Lost Time

Today marks the third anniversary since we took delivery of our 2019 Kia Niro, though it doesn't seem that long ago. Time became really wonky after the pandemic arrived and February 28, 2020 seems like a year ago.

Our odometer also lends itself to having me believe that we haven't had our hybrid crossover vehicle for that long, as the meter shows just over 50,000 kilometres, a milestone that would normally have been surpassed in under two years. We have made several trips to the GTA, for Kid 1 and Kid 2, but because I now work from home and the car leaves the garage only a couple of times a week, our hybrid automobile is getting even better mileage.

It even runs well when DW and I have our kayaks strapped to the roof and the trunk packed with paddling and camping gear. And there's something about cruising in rush-hour traffic on battery power, watching the range of the car increase, that gives us satisfaction.

While I wasn't crazy about the look of the Niro when we first purchased it, the large grill and pulled-back headlamps have grown on me. I get excited when I see another one on the road (we don't see many in Ontario but we did see quite a few of them in Portugal).

Both DW and I love this vehicle. We enjoy it way more than we ever thought possible. When we lived in South Korea, Kia made flimsy cars: their fit and finish was terrible and they ran rough. I had had the opportunity to drive a few of them in the two years that we lived in Chŏnju, and considered them one of the lamest of vehicles of which I've ever found myself behind the wheel.

The idea of ever owning one would make me laugh.

But when Hyundai absorbed Kia, the quality in both vehicles dramatically improved. The Niro is a solid car, handles well, has some pep, and is quiet (something that could not be said of the Kias of the late 1990s). The fit and finish is well-done, and there are more comforts and useful gadgets than on any car I've ever owned.

I would seriously consider buying another Kia in the future.

Of course, this Niro is only starting its fourth year, and we aim to have it for at least 10. Let's see how it ages.

But I wish my hybrid car a happy third anniversary, though time seems to have been lost and it seems like only yesterday when we left our Ford Focus at the dealership and drove you off the lot. May you continue to run smoothly.