Kia Targets 50 mpg for New Niro Hybrid

Kia Motor Corp.’s expects its new Niro hybrid crossover vehicle to earn a 50-mpg combined city/highway fuel efficiency rating from the Environmental Protection Agency when it hits the streets late this year.

This would make it the most efficient hybrid crossover on the market and nearly equal the Toyota Prius hybrid’s 52 mpg rating.

Built on a new 103-inch platform shared with parent Hyundai Motor Co., the Niro is Kia’s first dedicated hybrid model—as well as the brand’s first entry in the fast-growing compact crossover segment. A plug-in hybrid version is planned sometime in the future.

The Niro’s hybrid system, which also is used in the Optima sedan and the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq, teams a new 1.6-liter direct-injection Atkinson cycle engine with an electric motor that produce a combined 146 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Output of the vehicle’s 240 volt, 42-kW lithium-ion battery can be converted to 12 volts, eliminating the need for a separate 12-volt battery.

Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a second-generation version of Kia's 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, which the carmaker says provides better driving characteristics than the continuously variable transmissions used in most hybrid vehicles.

The torque converter is replaced by an electronically controlled dry clutch that allows the Niro’s electric motor to engage the transmission. This differs from the two-motor drive used in most full hybrids, which meld the power of a piston engine and an electric motor via a planetary gear set.

The 1.6-liter engine, which is part of Kia’s 4-cylinder Kappa family, is said to be the first Atkinson Cycle mill to feature cooled exhaust gas recirculation, direct injection and a long-stroke, narrow-bore design. An exhaust heat recovery system further boosts efficiency.

To help optimize fuel economy, drivers are prompted by dashboard alerts when to coast and brake. A new predictive energy control feature integrates information from the Niro’s navigation system to anticipate topographical changes and adjust throttle and battery usage accordingly.

Available safety features will include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic detection, smart cruise control, lane-departure warning and autonomous braking. Other goodies include a “smart” air intake system, which reduces drag by managing the intake of outside air for the HVAC system, and an auto defog system that monitors cabin conditions to prevent windshield condensation.