Post by Alex on Mar 8, 2019 21:04:29 GMT
As discussed in an earlier thread, I’m in the process of choosing a new car ahead of the Golfs departure in October which does seem a long way off but with low emission cars being in high demand, especially hybrid models, I need to order by the end of March. So to this end I’ve narrowed down my options in terms of kit, size and emissions to either a Kia Niro, Hyundai Ionic or the new Corolla Touring Sport (calm down guys!)
To see if it’s the right choice for me and my wife who has never driven an auto, I’ve been lent a Niro for the weekend by Kia UK. It’s a ‘3’ spec in white and comes very well equipped. It comes with full leather, heated front seats and steering wheel, electric drivers seat, satnav and JBL sound system to name but a few features. It’s an 18 plate car with 15k miles so it’s reasonably run in. This spec is within budget so it’s good that I can have his spec although for about the same price the Ionic gets rear heated seats, xenon lights and adaptive cruise but no leather seats, which is a slightly odd omission.
On paper then, it looks like a good option. Getting in the car, it doesn’t sit as much higher than my Golf than I was expecting so you don’t get the full on SUV experience of being sat high up. The drivers seat has plenty of adjustment and I was able to find a suitably comfortable driving position. So far so good. Starting up you have to really press your foot on the brake to get it to start up. Being a hybrid I was expecting it to turn on silently but the engine came straight on, no doubt because it was a bit cold. You then have to release the parking brake which is a foot operated pedal that is quite stiff to operate. The Ionic gets one of these too and it is a shame Kia/Hyundai couldn’t stretch to an electric one like they give the C’eed and Sportage.
On the road it’s somewhat sluggish compared to the light and revvy Golf and doesn’t leap away from junctions in quite the same manner so there is a little bit of extra planning required when pulling away. Otherwise it’s quite smooth on good quality roads and can keep up with traffic. Kick down takes some coaxing but it does have a sport mode that improves it a bit but I wouldn’t be inclined to attempt some of the other takes that my Golf takes in its stride. Later I took it on some more rural roads and, oh dear, it really struggled to cope with mixed cambers, pulling to the left and wobbling from side to side in a most ungainly fashion. To put it bluntly the car felt clumsy and uncomfortable.
So I’m somewhat torn so far. This is a car I’ll need to do 25k miles a year in for three years so comfort is as important if not more so than a sporty drive. I do want to be able to make good progress, however, so the sluggish transmission is a let down. Having got used to the electric parking brake of the Golf, I think I’ll miss it if I go for the Niro. The foot level is not an overly impressive alternative. I think I’d also find the way it rocks from side to side on poor rides annoying and possibly even disconcerting. I didn’t think much of the JBL system either but I’ll play with the settings tomorrow. I’ll also take some pics. The big test tomorrow will be my wife having a go. Our local Toyota dealer is due to get a Corolla in this month and has said we can have a drive so I’ll give that a go too. I should also be able to nab one of my colleagues Ionics at some point too.
To see if it’s the right choice for me and my wife who has never driven an auto, I’ve been lent a Niro for the weekend by Kia UK. It’s a ‘3’ spec in white and comes very well equipped. It comes with full leather, heated front seats and steering wheel, electric drivers seat, satnav and JBL sound system to name but a few features. It’s an 18 plate car with 15k miles so it’s reasonably run in. This spec is within budget so it’s good that I can have his spec although for about the same price the Ionic gets rear heated seats, xenon lights and adaptive cruise but no leather seats, which is a slightly odd omission.
On paper then, it looks like a good option. Getting in the car, it doesn’t sit as much higher than my Golf than I was expecting so you don’t get the full on SUV experience of being sat high up. The drivers seat has plenty of adjustment and I was able to find a suitably comfortable driving position. So far so good. Starting up you have to really press your foot on the brake to get it to start up. Being a hybrid I was expecting it to turn on silently but the engine came straight on, no doubt because it was a bit cold. You then have to release the parking brake which is a foot operated pedal that is quite stiff to operate. The Ionic gets one of these too and it is a shame Kia/Hyundai couldn’t stretch to an electric one like they give the C’eed and Sportage.
On the road it’s somewhat sluggish compared to the light and revvy Golf and doesn’t leap away from junctions in quite the same manner so there is a little bit of extra planning required when pulling away. Otherwise it’s quite smooth on good quality roads and can keep up with traffic. Kick down takes some coaxing but it does have a sport mode that improves it a bit but I wouldn’t be inclined to attempt some of the other takes that my Golf takes in its stride. Later I took it on some more rural roads and, oh dear, it really struggled to cope with mixed cambers, pulling to the left and wobbling from side to side in a most ungainly fashion. To put it bluntly the car felt clumsy and uncomfortable.
So I’m somewhat torn so far. This is a car I’ll need to do 25k miles a year in for three years so comfort is as important if not more so than a sporty drive. I do want to be able to make good progress, however, so the sluggish transmission is a let down. Having got used to the electric parking brake of the Golf, I think I’ll miss it if I go for the Niro. The foot level is not an overly impressive alternative. I think I’d also find the way it rocks from side to side on poor rides annoying and possibly even disconcerting. I didn’t think much of the JBL system either but I’ll play with the settings tomorrow. I’ll also take some pics. The big test tomorrow will be my wife having a go. Our local Toyota dealer is due to get a Corolla in this month and has said we can have a drive so I’ll give that a go too. I should also be able to nab one of my colleagues Ionics at some point too.
