Search found 35 matches

by tonybkent
Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:42 am
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: What Niro to choose?
Replies: 12
Views: 15116

Re: What Niro to choose?

I've been demisting using cold air on the driveway at home and during the drive. It's very effective, but I do leave the steering wheel and seats warming for a few minutes with the keys in the ignition (watching from the house of course...) so it's toasty as soon as I move off. There's no tell-tale ...
by tonybkent
Wed Dec 05, 2018 11:10 pm
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: What Niro to choose?
Replies: 12
Views: 15116

Re: What Niro to choose?

I didn't bother with a tethered cable. It only saves 30 seconds getting one out the boot instead and I'm not sure I'd want 5m of thick cable in my bin cupboard. I've never had cooling seats so don't miss them. When I had a sunroof I found it too hot sometimes. If your unit of electricity is a kilowa...
by tonybkent
Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:09 pm
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: What Niro to choose?
Replies: 12
Views: 15116

Re: What Niro to choose?

I'm very tight Jerry. I can't bear to burn a drop of petrol so the climate control stays off in winter (so far...) and I make good use of the heated steering wheel and heated seats. Unless my wife is in the car of course! :lol:
by tonybkent
Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:10 pm
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: What Niro to choose?
Replies: 12
Views: 15116

Re: What Niro to choose?

I'm biased towards the PHEV as I have one, but I genuinely think it's the better option over the HEV. You have the best of both worlds; battery-only for up to 36 miles (I regularly get 30-33 - occasionally even beyond 36 in really bad motorway traffic!) and likely the same mpg as the HEV over longer...
by tonybkent
Mon Nov 05, 2018 1:28 pm
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: All about Connected Services - check these links.
Replies: 15
Views: 18320

Re: All about Connected Services - check these links.

I meant to add, the reason I set AA to turn off WiFi on my phone when in use is that otherwise my phone often sees hotspots it knows about and connects to them while passing, then disconnects within a second or two as I move out of range. This plays havoc with network connectivity so it's best to le...
by tonybkent
Mon Nov 05, 2018 1:21 pm
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: All about Connected Services - check these links.
Replies: 15
Views: 18320

Re: All about Connected Services - check these links.

Android Auto (AA) works really well for me. I use Spotify, Google Navigation and Tune In. I don't have any problems listening to DAB at the same time as using AA. I press the "Radio" button on the head unit, select a station and then go back to AA. As @iwantairophev states above, the USB c...
by tonybkent
Fri Oct 19, 2018 1:33 pm
Forum: Faults & Technical Kia Niro
Topic: Regen braking and petrol engine battery recharge rate in PHEV
Replies: 2
Views: 26455

Regen braking and petrol engine battery recharge rate in PHEV

I'm curious about how much power (in KW) both the regen braking and the petrol engine are capable of putting back into my PHEV battery whenever they are used. The regen capability for BEV was mentioned on a podcast I was listening to this week and it got me thinking about how well the Niro PHEV perf...
by tonybkent
Fri Oct 19, 2018 1:14 pm
Forum: Faults & Technical Kia Niro
Topic: Unable to charge and Check Hybrid System warning
Replies: 18
Views: 45488

Re: Unable to charge and Check Hybrid System warning

Yup - I tend to agree that the charging port isn't the best. I've had the "Charging door open" warning on the dash a few times, had a look and found it was completely flush - so I hadn't forgotten. I open and close it and generally it's OK after that. Once I've had it still report as "...
by tonybkent
Fri Oct 12, 2018 6:20 am
Forum: Main Kia Niro chat
Topic: Android Auto and wireless charging
Replies: 5
Views: 10721

Android Auto and wireless charging

I understand that Android Auto display to the head unit now works wirelessly over Bluetooth with some cars meaning you don't have to use the USB cable to get the display up on the head unit and can charge your phone using the charging pad instead (on phones that support this). Has anyone tried this,...
by tonybkent
Wed Oct 03, 2018 9:38 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello
Replies: 5
Views: 6947

Re: Hello

Hi Jerry - welcome. As a PHEV owner, I'm naturally going to say go for the PHEV. I test drove the non-plug-in and the PHEV on the same day, and to be honest I really just wanted to PHEV anyway so didn't really notice any real difference with the comfort. I have to say the Niro PHEV is the best car I...