2023 Kia Niro revamps itself completely

The first-gen Kia Niro has never been a looker. In the ever-growing sea of crossovers, it uneventfully blended in with its sedate design, both in its IC-engined, or EV forms. Kia took up the challenge and revamped it inside-out. Is the 2023 Kia Niro good enough to make a statement for itself?

The second generation of the Kia Niro looks nothing like its predecessor, with a sharper design. The front end shows off some bold elements from other Kia crossovers, like the Sportage. But the Niro establishes a different identity for itself. The highlight of the rear is the boomerang-shaped taillights, reminiscent of what we saw in the Hyundai Bayon.

The interior is all Kia. The design is cleaner and looks more upmarket than the previous gen. The infotainment screen is decent in size, and it flows into a larger driver information display behind the steering wheel. Gladly, physical controls for the climate control system have not been replaced for a touchscreen as the new Niro retains the tactile buttons and knobs. The gear lever has gone though, with a rotary dial taking its place.

Being a “green” vehicle, Kia says that Niro uses a lot of environmentally-friendly materials for its construction. The headliner is claimed to be made from recycled wallpaper. The seat upholstery is made from Eucalyptus leaves. The paint used on the door panels is eco-friendly water-based paint.

No tech specs of the crossover are out as of now. The 2023 Kia Niro will come in hybrid, plug-in-hybrid and of course, a Battery EV configuration when it hits the market.