IIHS Rates 2018 Kia Niro as Top Safety Pick Plus
When equipped with the Autonomous Emergency Braking System, Forward Collision Warning System, and high-intensity discharge headlights, the 2018 Kia Niro is a Top Safety Pick Plus. The TSP+ rating issued from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is the organization’s highest possible distinction. Vehicles worthy of such an honor have to earn specific ratings in the crashworthiness tests conducted by the IIHS.
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“We’re very pleased with this new TSP+ award for Niro,” William Freels, President of Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI), the research and development center for Kia Motors America. “It validates our efforts to develop vehicles that meet some of the industry’s highest safety standards, and it endorses the skill and commitment of our designers and engineers.”
The 2018 Kia Niro is a popular model for the automaker, and with its TSP+ rating, it is the ninth vehicle in the Kia lineup to either sport a TSP+ or Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.
“To qualify for TSP+, the IIHS testing parameters require a vehicle earn ‘Good’ ratings in six crashworthiness tests — driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraint – as well as a ‘Good’ or ‘Acceptable’ rating in the passenger side small overlap front test, an ‘Advanced’ or ‘Superior’ rating for front crash prevention, and a ‘Good’ rating in headlight testing,” reports Kia.
The 2018 Kia Niro is available at five trim levels: FE, LX, EX, Touring Graphite Edition, and Touring. It features a 1.6-liter inline full parallel hybrid system and dual clutch six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic®. It is well equipped to keep you connected on the go as it offers standard Bluetooth® connectivity, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility.
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The 2018 Kia Niro also offers a plug-in hybrid model, which is available at three trim levels: LX, EX, and EX Premium.
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