Hybrids Are Finally Good Enough to Buy

All Photos By: Joel Patel

As someone that really likes driving, and cars in generally, I’ve never been behind the idea of a hybrid. They’re heavy – thanks to having two powertrains – and, in the real world, aren’t that good at helping consumers save money at the pumps. And when you start to think about all of the extra materials that goes into making hybrids, like the complex battery packs and electric motors, the vehicles aren’t very friendly to the environment either.

My fiancé is the proud owner of a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, which she bought after meeting me and I usually joke around with her by saying that if we had met earlier, I wouldn’t have let her purchase the car. It’s not that it’s a bad car, but there’s a lot to be desired when it comes to the powertrain.

The majority of the Optima Hybrid’s grunt comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is also paired to a 40-horsepower electric motor. Below 62 miles per hour, the sedan runs mostly on electricity or until the driver mashes the throttle, kicking the gasoline engine on.

Unfortunately, the transit from electric to gas isn’t exactly smooth, but more of a buck that’s similar to a furious steed attempting to get rid of its rider. The transmission, which is a traditional six-speed unit is dumber than a squirrel, as it struggles to downshift, upshift, and deal with stop-and-go traffic.  

The placement of the hybrid components, which for the majority of the part are in the trunk, eat into the vehicle’s available cargo space, too. On a day-to-day basis, it’s not such a big deal, but you can’t even fold the rear seats down, which utterly sucks.

The problems don’t stop there, as the sedan, which is rated to get 35 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, doesn’t get those figures. The car usually gets around 30 mpg with mixed driving. With those kind of numbers, a regular ol’ Honda Civic can get better fuel economy figures.

Needless to say, after experiencing a hybrid for the past five years, I wasn’t too sold on the machines. But a trip to Montana to test out the new Kia Niro changed that and now, I can see the little sliver of light for a hybrid-filled future.

The Niro follows the popular recipe that every consumer wants today: a compact crossover body with tons of features. But the Niro has an ace up its sleeve. While it looks like a crossover, it’s smaller and has the overall profile of a tall hatchback. And its design is a breath of fresh air compared to the hideousness that is the Toyota Prius. When it comes to hybrids, automakers either go way too far or don’t go far enough. The Niro doesn’t have this problem, as it’s just different enough without going overboard.

I also am not a huge fan of crossovers, but with the Niro it works. The high-voltage battery is smartly packaged underneath the trunk, so while it digs into the cargo space, it shouldn’t be that noticeable for the majority of owners. The seats also fold flat, which is a nice touch.

The most impressive part of the Niro, though, is the vehicle’s powertrain. The Niro is powered by a 1.6-liter that makes 104 hp and an electric motor that’s good for 43 hp. Instead of going with a regular transmission or a CVT, Kia placed a six-speed dual-clutch transmission into the vehicle.

While the powertrain isn’t exactly fast, it does a fine job of propelling the car down the road. And when Kia claims that the range-topping Touring trim can get 46 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, that’s exactly what it can get. Even on Montana’s highways, which have a speed limit of 80 mph, and through the state’s small cities, we managed to get the automaker’s combined rating of 43 mpg. What makes those figures even more impressive is that we weren’t driving economically.

In addition to getting good fuel economy figures, the Niro is also surprisingly agile. The Optima Hybrid we have isn’t really inspiring to drive or enjoyable to go fast in. The Niro, while not as good as other hatchbacks, hides its weight well with little body roll. The brakes are also decent, the steering wheel has a good weight to it, and the dual-clutch gearbox can rifle off changes.

Kia even put a “Sport Mode” into the Niro that adds more weight to the steering wheel, makes the throttle pedal touchier, and gives the driver manual control over the gearbox. Besides being able to control the gearbox, “Sport Mode” is a gimmick, but its one of the few negatives the Niro has.

What I’m essentially circling around here is that Niro is a damn good car. It’s quiet, especially for a hybrid, doesn’t jerk like a bucking horse, is packed with all sorts of goodies, and actually gets good fuel economy. It’s not just a good hybrid, but a good car. While I’m not a huge fan of crossovers, the hatchback design, as I found out in Montana, makes the Niro a versatile machine.  

With Kia cracking the code on hybrids, I’m sure other fuel-efficient vehicles from other automakers have done so, as well, making modern hybrids good enough to actually purchase. If anyone were looking for a crossover/hatchback that’s good on fuel, I would not have a problem recommending a Niro. It’s not just a good hybrid – it’s a darn good car, as well. That’s something I never thought I would say about a hybrid.