The 2019 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid received Good Housekeeping’s 2019 Best New Car Award in the Hybrid category, marking the first time a Kia has earned the accolade from the esteemed publication.
“We’re honored that the Niro PHEV has been recognized by Good Housekeeping magazine,” said Orth Hedrick, Executive Director of Car Planning and Telematics, Kia Motors America (KMA). “Consumers who are intrigued by the Niro hybrid’s fantastic versatility and design, but want the ability to drive only using electric power, will find more to love in the Niro Plug-in Hybrid.”
The Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) collaborated with Car and Driver magazine, evaluating all of this year’s new vehicles. Together, they narrowed the count down to 50, racking up more than 5,000 miles on a mix of test tracks, city roads and highways. The GHI experts and consumer testers rated the cars and SUVs based on safety, value, handling, design, and technology.
The Niro PHEV’s spacious interior was among the factors that made it stand out in addition to being offered in hybrid and all-electric versions. “It was great to see that you get almost the same amount of trunk storage in all three models, which is impressive from a design perspective,” said Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping Chief Technologist & Engineering Director.
GHI also praised the Niro PHEV for its use of innovative features designed with efficiency in mind. “We liked that it has two-zone automatic climate control, with controls for the driver and front-seat passenger,” added Laurie Jennings, Good Housekeeping Institute Director & Lead Consumer Tester. “There’s even a button to turn the passenger-side climate control off if that seat is empty, which could save energy in hot summer months when hybrids traditionally forfeit efficiency because of increased load from the air conditioner.”
Stemming from the award-winning Niro hybrid, the Niro PHEV adds the ability to go all-electric. Rated at an EPA-estimated 0-to-26 miles of All-Electric Range, the Niro PHEV can help some drivers consume less gasoline in many everyday driving conditions and in all-electric mode it produces zero emissions. And with the total driving range rated at up to an estimated 560 miles, it offers fantastic versatility.
