Is the Kia Niro coming to PH with a 1.6L Hybrid?

Kia Philippines gets approval to bring a passenger vehicles with a 1580cc engine

Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPH) is on a hybrid spree after launching several electrified vehicles in quick succession. They already revealed the Santa Fe and Tucson Hybrid models last year and followed that up with the Elantra and Kona HEVs soon after.

With hybrid electric vehicles continuing to become more popular, customers are spoiled for choice in choosing their preferred self-charging hybrid. However, Kia has yet to join the fray as they have focused more on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) such as the EV6 and the EV9.

That may soon change, however, after Ayala-led Kia Philippines recently received regulatory approval to bring a passenger vehicle into the country with a 1580cc engine, which translates to 1.6 liters of displacement. If those figures looked familiar, that's because it's the same 1.6L hybrid powertrain that's available in the all-new Elantra and Kona HEVs.

Based on the listing we found, the mystery vehicle has a reference weight of around 1470 kg and a maximum mass of 1940 kg. After checking the numbers and cross-checking the engine capacity, it looks like Kia Philippines is preparing to launch the Niro Hybrid soon.

Upon checking what engines are available for the all-new Niro, it's available with a 1.6L Smartstream G Hybrid that makes 141 PS with 265 Nm of torque thanks to an electric motor and a 1.32 kWh battery pack. There's also a 1.6L plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version that makes slightly more power with 180 PS but generates the same amount of torque. Power is then transferred to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Since the Niro PHEV weighs in at a heavier 1610 kg, it appears that Kia Philippines may have opted for the 1.6L HEV powertrain for the Niro. Since they already have the Sorento Turbo Hybrid, it stands to reason that the automaker plans to launch more hybrid models in the country as the market shifts towards electrified vehicles.

Should the Kia Niro Hybrid make its way here, it's set to compete against its Hyundai sibling, the Kona Hybrid. It will also likely take on the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV.

Do you think the Kia Niro Hybrid will make sense in the Philippine market? Let us know in the comments.