Kia needed a small Juke-style compact Crossover model. And it also wanted a hybrid able to appeal to buyers who can’t quite stretch to a Toyota Prius. The Niro smartly packages up both requirements into one potentially appealing product.

Under the bonnet lies a 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid powerplant of the non-plug-in variety. The petrol unit puts out 102bhp and that’s bolstered by a 42bhp electric motor mounted on the transmission and the whole package is driven by a 6-speed CVT auto gearbox. As you’d expect from a hybrid, regenerative braking is used to send power back to the battery, but Kia says it’s paid special attention to brake feel, reducing the grabby nature that you get from the brakes in other hybrids.

The Niro occupies a new space within the brand’s model line-up in terms of its size. It’s 4,355mm in length, 1,800mm wide and 1,535mm tall, making it smaller overall than the brand’s larger Sportage Crossover, though occupying a larger footprint than the cee’d hatchback. This car will chime with buyers in the compact Crossover segment.

There are four Niro trim grades currently on offer - ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘First Edition’. Pricing starts from around £21,000. All are comprehensively equipped with comfort, luxury, connectivity and driver assistance features. Every version has a Lane Keep Assist System, Hill-start Assist Control, Cruise Control and a Speed Limiter. Every Niro also has a DAB radio and is able to support Bluetooth smartphone connectivity and music streaming. Plus all variants get 16-inch alloy wheels, dual automatic air conditioning, an automatic windscreen de-fogging system, LED daytime running lights and tail lights, a 3.5-inch TFT supervision cluster, all-round electric windows and electric exterior mirror adjustment, USB and AUX ports and a trip computer.

So, how do the figures stack up? Well, this model’s headline efficiency figures can’t match those of Toyota’s Prius but they’re still pretty impressive: 74.3mpg on the combined cycle and 88g/km of CO2. That’s achieved using some impressive tech. The Niro uses a Lithium-Ion Polymer battery that is both compact and powerful - so much so that Kia has been able to do away with a 12v battery in the car.

  • CAR: Kia Niro
  • PRICES: £21,295 - £26,995
  • INSURANCE GROUPS: TBC
  • CO2 EMISSIONS: 88-101g/km
  • PERFORMANCE: 0-62 – 11.5s / Max Speed 101mph
  • FUEL CONSUMPTION: ‘1’ 1.6 GDi (combined) 74.3mpg
  • STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ESP, twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBA and EBD
  • WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4355/1805/1535mm