Kia expands plug-in hybrid range with Niro and Optima Sportswagon PHEVs

By Matt De Prez

5 September 2017

Plug-in hybrid versions of the Kia Niro crossover and Optima Sportswagon are now available to order priced £27,995 and £32,645 respectively.

The new models join the Optima saloon PHEV, all-electric Soul EV and Niro dedicated hybrid crossover in helping to drive Kia towards its goal of a 25% reduction in fleet average CO2 emissions by 2020, based on 2014 figures.

Niro PHEV

With potential fuel economy of well over 200mpg and CO2 emissions of just 29g/km, the Niro PHEV is the Korean company's most efficient car to feature a combustion engine ever. It is also the world’s first compact crossover with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The PHEV is a stand-alone model in the Niro line-up, based on the mid-range (grade 3) Niro parallel hybrid. Standard features include Kia Connected Services featuring TomTom, wireless smartphone charging, autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist. It also offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which, via pre-downloaded apps, link smartphones to navigation, music, hands-free calls and texts and voice recognition services.

The Niro PHEV features a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 60PS electric motor. It is capable of travelling up to 36 miles on the energy stored in its batteries. Together, the two power units produce 140PS, with 265Nm of torque.

Niro PHEV performance and economy:

Model	Total power PS	Total torque Nm	0–60 sec	Max speed mph	Average mpg	C02 g/km
1.6 GDi 6DCT plug-in hybrid	140	265	10.4	107	217.3	29

Optima Sportwagon PHEV

Thanks to increased storage capacity in its lithium-ion polymer batteries, the Optima Sportswagon PHEV has a longer all-electric range, lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy than the plug-in hybrid saloon.

The Sportswagon PHEV can travel up to 38 miles in all-electric mode (saloon 33 miles). Its CO2 figure of just 33g/km (saloon 37g/km) means company car users pay just 9% benefit-in-kind taxation. The Sportswagon's combined fuel economy figure is 201.8mpg (saloon 176.6mpg).

By packaging the batteries in the boot floor, plus a 15-litre reduction in fuel tank capacity, the Sportswagon PHEV remains practical and versatile. It can carry 440 litres of cargo or 1,574 litres when the seats are folded.

As with the Optima saloon PHEV, the Sportswagon PHEV combines a 155PS 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 68PS electric motor.

Optima Sportwagon PHEV performance and economy: