Kia Niro

The 2017 Kia Niro is a totally new subcompact wagon with a hybrid gas-electric powertrain. Niro shares its platform with the Hyundai Ioniq hatchback. Kia Niro uses a 0.6-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine with direct fuel injection making 114 horsepower, mated to a Kia-built six-speed dual-clutch automatic manual transmission. Between the engine and transmission there is a 32-kilowatt (43-hp) electric motor that acts as a generator, getting its energy from braking and deceleration, and charging a 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. The Niro can run on electric power alone, but only…