Mid-sized crossover gets an angular new look and reworked interior Kia has unveiled a sharp new look for the Niro hybrid, having recently discontinued the electric Niro EV in the UK. The new front end treatment shrinks the silver plastic bar that wrapped around the bonnet of the previous iteration, and introduces a taller headlight design similar to those on the Seltos , EV3 and EV9 . The front grille has more angular edges than before, giving a chunkier appearance. Along its flanks, the flat-black plastic cladding is less prominent than previously, and it – plus the wheel arch extensions – now have a glossy finish. At the back end, it gets smoked rear light housings with thinner LED graphics, and a redesigned rear bumper. Inside, there is a thinner dashboard design and new 12.3in infotainment and instrument screens, housed in a single rectangular panel. The centre console’s design is unchanged, but it is panelled with matte grey plastic, rather than the piano-black finish used previously. The steering wheel has also been updated with a flatter top and bottom. Kia said it will publish technical details in March but, in the UK, the model is expected to be offered exclusively with hybrid powertrains. The electric version of the outgoing Niro had already been removed from sale here: its place in the line-up had been taken by the similarly-positioned EV3. That car is underpinned by a dedicated electric car platform, rather than the modified combustion-engine structure that was used by the Niro EV . Autocar has contacted Kia UK for clarification. For reference, the outgoing Niro hybrid uses a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that is mated to a single electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The set-up sends up to 127bhp and 195lb ft through the Niro’s front wheels, yielding a 0-62mph dash time of 9.6sec and an official fuel economy figure of 64.2mpg.