for the batteries and I am hoping the charger top is less then 90% as toping to 80% could extend the pack life for like 10 years. This is an area I'd like to get smarter about. Anywho, I really enjoy this car and good luck with your choice
@@KiaNiroPluginHybrid I suspect the battery is heated by the fluid that is also used for cooling but don't know for sure. It only makes sense that they'd have protection for recharging in sub freezing temperatures to protect the cells from damage. I have a 2024 with the PTC heater and it works well. I generally charge to about 80% unless I know I'm going to use the full capacity and then charge overnight to 100%.
@@chrisi1920 I sure wish heating this battery was possible through the 'battery cooling system', of which the High Voltage AC compressor can chill the coolant fluid, but the heater core which draws heat from the engine block is only active when the ICE engine is active and making heat. There is no high voltage electric heater except for the PTC (Positive Temp Coefficient) heater behind the traditional heater core which will condition the cabin air for the driving and passenger cabin. not cool for KIA, but other than Toyota, PHEV's rarely have battery heaters. ughh
Nice to hear from you again…my experience is much the same as yours. My 2024 PHEV-EX trim goes in for its one-year maintenance this week with 15,000km and having spent $38. on fuel for the year (daily return commute is 40km) and the 120v overnight charging cost is about $20/month. Zero issues with the car but with oil changes twice yearly (with approx. 300km on the ICE) to maintain the warranty, seems excessive. Does that justify as a legitimate complaint? LOL! Otherwise, the car far exceeds all expectations in every respect. Cheers.
Our channel host knows much more about this subject than I do (and especially how it applies to the Kia Niro), but, as a general matter, crankcase oil is supposed to be changed on a mileage OR calendar date basis, whichever comes first. That's because condensation, blow-by fuel, acids, impurities, etc. can build up in oil over time, and not just from intensive engine use. Minimal or sporadic use of ICE engines - while it minimizes use of fuel - is not particularly good for engines or engine oil (or starter batteries). As I recall, our channel host discusses this topic in an earlier video.
@@ttnyny Thanks for the info…my ICE comes on periodically and I do get oil changes every 6 months so hopefully that will be enough to protect against all those issues. I hope the electric drive motor is able to stand the wear and tear…only time will tell. So far, this car looks like the perfect vehicle for my situation.
@@ttnyny Yes, the oil change interval is a interesting topic, I'm going to cover the manufactures service schedule recommendations in the next video. When KIA outlines 'normal' and 'severe use' service maintenance schedule there are many driving conditions that may seem normal but KIA considers Severe and recommends 5,000 mile oil changes (regardless of whether the actual ICE engine only has only say 1000 miles of actual load to the transmission. Thanks, I will check out your channel :)
@@BoundlessParadise Makes sense to me. I just imagine leaving my car in the driveway for a week and then suddenly starting the engine at 60mph and she's up and running. How does the engine block deal with that immediate load and build up of heat? The engine block is made from high pressure diecast aluminum and so are the pistons heads and rods themselves. I just assume that this is harder on the oils and components and worth changing oil even though 5000-8000 is really not an accurate milage clocked on the combustion engine
Thanks, I purchased a 3600 page manual for the Niro at www.factory-manuals.com . I have really enjoyed reading this repair manual and learning the nuts and bolts of all the on board systems.
Have you had a chance to drive the Niro up a long incline, where the traction battery became fully depleted? If so, how was the climbing power after the battery was depleted?
power is more then adequate, the electric motor is a 80hp (60,000 watt) motor and does fine as long as you don't goose the throttle to hard. A lot of the higher end power is happening around 3500-5000 rpm, so the engine can get a little buzzy on occasion, but I am impressed with the power 95% of the time.
Just did this recently myself, climbing into Flagstaff from the north side. Battery was nearly empty at the start and the car was loaded up with ~800 lbs including people. Once the battery died, couldn't go faster than about 65 mph without really running the engine hard >5000 rpm. With the battery I was doing 75 mph no problem. To be honest, if you are doing long distance highway driving you shouldn't run electric basically at all so that you have the power needed for inclines like this. I knew that going in, but thought I had enough battery for the climb. Moved across country with this car loaded up with the heaviest stuff we owned, averaged 45 mpg. Had to dodge some tires on the road and the car handled like it wasn't even loaded up. The Kia Niro PHEV is incredible. Well made, efficient, roomy. Very happy with this car.
These are both helpful answers. @drradar, your example is more relevant to my concern as I live in the Rockies and have been wondering how the naturally aspirated 1.6 liter four-popper would handle mountain passes, after the battery is used up and in a loaded up car. It sounds like I should just be realistic and be patient!
@@acsmoothing2262 Keep the battery at ~50% and it will perform beautifully in the mountains if you have up and down. We visited Sequoia National park last year and that involves a 7000 ft climb. Having the battery at 50% we had enough electricity to supplement the gas on the climb and then could absorb all the energy with regen coming down out of the park again. Huge load off the brakes and far more efficient overall than what a hybrid can handle with the small battery they have.
