Can The 2023 Kia Niro PHEV Go The Distance? | Review

The 2023 Kia Niro PHEV blends the smooth, silent, efficient operation of an electric SUV with the long range and quick refueling of internal combustion. Plug-in hybrids are the PERFECT solution if you want to try an electric vehicle but aren’t quite ready to go all in on an EV. The Niro PHEV is affordable and only has a few downsides. Join us as we hit the road and test out the electric-only mode.
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0:00 Introduction
0:44 Testing Approach
1:32 Battery Check
1:56 Powertrain Modes
2:54 Drive Modes
3:37 Driving Dynamics
4:06 What Is a PHEV?
4:31 Powertrain
6:24 Charging the Battery
7:15 How’s the Ride?
8:30 Interior Features
9:22 Range Results
10:04 Pros & Cons
10:40 Price
11:05 Conclusions
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#EVPulse #EVPulseReview #CraigCole

[@EVPulse]

Do you need a plug-in hybrid with a bit more space inside for people and things? ➡ kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoHJqKZorLdke8k

[@jeremysensenig3990]

I have the 2023 and love it. Charging on a regular home outlet takes about 6 hours. I find I get 33 miles on electric only when in hybrid mode (gas will kick in at about 15% charge left). I really love the car. I commute about 88 miles a day to work. My everyday drive confirms his results. Very flexible car.

[@ALMX5DP]

That’s a pretty good result! Hopefully we see more PHEVs come to market, I think that approach is considerate of current uses and expectations. Range extender types would be even more of a step but for some reason they aren’t nearly as popular.

[@gambler213]

Even the 1st Generation Chevy Volt got 38 miles of range. My 2nd generation came stock with 53 miles. More than 6 years later, I'm still charging it up to 47 miles. Why GM stopped manufacturing the Volt is beyond us.

[@EVPulse]

GM, without fail, whenever given the opportunity, will pull a GM.

[@gambler213]

@@EVPulse They were way ahead of all the other Automobile giants. By now GM could dominating the market with different plug-in hybrids. All they had to do was market the industry.

[@gambler213]

GM's long-term planning must have been secondary to their corporate executives getting giant pay raises.

[@DrawsOnCad]

@@EVPulsewe must be related. Volt exists only because of Bob Lutz and Government money. Yes, I do own a Volt.

[@mayumihirtzel7023]

LOL! we love how you can build jokes into your always helpful reviews. We're not car people in my family, but since we decided to buy an EV a year ago, this is our favorite channel covering the industry. Thanks for your consistently insightful reviews, and for making them entertaining.

[@EVPulse]

Thank you so much for the kind words and your support! Which EV did you get?

[@mayumihirtzel7023]

@@EVPulse We fell in love with Ford's Mustang Mach-E. It's been a great vehicle for us, even on longer road trips. Even our cat finds it a great ride! Driving an EV has been a game-changer for our lifestyle, and we love it. We watched a lot of EV Pulse videos to compare our top selections!

[@EVPulse]

@@mayumihirtzel7023 Awesome! Our video producer Ben also has a Mustang Mach-E as his personal car. I'm not sure if his cats have been in the car much, though!

[@thegera]

In my Niro PHEV, its interesting, going to work (44 miles away) I get the rated 34 miles. Going home I get 44 to 46 miles. I've actually had it where I've had 12 miles to spare going home! If I'm honest that was me baby-ing it. The more realistic figure is 2 miles over or the 2 miles deficit going home averaging 70 MPH on the freeway. Most of the time with the A/C on set at 70 degrees.

[@guizarbg]

Nice review with good information but how about mpg on hybrid mode after there is no more ev range. A more in depth review would have been appreciated with acceleration numbers, cargo room etc. Hopefully there is a part 2.

[@thegera]

I've gotten between 54 and 76 MPG in hybrid mode on mine.

[@user-ld6lo7vd1i]

I thoroughly enjoy your reviews. You have a great sense of Humor. Craig could you tell me, when charging this vehicle thru a household plug (level 1) does it automatically shut off when it has reached a full charge. I do not want to overcharge and damage the battery. Thank you so much.

[@EVPulse]

Yes, the car will stop charging when the battery is full automatically. No need to worry about it!

[@user-ld6lo7vd1i]

Thank you so much Craig@@EVPulse

[@user-ld6lo7vd1i]

Thank you so much. One more question please, I can't seem to lock my hatch can you tell me how to do this? Thank you again@@EVPulse

[@user-ld6lo7vd1i]

Sorry Craig I figured it out, if you don't have your key with you the hatch is locked

[@BN99239]

I don't know why no one has done it like the Volt, which is like 10 years old now. That car gets 55miles of pure electric range and also has full power while in electric only mode.

[@Probably.boredinPDX]

Once the driving range is fully depleted, and the engine kicks on, is the hybrid performance noticeably impacted?

[@EVPulse]

You might notice a bit less performance, but really nothing that we'd consider a deal-breaker or even a significant concern.

[@bhanukumarkunkodh9092]

Wish we had this in India!

[@Steve_in_NJ]

Seriously considering this 2024 Niro SX Touring PHEV as I am not 100% ready to go full on EV yet. I do not drive many miles in a week's time, so that 33 miles on a charge could almost last 4 days before ever needing the engine to kick in. Of course, having an ICE backup is great when driving on a weekend jaunt, or heading to the airport for a week and not having a charger available at the airport parking site. BEST part of the PHEV? As I will be leasing, I will STILL be eligible for the U.S. Federal Tax Credits of $7500 off MSRP, which is about $42,500 in 2024. So that means that 42500-7500=$35,000 which is about the same as a top-trim ICE vehicle (also considering Hyundai Kona Limited AWD ICE) and with double the gas mileage for the PHEV, and the ability to charge the battery at home using my solar panels for green energy, it's a no-brainer to go with PHEV as my next small SUV.

[@adam311835]

How do you get the federal tax credit on a car built in South Korea?

[@Steve_in_NJ]

@@adam311835 Leased! The KIA Finance gets the tax credit they deduct the amount from your financed amount. Oh, and I wound up leasing an EV, not a PHEV. Only the EV gets the tax credits, I later found out.

[@wintersun398]

i thought it was pronounced as in FEV with the ph sounding like the start of the word PHaroah and the EV sounding like the start of the word EVent

[@Bottomburbsburnbums]

It is…

[@EVPulse]

Craig puts the pee in PHEV 😂 What are your favorite car puns?

[@gao57009]

The problem with this Kia PHEV is that the best trim level costs $4-5000 MORE than a Tesla Model 3 now and just $1,000 less than a Model Y when you take into account the Federal tax credits. That is a problem.

[@andresmattos7541]

But Teslas except the Model S are so F ugly.

[@sebrofc]

@@andresmattos7541 And complete JUNK on fit and finish and quality

[@j.heilig7239]

In my direct personal experience, the Tesla M3 is a piece of junk. I leased one in March 2022 and got rid of it in October 2022. The software was **incredibly** glitchy, often causing the car not to wake up when I got into it (for 2-3 minutes). Mine was a rattle box, which Tesla refused to (or was incapable of) fix, and the car just felt cheap. I’d never own another Tesla, especially now, given Elon Musk’s racism and conspiracy theory nonsense. I’m planning on buying a Niro PHEV once I get to Portugal later this year.

[@stratusedge2k7]

He reminds me of a more mature Blippi

[@EVPulse]

We wouldn’t mind a percentage of his followers. 😂

[@user-ss3ud7pp7f]

One of the corniest all about me introductions that went on and on that I’ve seen.

[@user-ss3ud7pp7f]

A lot of talk about peeing.

[@royalmontpark]

This is effing joke. The Chinese PHEV are all 110km or 200km range on the battery alone, this thing???

[@j.heilig7239]

Thanks, but I don’t want a Chinese car that’s spying on me for the Chinese government.

[@MsAnderson-]

I wish Honda would make a car like this. I am not sure I can pull the plug to buy a KIA. 🫤🤣

[@j.heilig7239]

Honda is being left in the dust these days. I remember when Honda was the world’s leader in innovative automotive technology, but they’re not even in the rear view mirror anymore.