Recently, the brand-new Toyota Prius was brought right into Baggage Examination HQ and also really did not specifically leave a victor. Today, we have among its only rivals: the Kia Niro. Certain, the body design is entirely various, yet the variety of crossbreeds and also plug-in crossbreeds in this cost and also basic dimension variety are restricted, so this is what we have actually obtained. As well as while I might discuss the Prius once again one or two times throughout, the Niro fairly merely cleans the flooring with it in regards to freight capability.
The Niro expanded sufficient for its 2nd generation that it currently lines up very closely with the team of SUVs we called “midcompact” since they slotted in between subcompact and also small designs. Its main freight capability number of 22.8 cubic-feet would certainly place it on the reduced end of that subsegment, yet as you will see, it does far better with real things. There is a caution, nevertheless.
You see, the Niro is readily available with routine crossbreed, plug-in crossbreed and also complete electrical powertrains. The crossbreed and also EV consist of a dual-level freight flooring, as lots of tiny SUVs do, to enable optimal capability with the back seats elevated or a level load-floor with them reduced. The plug-in crossbreed just has the greater flooring elevation, nevertheless, since the mix of larger battery and also gas storage tank properly eliminates the added freight deepness. The outcome is a main capability of 19.4 cubic-feet, which verifies that Kia is certainly counting the reduced flooring elevation with its various other freight dimension.
The good news is, nevertheless, as the distinction in between them done in regards to freight room is the dual-level lots flooring, I can simply evaluate with both flooring elevations and also inform you specifically just how much each variation of the Niro can hold in spite of just evaluating the EV. As well as not just any type of Niro EV– this is actually my very own auto.
Left wing is the top elevation, or the only method the Niro PHEV looks.
On the right is the reduced elevation. You can see that it’s not a completely level room, with a ramp of kinds at the rearmost area. I assumed this would certainly be a problem, yet as it ends up, it’s generally minimized by the angle of the seatback– you can not place bags purge versus it anyhow. It would certainly resemble this < < from the side.
Right here is a better check out the deepness, plus some storage space on either side. Those rain gutters aren’t detachable to properly broaden the reduced flooring location.
Right Here’s what’s under the flooring. No Niro features an extra tire.
OK, allow’s reach the bags. As in every baggage examination I do, that suggests 2 midsize roller bags that would certainly require to be signed in at the flight terminal (26 inches long, 16 large, 11 deep), 2 roll-aboard bags that simply hardly suit the expenses (24 L x 15 W x 10 D), and also one smaller sized roll-aboard that fits conveniently (23 L x 15 W x 10 D). I additionally include my partner’s elegant carry-on simply to spruce points up a little bit (21 L x 12 W x 12 D).
This would certainly be the capability with the high flooring and also consequently optimal capability for the Niro PHEV. Every one of my bags, minus the elegant bag.
Ah, yet there’s entirely that room in the top!
Yeah, yet it’s not huge sufficient for the elegant bag. Something would undoubtedly fit there, yet not that.
This is really rather comparable to the last-generation Subaru Crosstrek (208 cu-ft theoretically), which can just fit the elegant bag in this specific very same place by the skin of its outdoorsy teeth.
This quantity of things is above the Prius (and also Prius Prime plug-in crossbreed) in addition to the Jeep Compass, first-generation Hyundai Kona and also Chevrolet Trendsetter.
OK, currently allow’s reduced the flooring and also reveal you optimal capability for the Niro crossbreed and also Niro EV.
Huge distinction. All the bags fit with adequate area to save for that blue duffle bag. It undoubtedly took some Tetrising to obtain below, yet you’ll keep in mind there’s lots of room to the roof covering/ staying exposure.
These are really the specific things I had the ability to suit the Kia EV6, and also greater than I can suit the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with its moving seat totally rearward. Those could have even more area theoretically, yet both have even more raked tailgate/roof lines that obstruct filling and also cause a great deal of ineffective room. The Niro is much better off for being even more hatchbacky.
The Volkswagen ID.4 has simply a little bit extra room (generally the distinction of a brief-case).
Another note. This makes it resemble the rear seats reclines, yet it does not. When the liftgate is open, that plastic cleat is additionally undoubtedly meant for a freight cover of some kind with extra factors situated on the liftgate to bring up the cover. My Niro does not have this cover. Neither did the different press cars and trucks I have actually checked, neither is a freight cover detailed as an offered device on Kia’s construct your very own feature. I’ll be watching open for it in the future.
Mentioning possessing this auto, this is the very first time I’ve really packed it up with baggage. I have actually loaded it with coastline equipment, though: 4 camp chairs, a basket loaded with sand castle playthings, towels, coastline round, soft-sided colder and also a coastline wagon to transport everything. No worry.
I must additionally state that I had not elevated the flooring from the reduced elevation considering that I reduced it after acquiring the auto back in December. One of the factors we decided for the EV instead than the PHEV was the added freight room, and also I can currently state that it does in reality make a distinction. The various other factor? The EV is 2 secs quicker from 0-to-60 Ends up I respect greater than simply freight capability! Exactly how ’round that ?!?