2017 Kia Niro Hybrid | Cars.com photo by Angela Conners
CARS.COM — Kia unveiled the 2017 Niro Hybrid SUV at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. From the outside, the Niro occupies the growing piece of turf between the hatchback and SUV styling camps. The brand’s new grille dominates the front, with headlights angling back to the tops of the front fenders. Other design accents include a contoured hood, cladding on the rocker panels, large wheel arches, roof rails and a rear skid plate that Kia claims combine to make the Niro more sporty looking than a traditional hybrid.
Inside, the Niro uses Kia’s UVO3 infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Smartphone functions and apps are displayed on the car’s 7-inch touch-screen. The other highlight is a Smart Air Intake system that Kia says maximizes aerodynamics and efficiency by controlling the amount of outside air the climate control system takes in. Check out the gallery for more.
Road Test Editor
Brian Normile
Road Test Editor Brian Normile joined the automotive industry and Cars.com in 2013, and he became part of the Editorial staff in 2014. Brian spent his childhood devouring every car magazine he got his hands on — not literally, eventually — and now reviews and tests vehicles to help consumers make informed choices. Someday, Brian hopes to learn what to do with his hands when he’s reviewing a car on camera. He would daily-drive an Alfa Romeo 4C if he could.