The compact SUV is only available with electrified drives. How economical and cheap is the Niro Hybrid without an external charging option?
"Faster refueling and the longer range bring decisive points to victory. Negative: With an empty battery, i.e. without e-boost, the four-cylinder often seems overwhelmed." This is the assessment of our test editor Marcus Peters, who sees the Kia Niro with standard hybrid drive in the front in comparison to its purely electrically powered model brother. But do the costs and consumption values speak for the combination of 1.6-liter petrol engine and electric motor?
Our test consumption
Probably not on paper. The WLTP standard consumption of 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers becomes 6.1 liters in the test, which drives up the fuel costs to 9.81 euros. The Kia Niro Hybrid Spirit does not come under the WLTP mark on the Eco lap either. After all, the fuel thirst of 4.9 liters determined there lowers the equivalent of the premium petrol required for 100 kilometers to 7.88 euros. The Korean goes to the other extreme when he is physically active. The consumption of 8.9 liters raises the fuel costs to 14.32 euros. These are calculated using the daily updated fuel price on our partner portal mehr-tanken.de (22.12.2021 /Super: 1.609 euros/litre).
Monthly maintenance costs
The vehicle tax, which amounts to 42 euros per year, is of little financial importance. According to Allianz Direct , liability insurance costs 449 euros in the same period. If you also book partially comprehensive insurance, a further 82 euros will be due. A fully comprehensive upgrade costs 441 euros. The bottom line is that there are monthly maintenance costs of 242 euros for drivers of a Kia Niro Hybrid Spirit who drive their car 15,000 kilometers a year. This sum increases to 437 euros if the annual mileage doubles. The loss of value plays no role in this calculation.
How to test
The auto motor und sport test consumption consists of three differently weighted consumption runs. So-called “commuter consumption” accounts for 70 percent. This is a journey from home to work, which averages 21 kilometers. A particularly economical, approx. 275-kilometre-long eco-lap is included in the rating with 15 percent. The remaining 15 percent is accounted for by the sports driver lap. The length is roughly the same as the eco lap, but the route includes a larger proportion of motorway and thus higher speeds on average. The basis for calculating the fuel costs is always the price quoted on the "more tanken" portal on the day the article was created.
The monthly maintenance costs include maintenance, wear part costs and vehicle taxes assuming an annual mileage of 15,000 and 30,000 kilometers without loss of value. The calculation is based on the test consumption, a three-year holding period, no-claims class SF12 for liability and fully comprehensive insurance with Allianz Direct, including discounts for garage parkers and the restriction to certain drivers (accident-free/15,000 km per year/resident in the postcode area 70174/not under 21/partner driver older than 25 years).
Conclusion
The Kia Niro Hybrid Spirit with 141 hp petrol hybrid drive costs at least 34,290 euros and consumes an average of 6.1 liters, resulting in fuel costs of 9.81 euros per 100 kilometers. The monthly maintenance costs are 242 euros with an annual mileage of 15,000 kilometers. If this increases to 30,000 kilometers, the sum increases to 437 euros.
