Kia Australia has confirmed that it has a healthy supply of its second-generation Niro small SUV available for immediate delivery.
Immediately accessible supply of a family-sized hybrid SUV is almost unheard of in Australia right now, and marks a stark contrast to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – which faces a wait time of 12 months or more.
Update: Kia Australia has told Chasing Cars that as of August 18, 2022:
- There are 90 hybrid and 60 EV Niros in stock in Australia
- A further 70 hybrid and 50 EV Niros are currently en route to Australia by ship
- Kia was unable to clarify the exact wait times for new Niro orders
Chasing Cars consulted a number of dealers and found Niro hybrid models with different levels of availability, varying from immediate delivery to a six-month wait.
The Kia Niro is available in both fully electric and hybrid guise
The Korean manufacturer has indicated to Chasing Cars that it has stock of its hybrid models available in showrooms in various colours and grades and even if a buyer has a specific preference, they only face a delay of between one to two months.
Kia launched the Niro in Australia last month and has so far sold 70 hybrid (HEV) and three fully-electric (EV) models and yet it plans to ship in 75 to 100 cars each month.
Alyson MacDonald, media and corporate communications manager at Kia Australia said, given the current circumstances, “there’s a chance you could walk into a dealership and buy [a Niro HEV] if you’re not looking for a particular colour/trim combination”.
Kia is currently bringing in more supply of the Niro that it’s selling
The importation of future Niro stock is expected to strike a more even balance between the Niro HEV and EV variants, but given that demand for a new vehicle typically drops in the months following the launch, it shouldn’t be too hard to get your hands on one.
The Niro is officially designated as a small SUV and thus competes with the likes of the Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR, though its 4420mm length has awarded the Kia above-average-sized back seats and a 425-litre boot.
With this in mind, the Niro HEV could also be considered a contender against popular midsize SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Kia Niro range explained
The second-generation Niro is available in two grades known as the S and GT-Line grades, with prices starting at $44,380 before on-road costs in hybrid guise.
The Niro HEV makes use of a 77kW/144Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 32kW/170Nm electric motor. Together, the pair produce a combined 104kW and 265Nm, which is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Kia claims an average fuel consumption rating of 4.0L/100km and independent, real-world testing by chasing Cars has shown this figure to be around 4.7L/100km.
GT-Line models feature a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen
Niro EV buyers net a 150kW/255Nm electric motor on the front axle which draws from a 64.8kWh lithium-ion battery to provide a driving range of 463km, according to the typically more accurate WLTP testing standard.
Buyers opting for the Niro S grades net an 8.0-inch touchscreen, cloth and artificial leather seat trim, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a six-speaker stereo along with safety features such as forwards and reversing AEB and blind-spot collision avoidance.
Those who opt for the Niro GT-Line receive a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.25-inch digital dash, heated and cooled front seats, a wireless phone charger, front parking sensors, ambient lighting and much more.
Kia Niro 2022: prices in Australia
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
- S hybrid: $44,380
- S electric: $65,300
- GT-Line hybrid: $50,030
- GT-Line electric: $72,100