- The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Kia Niro small SUV will not return for 2026
- Kia cited “changing market conditions” as the reason for ending the low-volume import
- Other automakers have canceled PHEVs recently, including Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler
The Kia Niro PHEV will no longer be sold in the U.S. for the 2026 model year, Kia confirmed to KBB.com on Wednesday.
“Due to changing market conditions, the 2026 Niro PHEV will no longer be available in the U.S. market,” Kia spokespeople said in a statement.
The plug-in version made up only a fraction of the sales of the small SUV, which is also sold in hybrid and battery electric variants. Accounting for all three variants, the Kia Niro was the lowest-selling model for Kia in 2025, with the exception of the EV9 and EV6 electric vehicles. Kia sold 31,182 Niro models in 2025. The Kia Soul hatchback, which was Kia’s least expensive model, was also discontinued for 2026. It sold more than 50,000 units in 2025.
Kia does not break down sales volume between PHEV, EV, or the standard hybrid Niro.
Debuting in 2018, the Kia Niro was redesigned in 2023 to be larger but also more efficient and with more electric range, from 26 miles to 33 miles.
Imported from Kia’s home country of South Korea, volatile tariffs may have affected the price viability of the Niro PHEV. The end may have started before last year. As of 2024, it was no longer eligible for any of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit due to its import. The 2025 Niro PHEV costs about $36,000, including destination fee. That’s $7,000 more than Niro hybrid, but about $5,000 less than the Niro EV, both of which continue on for 2026.
Kia is not the only automaker paring back parts of its electrified lineup. At the onset of 2026, Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Ram, pulled the plug on its plug-in hybrid lineup. That included the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, as well as the Dodge Hornet, which was also offered with a gas-only powertrain.
For shoppers interested in PHEVs, which offer the around-town electric range of an EV but allow you to road trip long distances without charging as you would in a gas-only car, Kia still offers the 2026 Sportage PHEV compact SUV and the 3-row 2026 Sorento PHEV.
