Kia NIRO ESTATE 1.6 Gdi Hybrid Review

Kia has become one of the UK’s bestselling brands for all things SUV – their Niro, Sportage and Sorento have become long-standing family favourites. With quality, aesthetics and value (plus an enhanced 7-year warranty), this has become a great personal and business leasing option.

Where Kia have been particularly forward-thinking is with their “hybrid” ranges, including their self-charging and plug-in options. And with the UK’s motorist moving toward alternative fuel forms, the combination of petrol + hybrid + SUV = success (so far in 2020…)

Thank you to our personal lease customer from Glasgow for sending photos of their new car – the Kia NIRO ESTATE 1.6 Gdi Hybrid.

WLTP and CO2 changes

Choosing the right fuel is not just about a personal or environmental decision. New regulatory changes around Europe are making customers carefully consider their automotive future.

Most of the public will be aware that since September of 2017 the WLTP testing procedures have been in force and the previous NEDC testing has bene removed.

Much of this was a reaction to the emission and MPG scandals that hit certain manufacturers. Effectively, the consumer needs to ensure that the data on their vehicles is accurate for their day-to-day driving behaviours.

While the new WLTP system has been in force for a couple of years, the UK Government had not yet used this for the calculation of road tax/VED. But things are changing.

WLTP and road tax

Even though vehicles have been tested under WLTP, we were using the NEDC figures for the CO2 rating which calculate your road tax and company car tax. From April 2020 things are changing and we are now moving to the WLTP figures, which provide a more accurate reflection on the vehicle’s performance.

For any car registered up to 5 April 2020, this means the NEDC value will be used for VED and until 2022/23, all company car tax rates will be frozen.

For any car registered on or after 6 April 2020, WLTP values will be used, although there will be a small concession on the CO2 of 2% in 2020/21 and 1% in 2021/22 to help offset this changes. Of course, the pure electric vehicle, which emits zero emission, will have 0% BiK from 2020/21.

Another big change will be the addition of “extras” in that any wheel changes or specification which amends the CO2 values must be taken into account. This is a new obligation on manufacturers to ensure that their values are correct. We may see less options on cars in the future.

Moving forwards, just note that VED will change with the DVLA on 1 April 2020 and from 6 April 2020 for HMRC.

This will probably result in no cars being registered on the 1^st to the 5^th of April. With more pressure on CO2/MPG, plus growing company car tax exposure, the move to alternative forms of fuel like the hybrid will only increase.

If you are looking at electric car leasing, or you just need some assistance on fuel choices, please get in touch.

Standard Equipment for the Kia NIRO ESTATE 1.6 Gdi Hybrid

In terms of the car shown, the Kia NIRO ESTATE 1.6 Gdi Hybrid 4 5door DCT (Auto) (Petrol Hybrid), this is based on the following configuration:

• Ocean Blue Metallic Paint
• Leather – Black
• High gloss black centre fascia
• 18" alloy wheels

As standard, the car includes automatic defog system, privacy glass, solar glass, emergency stop signalling system, hill start assist, traction control, apple car play/android auto.

Driver attention warning, forward collision assist, front parking sensors, lane following assist, lane keep assist, rear parking sensors, reversing camera.

10.25” touch screen navigation, 7” TFT display, auto dimming rear view mirror, electrically folding/heated/adjustable door mirrors with LED indicators.

DAB radio, JBL sound system, Bi LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights. LED rear lights, follow0me home light, air conditioning, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery.

Ambient lighting, LED interior light, 18” alloys, stop/start button with smart entry system, ventilated front seats, heated fronts, heated rear seats, electric lumbar support, 60/40 split folding seats and an alarm system/immobiliser.

On the technical side, company car and business users can note the P11d at £29,380.00 and the CO2 at 100g/km. The  1580CC 6 speed auto petrol engine delivers 53.3 combined MPG (WLTP), 139ps and 0-62 times of 11.1 seconds. The service intervals on a hybrid Kia are every 12 months or 10,000 miles.

So, would the Kia be your select car leasing option? Or would the Hyundai Kona, Toyota Rav4 or Mini Countrymanbe your preference?

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