2025 Kia Niro

A gas/electric hybrid like the 2025 Kia Niro is a sensible and more affordable alternative to plug-in hybrids (PHEV) or battery-fed electric vehicles (EV or BEV). However, Kia offers its Niro in all three electrified variants, with the Niro hybrid serving as the gateway. (We review the Niro PHEV and the Niro EV separately.) Unlike the other two variants that must be plugged into an outside electric source to replenish the battery, the self-charging Niro hybrid delivers its 53 mpg in mixed driving without the inconvenience of plugging in. Moreover, outstanding fuel economy is just a sliver of the story of this roomy little SUV with its comfy interior, affordable price, array of current technology, and industry-topping warranty.

What’s New for 2025

The only update of note is that rear seatbelt pre-tensioners become standard across all trims.

When Does the 2025 Kia Niro Come Out?

We anticipate the 2025 Kia Niro going on sale in the second half of 2024.

The Kia Niro is motivated by a 139-horsepower hybrid powertrain featuring a 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. In our testing, it was clear to us that this is a hybrid that prioritizes efficiency over performance. However, acceleration is peppy enough for city driving and adequate on the highway. We like that the Niro uses a transmission with gears rather than the continuously variable type commonly found in hybrids. The 6-speed adds a little welcome feedback for the driver and quieter power delivery.

We found the ride quality of the Kia Niro to be a little better than we expected at this price point. It’s a smooth and comfortable little SUV that’s easy to drive. The Niro is effortless when maneuvering on city streets, and we like how the small footprint makes parking it uneventful. Also, we appreciate the natural brake feel, which we can’t say about every hybrid.

One minor gripe: The stylish “Aeroblade” rear quarter panels create expansive blind spots. However, with blind-spot monitoring standard on every trim, we learned to live with the hindered-view issues.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching this generation of hybrid SUVs, including the Kia Niro.

Fuel Economy

Outstanding fuel economy is one of the biggest strengths of the Kia Niro. According to EPA estimates, the Niro gets 53 mpg in mixed driving in the LX, EX, and SX trims with 16-inch wheels, and 49 mpg in the EX Touring and SX Touring models with 18-inch wheels. That makes the Niro quite a bit more efficient than its closest competitor, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid with its 42 mpg. On the other hand, the Toyota is more powerful than the Kia, comes standard with all-wheel drive, and features the taller profile of a more traditional SUV.

While the bigger wheels make the Niro less efficient, the difference in fuel costs is almost negligible. The EPA estimates that the Niro has a low monthly fuel cost of about $83 with the standard wheels and $91 with the bigger wheels.

Yet again, Kia creates an interior for the Niro that looks like it should be in a more expensive car. The dashboard and steering wheel are especially stylish. Moreover, dual 10.25-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment systems are available.

Despite this uptown appearance, this cabin was designed with sustainability in mind. Many parts use recycled materials. The paint on the door panels is made without using various toxic substances. The headliner is made of recycled wallpaper, and the seats are covered with polyurethane made from eucalyptus leaves. No doubt, the seating is quite popular with the koala population.

Kia lays claim to the most interior space in its class. In our testing, we found the cabin quite roomy, with plenty of headroom and legroom. In fact, the Niro’s 39.8 inches of rear legroom crushes the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 32 inches of rear legroom. The Niro has 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seats and a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of room with the rear seats folded down. Those numbers also beat the Corolla Cross Hybrid (21.5/61.8), but not by a meaningful degree.

With a sleek and modern aesthetic, the Niro blurs the line between hatchback and SUV. However you categorize it, it’s a fine-looking little hybrid with a unique light signature. Despite obstructing the driver’s view, we especially like the black “Aeroblade” rear quarter panels available with the CityScape Green and Mineral Blue paint options.

Hybrid powertrain
Differentiating the Niro hybrid from the other two Niro variants, its powertrain doesn’t require time-consuming plug-in charging but still enables an EPA-estimated range of 588 miles on a single tank of gas. We appreciated not needing to worry about the location of the closest charging station. Just fill up the gas tank and you’re good for another 500 or more miles.

Dual-screen display
Available in higher trims, this super-wide display usually appears in much pricier vehicles. It features two 10.25-inch screens, one for driver information and the other for the infotainment system. Our verdict: The cool factor is high.

Drive Wise
This bundle of safety and driver-aid technologies is standard on all trims and includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-keeping assist, and more.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
We can’t get along without our smartphone interface. These smartphone connectivity features make it easy to bring your maps, music, and more from your phone to the screen in your car. You can connect wirelessly in the LX trim.

Highway Driving Assist
Highway Driving Assist is a driver-assistance technology that can accelerate, brake, and steer the Niro under certain conditions with driver supervision.

Power-adjustable driver’s seat
Standard in the EX and higher trims, this 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat includes 2-way power lumbar adjustments. We found this invaluable when adjusting to exactly the ideal driving position.

Thrust for the Kia Niro comes from a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, generating 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Output is sent to the front wheels via a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission.

Outstanding Warranty

The Kia Niro is covered by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This beats the warranties of most other hybrid SUVs.

Safety

The Kia Niro is well-equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-following assist. The Kia Niro gets a 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).