2023 Kia Niro Gets Ready for US Debut in New York

2023 Kia Niro will debut at the New York auto show this month, after a global reveal in Seoul, South Korea, late last year.The Niro will be offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV versions, with the hybrid model slated to use a 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic and an electric motor.The EV version of the Niro is expected to feature a 64.8-kWh battery pack powering a 201-hp motor.The redesigned 2023 Kia Niro is set to make its US debut at the New York auto show next week, bringing with it a very different exterior design, one you might not immediately recognize as being from Kia. The new Niro already debuted globally at the Seoul Mobility Show in South Korea in the closing weeks of 2021, so its New York appearance will largely be about the US market details rather than exterior styling. Related Story Kia EV9 Three-Row SUV Is Headed to Europe in 2023 The 2023 Niro followed the HabaNiro concept of 2019 pretty closely, and during its debut in Seoul in November we’ve also learned it will be longer and wider than the outgoing model. The most striking element of the redesigned model will perhaps be the vertical blade covering the entire C-pillar, one that will be painted in a contrasting color on some versions of the model. A radically restyled fascia will see two angular headlights positioned lower on the front, along with a two-tier grille design. It’s doubtful you’ll ever confuse the outgoing Niro with the new one, at least visually. A vertical blade at the C-pillar finished in a contrasting color will be a noticeable element of the redesigned Niro exterior. Kia The 2023 model will be offered with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV powertrains, with the hybrid version pairing a 1.6-liter gasoline four-cylinder with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic and an electric motor, with this setup good for 139 hp. The EV version, meanwhile, is expected to feature a 201-hp electric motor with 188 lb-ft of torque—numbers that should be familiar to current Niro EV owners—with a 64.8-kWh battery expected to provide the juice. In Europe this setup gives the new Niro EV a range of 287 miles in the WLTP cycle, but EPA numbers won’t be known until next week at the earliest. It’s worth noting the current model is rated at 239 miles in the EPA cycle, but we don’t expect the new one to beat it by some giant margin, as the battery and motors are staying the same. But a little bump in range would be nice. Related Story 2022 Kia EV6 Targets First-Time EV Buyers In Europe the PHEV model received a 1.6-liter GDI gas engine paired with a 62-kW electric motor and an 11.1-kWh battery, with this setup offering a combined output of 183 hp. US specs may differ a bit, but the EV-only range in the European model has been rated at 37 miles in the very optimistic WLTP cycle. We’ll see the US-spec Niro in the metal in New York on April 13, and that’s when Kia is expected to reveal all the details about the 2023 model. But count on the EV version to get quite a bit of attention this month as Kia continues to electrify its range.As for pricing, expect Kia to continue delivering a lot of car for the money with its new Niro, particularly the EV. SIGN UP