Kia Niro hybrid: strong supply in Australia for RAV4 rival, immediate delivery available

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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 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”.

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.

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