Niro 4 HEV

I am enjoying this car

This car replaced a (red) 2022/72 Honda Jazz EX I-MMD CVT. I submitted a detailed review on this site which makes for 'interesting reading'. Let's just say I wasn't upset to part company with it...

My Kia Niro was a used but new car, having been registered by the dealer in September 2024 but never driven, saving me almost £6,000 on the list price.

Unlike some manufacturers - Ford and Skoda come to mind - the range topping Niro 4 has no factory options and comes off the production line in metallic 'Runway red' if a premium colour hasn't been specified. Mine is pearl white, not my first choice of colour - but the financial saving ruled my decision.

I have owned the Kia for 4 months and driven it 2,800 miles. Its a 'completely different proposition' to the Jazz but as 'a whole package' I'm liking it - a good thing because its the first car I've taken out a service plan on (5 years) and a cosmetic damage insurance policy (4 years).

I'll start with fuel consumption. I was expecting it to be lower than the Jazz but the car has surprised me, returning 50+ mpg.

The various technology that 'plagued me' with the Jazz gives me very little 'trouble'. In this regard (only) I think I'm driving a Ford!

The lane correction safety features can be turned off by pressing a switch on the steering wheel at the start of each journey - simple, and the adaptive cruise control is 'a doddle' to set in the same manner.

The remote start and move function using the key seems like a pointless feature. It can't be used if one has put a locking bar over the steering wheel. Some owners might prefer a self-park function, but its not something I have used on cars so equipped.

It's nice to have a slide / tilt sunroof, and I appreciated the ventilated driver's seat during a recent hot spell.

I am more aware of trim reflections in the windscreen than other cars. The petrol engine can sound slightly noisy and strained on start-up from time to time, but these are little things. I miss the ability to select 'B' on the gearstick for engine braking. That's one thing I liked on the Jazz I'd forgotten about when I wrote my review.

The car has very clever technology that detects when my full concentration isn't on the road - usually because I am using the touch screen. It does annoy me when I am recommended to take a break after only driving for 15 minutes on a motorway journey!

I do have issues with some functions that must be accessed from the complex multi-layer touch screen menus, and will address these when I update this review if I can, or submit an updated review,

I'm not sure if its 'a Japanese thing', but I've never used a sat nav that instructs me to "turn half left"! So far the directions have not 'let me down',

I've never owned a car before where you can't lift the front wipers up, away from the windscreen to clean it properly, but this is not a 'biggie'.

I need to use a step stool to reach the whole roof and clean it properly!

Its early days with Ratings. I'm very glad the dealership from which I bought the car is not local. My experience of them is not relevant for the purpose of this Review. I hope my local dealership, to which I shall be taking the car for servicing, will be a joy to deal with.

Report as offensive