2021 Kia Niro confirmed, order books open soon
The 2021 Kia Niro has been officially confirmed for Australia, with order books set to open between April and June this year.
Along with the fully electric E-Niro, Australia will also get Kia's small SUV in hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants of the Niro.
The closed-loop hybrid is expected to be the volume-seller, as Kia is keen to tap into Australia’s appetite for efficient, electrified SUVs.
“We are confident it’s going to do well ... we’ve got some excited customers,” Kia Australia product planner Roland Rivero told Drive.
“We have seen a lot of success with the (Toyota) RAV4, It’s looking like a good opportunity.”
While exact driveline details are yet to be confirmed, Kia told Drive it has opted for the long-range E-Niro, with a 64kWh battery pack said to be good for up to 450 kilometres of driving range.
Hybrid and plug-in Hybrid Niro SUVs both have a 1.6-litre petrol engine as part of the hybrid drivetrain, while the plug-in variant has an 8.9kWh battery pack that provides 48 kilometres of electric-only driving range.
Because the Kia Niro has already been on sale for a number of years in other countries, the first Niro that Australians will see is a mid-life facelift of the current model.
The new Kia Niro will also soon be joined by electrified variants of the Kia Sorento seven-seat SUV, with a plug-in hybrid Sorento said to be only a couple of months away from Australian showrooms.
Soon after that will be a hybrid variant of the Kia Sorento, which should be available by the end of the year.