2018 Kia Niro Phev User Manual
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) is a big step forward for eco-friendly transportation because it combines high-performance driving with great gas mileage. The Niro PHEV is made for drivers who care about the environment. It has a cutting-edge hybrid engine and a lot of useful features. Its innovative design combines a roomy cabin, modern technology, and a smooth driving experience, making it a standout choice in the hybrid SUV market. With its ability to be plugged in, the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV offers the ease of electric-only driving for short commutes and the flexibility of a standard gasoline engine for longer trips, all while reducing emissions and minimizing the carbon footprint.
Components Of the Hybrid
- Engine: 1.6 L
- Motor: 32 kw (hybrid)/44.5 kw (plug-in hybrid)
- Transmission: 6 DCT
- Hybrid starter generator (HSG)
- HPCU (Hybrid Power Control Unit)
- High voltage battery system
- Generative brake system
- Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS)
The Hybrid battery uses high voltage to operate the electric motor and other components and other compo-nents. High voltage is dangerous if touched.
Your vehicle is equipped with orange-colored insulation and covers over the high voltage components to pro-tect people from electric shock. High voltage warning labels are attached to some system components as additional warnings. Have your vehicle serviced by an authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING – High voltage components Never touch orange or high voltage labeled components including wires, cables, and connections. If the insulators or covers are damaged or removed, severe injury or death from electrocution may occur.
Touching HPCU
When replacing the fuses in the engine compartment, never touch the HPCU. The HPCU car-ries high voltage. Touching the HPCU could result in electrocution, serious injury, or death.
The HEV system may emit electromagnetic waves which can affect the performance of electronic devices appliances, such as laptop computers, which are not part of the vehicle design.
If you park the vehicle for a long time, the hybrid system will discharge. You need to drive the vehicle approximately once every 2 months, more than 9 miles (15 km) is recommended.
When you start the hybrid system in the “P” transmission position, the ” ” symbol is illuminated in the cluster. The driver can drive the vehi-cle even if the engine is stopped.
Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS)
The Virtual Engine Sound System generates engine sound for pedestrians to hear vehicle sound because there is limited sound while electric motor power is used.
- If the vehicle is moving at low speed, the VESS will operate.
- When the gear is shifted to R (Reverse), an additional warning sound will be heard.
High Voltage Battery Air Intake
The hybrid battery air intake is located on bottom and side of the rear seats. The air intake cools down the hybrid battery. When the hybrid bat-tery air intake is blocked, the hybrid battery may be overheated. Do not obstruct the air intake with any other objects.
WARNING – Air Intake
Blocking the air intake behind the rear seats may damage the HEV battery.
Do not allow any water into the air intake even when cleaning. If any water enters the air intake, the Hybrid bat-tery may cause an electric shock which can cause seri-ous injury or death due to electrocution.
If An Accident Occurs
- Avoid the engine compartment.
- Avoid any orange or high-voltage wires, cables, or components.
- Assume that a high voltage component is exposed and move away from the vehicle as promptly as possible.
- Refer to Chapter 7 for towing information.
- After parking the vehicle, shift the transmission into “P” position. Turn off the hybrid system by pushing the Engine Start/Stop button.
- For your safety, do not touch high-voltage cables, connectors and package modules. High Voltage components are orange in color. Exposed cables or wires may be visible inside or outside of the vehi-cle. Never touch the wires or cables, because an electrical shock may occur causing injury or death.
If a vehicle accident occurs:
- Stop the vehicle and shift the transmission into “P” position and then depress the parking brake.
- Turn off the Hybrid system by pushing the Engine Start/Stop Button.
- Evacuate to a safe place.
- Call emergency services for help and let them know the vehicle is a Hybrid vehicle.
Do not touch high-voltage cables, connectors and package modules. High voltage components are orange in color.
Exposed cables or wires may be visible inside or outside of the vehicle. Never touch the wires or cables, because an electrical shock may occur causing injury or death.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your new vehicle is designed to use only unleaded fuel having a pump octane number ((R+M)/2) of 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher. (Do not use methanol blend-ed fuels.)
Your new vehicle is designed to obtain maximum performance with UNLEADED FUEL, as well as minimize exhaust emissions and spark plug fouling.
Never add any fuel system cleaning agents to the fuel tank other than what has been specified. (Consult an authorized Kia dealer for details.)
Tighten the cap until it clicks one time, otherwise, the Check Engine light will illuminate.
WARNING – Refueling
- Do not “top off” after the noz-zle automatically shuts off. Attempts to force more fuel into the tank can cause fuel overflow onto you and the ground causing a risk of fire.
- Always check that the fuel cap is installed securely to prevent fuel spillage, especially in the event of an accident.
Gasoline containing alcohol and methanol
Gasohol, a mixture of gasoline and ethanol (also known as grain alcohol), and gasoline or gasohol containing methanol (also known as wood alcohol) are being marketed along with or instead of leaded or unleaded gasoline.
Pursuant to EPA regulations, ethanol may be used in your vehicle.
Do not use gasohol containing more than 15% ethanol, and do not use gasoline or gasohol containing any methanol. Ethanol provides less energy than gasoline and it attracts water, and it is thus likely to reduce your fuel efficiency and could lower your MPG results.
Methanol may cause drivability problems and damage to the fuel system, engine control system and emission control system.
Discontinue using gasohol of any kind if drivability problems occur.
Vehicle damage or drivability problems may not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty if they result from the use of:
- Gasoline or gasohol containing methanol.
- Leaded fuel or leaded gasohol.
- Gasohol contains more than 15% ethanol.
“E85” fuel is an alternative fuel comprised of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline and is manufactured exclusively for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles. “E85” is not compatible with your vehicle. Use of “E85” may result in poor engine performance and damage to your vehicle’s engine and fuel system. Kia recommends that customers do not use fuel with an ethanol content exceeding 15 percent.
NOTICE
Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover damage to the fuel sys-tem or any performance problems caused by the use of “E85” fuel.
Other fuels
Using fuels that contain Silicone (Si), MMT (Manganese, Mn), Ferrocene (Fe), and Other metalic additives, may cause vehicle and engine damage or cause misfiring, poor acceler-ation, engine stalling, catalyst melt-ing, clogging, abnormal corrosion, life cycle reduction, etc.
Also, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) may illuminate.
Gasoline containing MMT
Some gasoline contains harmful man-games-based fuel additives Such as MMT(Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). Kia does not recommend the use of gasoline containing MMT. This type of fuel can reduce vehicle performance and affect your emission control system. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp on the cluster may come on.
Do not use methanol
Fuels containing methanol (wood alcohol) should not be used in your vehicle. This type of fuel can reduce vehicle performance and damage components of the fuel system, engine control system and emission control system.
Fuel Additives
Kia recommends that you use good quality gasoline treated with detergent additives such as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, which help prevent deposit formation in the engine. These gasolines will help the engine run cleaner and enhance the performance of the Emission Control System. For more information on TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the website (www.toptiergas.com)
For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline regularly, and have problems starting or the engine does not run smoothly, additives that can be purchased separately may be added to the gasoline.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of additive should be added to the fuel tank at every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or every engine oil change is recommended. Additives are available from your authorized Kia dealer along with information on how to use them. Do not mix other additives.
Operation in foreign countries
If you are going to drive your vehicle in another country, be sure to:
- Observe all regulations regarding registration and insurance.
- Determine that acceptable fuel is available.
VEHICLE BREAK-IN PROCESS
No special break-in period is needed. By following a few simple precautions for the first 600 miles (1,000 km) you may add to the performance, economy and life of your vehicle.
- Do not race the engine.
- While driving, keep your engine speed (rpm, or revolutions per minute) between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.
- Do not maintain a single speed for long periods of time, either fast or slow. Varying engine speed is needed to properly break-in the engine.
- Avoid hard stops, except in emergencies, to allow the brakes to seat properly.
- Don’t tow a trailer during the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) of operation.
HEV/PHEV POWERTRAIN
By following a few simple precautions for the first 600 miles (1,000 km) you may add to the performance, economy and life of your vehicle.
- Do not race the engine.
- Avoid hard stops, except in emergencies, to allow the brakes to seat properly.
VEHICLE DATA COLLECTION AND EVENT DATA RECORDERS
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
- How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
- Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/ fastened;
- How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
- How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) are recorded. However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
FAQ
PHEV stands for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV features a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery.
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV has an estimated electric-only range of around 26 miles.
The total combined range of the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV is around 560 miles, depending on driving conditions.
Charging times can vary, but using a standard 120-volt household outlet, it might take around 9-10 hours for a full charge. With a Level 2 charger (240 volts), the time can be significantly reduced.
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV typically seats up to five passengers.
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV provides around 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and over 54.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
Standard features may include a touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, dual-zone automatic climate control, and advanced safety features.
The starting price of the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV may vary by trim level and location, but it was generally around $27,900 to $35,000 MSRP.
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV was typically available in two trim levels: LX and EX.
Yes, the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV may have been eligible for federal tax incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The fuel economy of the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV is typically higher when driving in electric-only mode but may be similar to the regular hybrid model when considering combined gasoline and electric operation.
Yes, the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV comes with Kia’s standard warranty, including a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The 2018 Kia Niro PHEV competes favorably in its class, offering a balance between electric-only driving, hybrid efficiency, and practicality, similar to models like the Toyota Prius Prime and Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.
Depending on the trim level, the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV might have offered optional packages like a Premium Package, Technology Package, and more, which could include features like advanced driver assistance systems, premium audio, and upgraded interior materials. Please check with a Kia dealer for specific options and prices.