The Niro hybrid comes with a 6-speed dual clutch transmission, a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine, and an electric motor capable of producing 43 hp. Combined, it makes 139 hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque.
It comes equipped with a parallel hybrid system, meaning the gas-powered engine and electric motor run at the same time.
Many hybrids, such as the Prius, use a continuous variable transmission (CVT) that serve up good fuel economy but can result in a buzzy disconnect when accelerating; they effectively have one gear, or an infinite number of gears, depending on how you look at it. The transmission seeks to match itself perfectly to how hard the motor is working.
The Niro bucks this trend by using a dual-clutch transmission that shifts smoothly under the conditions I threw at it (heavy acceleration, climbing up a particularly steep hill). The SUV always caught up to the situation at hand, and I never felt like the transition was wonky or ill-suited to handle my driving needs.
All of this is to say that the Niro is a very smooth and easy drive. If you've had a poor experience driving a hybrid, it's worth giving the Niro hybrid a shot.