12 May 13-14 2017

The fuel-sipping Kia Niro hybrid is a zippy crossover with robust styling.

by S A M U E L E E

ZeroTo Niro

KIA NIRO

Engine 1,580cc inline-4 Gearbox 6-speed dual clutch transmission Max power 105 hp @ 5,700 rpm Max torque 147 Nm @ 4,000 rpmElectric motor power 43.5 hpCombined max output 141 hp0-100 kmh 11.5 secs Top speed 162 kmh CO

2 emissions 88 g/km

Average OMV S$31,000 Price S$117,999 (with COE) Distributor Cycle & Carriage Kia. T: 6427-8888

EVERYONE knows that Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia share the same basic platforms and drivetrains but apart from that, the styling and pricing of their models are rarely similar.

A case in point is the Kia Niro petrol-electric hybrid.

It employs the same 1.6-litre petrol engine and hybrid system as the Hyundai Ioniq but the most obvious difference is its crossover aesthetics. While the Ioniq is a streamlined long-roofed hatch, the Niro gets more conventional but robust crossover styling that presents visual strength.

It looks like a muscular family hatchback but with the added advantage of raised seating and a spacious interior. With an identical 2,700 mm wheelbase as the Hyundai hybrid, rear head and legroom are good. But boot space is a bit shallower because the Kia at

function – to capture energy that would be otherwise lost when decelerating – does not retard the car noticeably.

Yet, the Niro has all of a hybrid model’s super efficiency. Kia claims petrol consumption of 3.8 litres per 100 km, or an eye-popping 26.3 km per litre – slightly better than the Ioniq’s 3.9 l/100 km.

That means the Niro should be able to travel over 1,100 km with its 45-litre tank filled with the brim. For visual confirmation, the range is prominently displayed in the instrument cluster.

Another point that differs from its Hyundai sibling is the Kia hybrid’s average open market value or OMV. The Niro’s is stated at about S$31,000 while the Ioniq’s is around S$28,000. Yet, the Niro is priced at about S$900 less, with standard equipment like blind spot detection, electric sunroof, wireless smartphone charger, driver’s electric seat with two memory settings, and seven airbags including a driver’s knee airbag.

Little wonder that authorised Kia distributor Cycle & Carriage says that it is moving out of the showroom fast. In other words, from zero to Niro.

MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN

Engine 1,499cc 3-cyl turbochargedGearbox 6-speed automatic transmissionMax power 136 hp @ 4,400-6,000 rpm Max torque 220 Nm @ 1,400-4,300 rpm0-100 kmh 9.6 secs Top speed 200 kmh CO

2 emissions 138 g/km

Average OMV S$30,000 Price S$165,000 (with COE) Distributor Eurokars Habitat. T: 6473-3777

SPORTY, rather than sophisticated, is the word most commonly associated with a Mini but the new Countryman should change that.

The Mini Countryman is a crossover from the iconic British brand model and while the latest version looks very similar to its predecessor, it is a completely new car. The second-generation Countryman has the same bulging headlamps and unconventional roofline but it is bigger and its wheelbase stretched. The 4.3-metre mini-Mini SUV is 199 mm longer and 33 mm wider, with its wheelbase extended 75 mm to 2,670 mm.

All these have expanded cabin and boot space sufficiently to be immediately noticeable. Five adults can be comfortably ensconced in the spacious Countryman, with the three behind having no shortage of legroom.

The rear door openings have also been enlarged and the split rear seatbacks can

The Mini Countryman has gained in terms of both size and refinement.

by S A M U E L E E

CountrymanIn A Big

be tilted for passenger comfort or additional storage space.

But everyone enjoys the same raised seating that offers not only more convenient ingress and egress, but also good forward visibility for the driver.

Head and shoulder room for both front occupants is enhanced and their seats are electric, with a memory function on the driver’s side.

The dashboard’s distinctive large central instrument and the tachometer on the steering column are unchanged but the quality of materials used look and feel better. Also new is the fully electric power steering, from the previous electro-hydraulic system.

The steering feels lighter, obviously for ease of manoeuvring in city traffic, and those who prefer beefier feedback have to change the driving mode from either Green or Mid to Sport.

There are two versions of the Countryman – Cooper and Cooper S. Both have

turbocharged petrol engines to drive the front wheels but the Cooper’s is a three-cylinder 1.5-litre affair mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the Cooper S’s is a four-cylinder 2.0-litre unit coupled to an eight-speed auto.

Despite having only three cylinders, the Mini Cooper Countryman’s motor bursts with enthusiastic response. The only roughness is aural, and detected only if the windows are down.

In Sport mode, the Cooper brims with confidence. Go into an S-bend fast and you will experience the distinctive dynamic handling characteristics of a Mini despite the Countryman’s size and weight (1,465 kg). But what is different is the substantially refined ride. The bumpiness has disappeared and the cushioning is so good you could be riding in a small BMW. Then again, the Countryman and the BMW X1 share the same basic platform. The Countryman also gets better sound insulation and the suspension set-up of front MacPherson struts and rear multi-links reworked to be more pliant and well, more grown-up.

While the smooth ride and quiet cabin have to be this new Mini’s stand-out attributes, the brand’s stylish design continues to delight.

One new and cool example is the “picnic bench’’ – a thick strip of cushion attached to the underside of the boot floor that can be flipped out for two people to sit comfortably on the rear bumper when the electric tailgate is up.

It’s a reminder that playful is another word associated with Mini and it’s not something that has changed.

WeekendDrive

4,355 mm in overall length is 115 mm shorter. But perhaps the most attractive aspect of

the cabin is the materials used. The black dashboard is sportily designed, and plastic alternates with soft-touch surfaces for an air of quality.

Directly in front of the driver, the 4.2-inch TFT screen in the instrument cluster is eye-catching for its layout and colourful graphics. A multi-function display in the middle has a wide range of vehicle functions and settings, and is also able to show the hybrid system at work.

Like the Ioniq, the Niro is unusual for a hybrid because it uses a six-speed dual clutch transmission instead of a continuously variable transmission or CVT.

And because it is a dual clutch gearbox, the Niro drives rather sportily. Floor the accelerator pedal and the engine response feels more direct than the usual CVT’s rubber band-like effect.

In fact, the brisk shift response makes the Niro feel rather dynamic. Apart from the silence when starting up and moving off

when only the electric motor is operational, the Niro drives just like a normal car. Even the system’s regenerative braking

12-13 Drive EDITED Gus.indd All Pages 9/5/17 11:04 am