2022 Kia Niro Receives A Concept Look And New Interior

Kia is preparing a significantly restyled second-generation version of its successful Niro crossover for a 2022 introduction, with heavy design inspiration from the 2019 HabaNiro prototype. The Mk2 Niro, which will be revealed later this year, will keep its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure-electric powertrains, but it will be distinguished from the existing scheme by its more obvious SUV-inspired shape and a redesigned cabin.

The upcoming 2022 Niro will be the latest in a line of aggressively designed cars building a new reputation for the South Korean firm, following the EV6 electrified flagship and Sportage SUV.

Unlike the EV6, which has a new E-GMP electrical design with 800V capability and vehicle-to-load charge, the Niro's electric version will employ an improved version of the present car's technology. Kia's new series of EV-badged electric-only cars will use the most recent platform.

The 4x4 HabaNiro concept alluded to the possibility of a powered rear axle, at least on top-tier variations, although it's worth noting that it was built on top of a custom EV chassis. The shorter-range version of the existing e-Niro, which gives 180 miles per charge and reduces power from 201 to 132 horsepower, accounts for fewer than 5% of the model's sales in the UK, according to managing director Paul Philpott.

That means it may not make it into the next generation, particularly now that the government has altered the plug-in car award to include a model with a larger battery. 

Kia celebrated its 30th anniversary in the UK market last month, as well as achieving a 5% market share for the first time in the first half of 2021. This is up from roughly 1.5 percent in 2007, according to managing director Paul Philpott, who described it as a "landmark amount."

Kia became the eighth-largest brand in the UK with 45,300 sales in the first six months, with a much higher proportion of electric car sales (31 percent, excluding mild hybrids) than other combustion car manufacturers. Furthermore, with 6500 pure-electric auto sales, it is second only to Tesla in that market. In April, May, and June, the brand set sales records.

Every Kia vehicle in the UK has a two- to three-month wait, according to Philpott, except for the Sorento, for which the brand is seeing "unbelievable" demand that it "couldn't have possibly foreseen."