Kia Offers First Teaser Of Production Niro Hybrid SUV

Kia has just dropped the first of hint of what to expect from a new crossover-style vehicle, expected to surface in the first half of next year.

Wearing the Niro name, first seen on a concept from 2013, Kia’s new compact SUV will arrive sharing the same powertrain as Hyundai’s Ioniq, a petrol-electric rival to the Toyota Prius.

To slot in beneath the coming new Sportage, the Niro will tackle rivals such as the Honda HR-V and Mitsubishi ASX in the small SUV class.

Early details of the powertrain have already been revealed at Hyundai’s annual powertrain expo, so we know that the Niro, like the Ioniq, will be powered by a 1.6 litre, Atkinson cycle, four-cylinder petrol engine capable of 77kW and 147Nm.