Kia has unveiled the next-gen Niro compact SUV, made in keeping with the carmaker’s latest design language first seen on its new range of dedicated BEVs (battery electric vehicles). It also bears design similarities to the HabaNiro Concept showcased at the 2019 New York auto show.
The new Niro design looks more modern from every angle. At the front, you have the angular headlights whose shape is further highlighted by the LED daytime running lights. Positioned at the edges of the bumper design, they accentuate the car’s width too. The exact styling of the front fascia differs slightly between the hybrid and the EV variants, but they have the same theme — a large air dam and sleek grille spanning the bumper’s width. The air dam is larger on the hybrid, whereas the EV sports a flap that likely houses the Niro’s charging port.
In profile, the most distinctive visual element of the second-gen Niro is the contrasting panel behind the rear passenger door and above the rear wheels. It stretches from the C-pillar to the vertical taillights and follows their shape from the roof till the rear wheel cladding. This angled pillar design has a functional side as Kia states that it enhances airflow to improve aerodynamics. As we know, aero is key to getting the most range of an EV. You can also see this principle in the wheel design of the EV variant, which is different from that of the hybrid.
Another clever design touch from Kia is the bodyside cladding which doesn’t run all the way along the sides. Instead, it starts from the front bumper, ends halfway through the rear door, and restarts from the rear wheel arch. This adds to the character of an otherwise mild-mannered compact SUV.
Around the rear, the Niro has a relatively tame design. Its overall length seems to be visually exaggerated by the contrasting panel along the C-pillar, extending behind it. The integrated roof spoiler at the end of a slightly sloping roofline gives it some sporty aesthetics around the back as well. There’s a chunky rear bumper with rugged styling details and more lighting units, likely for the reversing lights, added brake lights. The number plate is housed in a recess on the tailgate.
The cabin of the all-new Niro features a simplified yet modern design with diagonal and horizontal lines. It features an integrated housing for the large digital river’s display and the central infotainment touchscreen, sloping down towards the passenger side. This slope is mirrored by the dashboard’s design as well, ending at the front passenger’s corner AC vents. Its slight curve also allows it to integrate into the overall shape of the cabin along with the door armrests with the window controls that rise up to meet the A-pillar. The two-spoke steering wheel makes the driver’s side look modern but familiar.
Another standout visual feature of the new Niro’s dashboard is the ambient mood lighting, which extends from the integrated housing for the displays. Its horizontally-stacked, blade-like design gives it a futuristic aesthetic.