2024 Kia Niro

Kia has been expanding its offerings of EVs and plug-in hybrids, but conventional hybrids are still an excellent option for a car that’s both affordable and efficient. The Kia Niro is one such example. The Niro has multiple powertrain options, the most affordable being the regular hybrid that doesn’t plug into the wall. Just fill it up with gas and enjoy up to 53 combined mpg. The Niro also benefits from a pleasantly spacious interior full of modern tech features and the best warranty in its class.

As a hybrid subcompact SUV, the Kia Niro’s top competitor is the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. Although not SUVs, hybrid cars around the same price range include the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Elantra Hybrid.

The Kia Niro is also offered as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and an EV, which we review separately.

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

Having just been fully redesigned for 2023, the Kia Niro carries over into 2024 with few changes. The Fire Orange Metallic paint option has been dropped, and all but the base trim now ship with a dual-level cargo floor.

The Kia Niro is priced slightly lower than its closest rival, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. It’s also more affordable than the hybrid variants of bigger SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Kia Sportage.

Before buying a Niro, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Kia Niro resale value is about average for the segment.

The Kia Niro is powered by a 139-horsepower hybrid powertrain with a 4-cylinder engine 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. The acceleration is peppy enough for city driving and adequate on the highway. We appreciate 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 nicer than we expected at this price point. It’s a smooth and comfortable little SUV that’s easy to drive. The Niro is easy to maneuver on city streets, and we like how the small footprint makes it easy to park. Also, we appreciate the natural brake feel, which we can’t say about every hybrid.

One minor gripe: The stylish “Aeroblade” rear quarter panels make pretty big blind spots. But that’s OK since blind-spot monitoring comes standard on every trim.

Fuel Economy

Outstanding fuel economy is one of the biggest strengths of the Kia Niro. According to EPA estimates, the Niro gets 53 mpg combined 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. The Toyota gets 42 mpg combined, but it’s also more powerful than the Kia and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

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.

More Niro fuel economy information is available at the EPA’s website.

Yet again, Kia creates an interior 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.

Kia lays claim to the most interior space in its class. In our testing, we found the cabin quite roomy, with plenty of head- and legroom. The Niro crushes its closest opponent when it comes to rear-seat legroom. The Kia has 39.8 inches of second-row legroom, and the Toyota Corolla Cross only gives back-seat occupants 32 inches of legroom.

Luggage space behind the rear seats is increased slightly over the first generation Niro; it 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 beat the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (21.5/61.8).

The Kia Niro has a sleek and modern aesthetic that blurs the line between hatchback and SUV. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a nice-looking little hybrid with a unique light signature. We especially like the black “Aeroblade” rear quarter panels available with the CityScape Green and Mineral Blue paint options.

Hybrid powertrain
This makes the “base” Niro different from the other two Niro variants. It’s the Niro drivetrain that doesn’t need any special attention but can still enable an EPA-estimated range of 588 miles on a single tank of gas.

Dual-screen display
Available in higher trims, this type of display appears more often in much pricier vehicles. It features two 10.25-inch screens, one for driver information and the other for the infotainment system. The cool factor is high.

Drive Wise
Standard on all trims, this bundle of safety and driver-aid technologies contains some systems not usually found on rivals. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and lane-keeping assist are all included.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
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.

Adaptive cruise control
Standard in the EX and higher trims, this advanced cruise control system will, when engaged, maintain a preset speed while keeping a safe distance from the vehicles ahead. As the preceding traffic slows, so does your vehicle, even to a complete stop. As the vehicles in front gain speed, the Niro also accelerates.

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.

Power for the Kia Niro comes from a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. Acceleration is adequate, power delivery is smooth, and it’s a good fit for this humble SUV.

This hybrid powertrain is rated at 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, so it’s not as muscular as the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid with almost 200 horsepower. Output is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Outstanding Warranty

The Kia Niro is covered by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Furthermore, the current generation of the Niro received the highest score of Good on six out of six crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).