Kia is about to bring more heat on the subcompact crossover class with the redesigned Niro. The second generation series will replace the current one, which has been in production since 2016, and will arrive with a reinterpreted front end, new interior styling, and more modern technology features.
Believed to debut sometime this year in Europe, and perhaps launch in 2022 in North America, the all-new Kia Niro has been spied testing on the road in Germany.
The scooped prototype wore thick camo on most body panels, save for the A and B pillars, roof, side skirts, and some parts of the front fenders, but even so, we can see that it will get an entirely new design, inspired by the 2019 HabaNiro Concept.
The large air intake is flanked by two lighting units, and the grille will probably resemble a shark’s snout. The rather large horizontal taillights will be replaced by boomerang-shaped LED units at the back, and it appears that the Korean automaker chose to move the rear license plate holder from the bumper to the tailgate. That big hump does a very good job at hiding other changes, on the other hand.
Interior space will be improved, as the 2022 Niro has a longer wheelbase. And speaking of the cockpit, our man with the cam managed to get close enough to snap a few pics of it. The dashboard panel has been fully redesigned and incorporates a new infotainment screen in the middle, on top of the central air vents separated by the hazard lights button.
The HVAC control panel has a new design, and so does the center console, which hosts various buttons for the heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, park assist, and drive mode selector next to the EV button. The gearshift lever has been replaced by a rotary dial, and the push-start button has been moved from the dashboard to the console. The door cards are entirely new too, and so are the multi-function two-spoke steering wheel and digital instrument cluster behind it.
At this point, powertrain options remain unconfirmed, but it is probably safe to assume that the 2022 Kia Niro will still be offered with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric assemblies.
The scooped prototype wore thick camo on most body panels, save for the A and B pillars, roof, side skirts, and some parts of the front fenders, but even so, we can see that it will get an entirely new design, inspired by the 2019 HabaNiro Concept.
The large air intake is flanked by two lighting units, and the grille will probably resemble a shark’s snout. The rather large horizontal taillights will be replaced by boomerang-shaped LED units at the back, and it appears that the Korean automaker chose to move the rear license plate holder from the bumper to the tailgate. That big hump does a very good job at hiding other changes, on the other hand.
Interior space will be improved, as the 2022 Niro has a longer wheelbase. And speaking of the cockpit, our man with the cam managed to get close enough to snap a few pics of it. The dashboard panel has been fully redesigned and incorporates a new infotainment screen in the middle, on top of the central air vents separated by the hazard lights button.
The HVAC control panel has a new design, and so does the center console, which hosts various buttons for the heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, park assist, and drive mode selector next to the EV button. The gearshift lever has been replaced by a rotary dial, and the push-start button has been moved from the dashboard to the console. The door cards are entirely new too, and so are the multi-function two-spoke steering wheel and digital instrument cluster behind it.
At this point, powertrain options remain unconfirmed, but it is probably safe to assume that the 2022 Kia Niro will still be offered with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric assemblies.