2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid Review

Name: 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid Review
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $22,990 - $25,590

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium 4dr SUV Exterior

+90

The plug-in hybrid Niro boasts 26 miles of EV range. That's pretty good as plug-ins go. Just know you're paying significantly more for this model compared to a regular hybrid Niro. How often you can recharge it will make a big difference. Overall we like the Niro Plug-In Hybrid, but rival models are more refined and enjoyable to drive.

See all features & specs

Price & Payment

4 cars

$23,792 avg. price

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise This Car

For sale nearby

4 listings

Sort by:

See all for sale

Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid model years

Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid for Sale

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

High fuel economy and respectable all-electric range
One of the more affordable hybrids in the segment
Plenty of standard and optional features

Cons

Less cargo volume than a typical SUV
Sluggish acceleration, which often requires use of the engine
Despite crossover styling, all-wheel drive is not available

What's new

Refreshed exterior design
LXS trim replaces the LX as the entry-level model
Part of the first Niro Plug-In Hybrid generation introduced for 2018

Overview

The 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid is one of three Niro variants alongside the standard hybrid and fully electric Niro EV. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers an EPA-estimated 26 miles of electric range with a fully charged battery. When the battery runs out of juice, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid can continue on using its gasoline engine. As with all plug-in hybrids, the more frequently you can recharge Niro — typically with a 120-volt household outlet or a 240-volt charge source — the less gasoline you'll use.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid LXS 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.14 per kWh for electricity in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$66/mo

$157/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

For 2020, the Niro gets updated front and rear styling as well as a new base trim level. Kia continues to market the Niro as a crossover SUV, but think of it as a tall hatchback since it lacks the ground clearance or available all-wheel drive found on most crossovers. It does come with a long list of standard and optional features, including all the latest driver safety aids Kia has to offer.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Below Average

6.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

6/10

How does the Niro Plug-In Hybrid drive? The Niro has accurate steering and confident handling, but its powertrain lacks power and smoothness. There's decent enough power around town, but the Niro feels sluggish on the highway or in fast-moving traffic. The engine comes on frequently in EV mode, indicating the system isn't sophisticated or powerful enough to run without it, hurting the Niro's overall economy.

We'd prefer stronger regenerative braking too. Coming to a complete stop can feel abrupt since the brakes lack some refinement. That makes low-speed city driving more annoying than it should be. The Niro also lacks the smoothness of other EVs because of its slow-shifting transmission.

Comfort

7/10

How comfortable is the Niro Plug-In Hybrid? The Niro's soft seats and smooth ride provide a good amount of comfort for daily commuting. Adjustable lumbar support is available on higher trims (along with leather, heating and ventilation). The Niro absorbs most bumps on rough roads, smoothing out the ride.

The standard dual-zone climate control is effective. But the Niro regularly starts its engine to power the system, which can be surprising when you're in EV mode. The amount of wind and road noise is typical for a small non-luxury car.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The tall roof from the SUV-style shape brings a range of benefits. There's plenty of headroom, for instance, and visibility is great. The tall doors open wide enough to make it easy to get in and out but aren't so large to make tight parking spaces an issue. The opening is easy to step into for most adults, and you only have to sit down slightly to find the seat. Rear legroom is adequate for adults.

The Niro's interior layout is straightforward, and all major controls are clearly labeled and easy to find. The touchscreen interface has a short learning curve, and the digital display in the gauge cluster is easy to read.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The standard entertainment display isn't big, but it does come with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. A larger screen is optional and includes integrated navigation.

For the most part the Niro's driver safety systems work well. The traffic-adaptive cruise control system does a good job of maintaining distance from the car ahead. The lane-keeping assist system, however, can be a little intrusive when it nudges the steering to keep you in your lane.

Storage

6.5/10

How’s the storage? The Niro doesn't have the same amount of space or storage solutions as the small SUVs it's trying to emulate. Still, it fares well versus traditional plug-in hybrid sedans and has enough space for typical shopping needs or short road trips.

Planning on using child safety seats? The lower car seat anchors are hidden between the rear seat cushions. Some connectors might be more difficult to secure than others with this setup. The seatback tether anchors are pretty easy to reach. As for space, you'll probably have to slide the front seats forward if you want to install a bulky rear-facing seat.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? Our Niro test car consistently delivered 26 miles of EV range and surpassed its 46 mpg EPA combined city/highway estimate. We averaged 56 mpg over the course of 300-plus miles. But Niro Plug-In Hybrid's reliance on the engine to drive the climate controls means you'll probably see dramatically lower numbers if you live in a region with extreme temperatures.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Niro Plug-In Hybrid a good value? The Niro Plug-In Hybrid costs more than the standard Niro. Even with the higher fuel economy, it'll take a long time to make up the difference in price between the two models in gas savings alone.

The interior is a bit bland and many of the plastics look and feel cheap, though it all fits together well. Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is among the industry's best.

Wildcard

5.5/10

Eking out the last few miles of all-electric power can make the drive a little more interesting, but there's little else to entertain you. The driving experience isn't bad, just unmemorable. The weak engine means it's not quite as fun or peppy around town as other vehicles in this class.

Though the SUV-style design is functional, the wannabe SUV designation leaves a bad taste in your mouth. It lacks any real benefit you'll find in a proper SUV such as ground clearance or all-wheel drive. It feels a bit disingenuous.

Which Niro Plug-In Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

We think the midlevel EX trim is the way to go. You get the same electric range as the more expensive EX Premium model as well as desirable features such as heated seats and some driver assist functions.

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid models

The 2020 Niro Plug-In Hybrid is available in three trim levels: LXS, EX and EX Premium. All three trims come with a plug-in hybrid system that's good for 139 horsepower. The EPA estimates it'll be good for 26 miles of electric range and 46 mpg in combined driving once the hybrid battery is depleted. Feature highlights include:

LXS
Standard features on this base trim level include:

Dual-zone climate control
8-inch touchscreen with four-speaker sound system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Keyless entry and ignition

EX
The midgrade EX trim adds:

Power-adjustable driver's seat
Leather seats with cloth inserts
Heated front seats
Wireless phone charger
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Niro and the car in front)

EX Premium
The top-range EX Premium model comes with:

LED headlights
Sunroof
Heated and ventilated front seats
Heated steering wheel
10.25-inch touchscreen display
Premium eight-speaker audio system

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

5 (69%)

4 (13%)

3 (5%)

2 (5%)

1 (8%)

4.3

39 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 39 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

The Right Vehicle for my needs.

Jerry, 12/28/2018

2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)

Very pleased with the NIRO PHEV. Have been driving it for six months, with one long trip. The long trip was just over 2000 miles which was broken up to four 500 mile legs. Mileage for this legs where 49, 52, 50 and 53 in the hybrid mode. Granted I drove somewhat conservative staying at the posted speed limit, which was 70 most of the way on interstate five. The remaining miles, which is …

Compromise Can Be Good Updated Review 5/31/24

Doug, 05/06/2019

2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6AM)

Update 5/31/24 51k on car. We’ve lost about 4 percent on the battery capacity, which isn’t terribly alarming since we charge it every night. Tires need to be replaced (first set). Had some minor trim issues, the real spoiler over the back window was rattling and needed to be tightened, and the drivers side visor anchor broke off. Both were repaired under warranty. Brakes are still good. … Seems like there is a yearly recall which is an inconvenience (we live 20 miles from the dealership). Car is pretty much what we expected: reliable, utilitarian, decent comfort. It’s not exciting, just practical. Wish it had more power especially at lower speeds. We find it ironic that the 100% ev version (at least model years 19-22) is pretty zippy. We are a two car family. We own a 100% EV (Nissan Leaf) and were looking to replace our 2008 CRV. It's important to us to reduce our carbon footprint, so we agreed that we would move to a "greener" car. However, we weren't ready to purchase another 100% EV due to range and charging infrastructure concerns. The Niro PHEV is a good, but not a perfect compromise. The size of the car is great for the city and it's hard to believe that the interior is so spacious, given its outside dimensions. Back seat is particularly comfortable with nice support and generous legroom. Headroom is excellent, even for those with long torsos. Safety features are really good. We chose the EX trim and it really has everything you need. The EX trim (not the premium) has HID headlamps, which have longer range than the LED's on the premium trim (check out the insurance institute's safety ratings). Love the adjustable cruise control, though I understand that some other makes (Tesla??) will take you down to a full stop without disconnecting. Performance is OK. We thought that it would supply more of the EV Torque, which we so love about our Leaf. If you floor the pedal it shifts into ICE mode, makes a lot of noise, but really doesn't get up and go. In regular Hybrid mode there is little regeneration to the battery. I understand that shifting into sport mode will regenerate the battery, however the MPG goes down, so isn't this defeating the purpose? Don't have anything to say about reliability (only had the car for a couple of weeks) but Consumer reports and other publications give it high ratings. In another couple of years maybe the battery technology will be better and charging infrastructure improved so that we could go 100% EV on both vehicles. Until then we will live with the compromises. NOTE: we will be watching the competitors (Tesla Model Y and others) and continue to evaluate the options. Update 11/12/2021 22000 miles on the car...Thank goodness for the factory warranty. The transmission failed at around 15 K miles. Yes, on long trips we would occasionally shift into sport mode to get through the mountains and regenerate the battery, but still, isn't that normal usage? I thank myself for purchasing the mid level trim that had blind spot, rear cross traffic detection, and great headlights. The car runs well, and the seats are pretty comfortable ( drivers side has power with lumbar support).Interior is wearing well. Access is good, and there is plenty of head room. We mainly run the car on electric, I wish that the range on battery was about 60 miles, instead of 26. The car really doesn't have a heck of a lot of pickup, which is really the main fault I have with it. Aside from the tranny failing, I am satisfied. Update 5/19/22 Just came back from a 2k road trip. Odometer is at 28K. I noticed that the cruise control doesn't work well when going up steep grades through mountains. I will bring it in for service. The annoying sound coming from the steering wheel has come back. This was subject of a service bulletin. Dealership "fixed" it, but now it has come back. We have had a couple of instances where the 12 volt battery has died and had to be charged by AAA. Fortunately it occurred at home and we weren't terribly inconvenienced. We've been told by dealer that the battery is at end of life and this is normal wear and tear, and it's time to replace it. Ok, if you say so... Overall it's been a pretty good car for us. The car will be paid off in April 2023 and then we will look to retire the Leaf and purchase another fully electric vehicle. Would I buy the 100% Niro EV? I like the size and utility of the Niro. It suits our needs, but I feel that there are better options now. Early favorites: Ioniq 5 and Nissan Ariya. 11/23/22 Chugging along just fine. No rattles or strange noises. Safety systems are working well. Excellent daily driver. Gonna hold on to the car for a while, especially given the cost to purchase a new vehicle. 5/30/23 39000 miles. Issues with retractable drivers side mirror and rear liftgate struts were repaired under warranty. Drivers side sun visor clip pulled out and may require some super glue. All minor repairs, but never the less are nuisances which require multiple trips to the dealership. Comparing to my other car, a Nissan Leaf which has over double the miles and none of these issues. We were rear ended and one of the replacement moldings finally arrived after 3 months on back order. By and large it's been a good car, the size, safety features and utility work well for us.

Great car for San Diego; Flawed Heating System;

Lazyj, 10/25/2018

2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6AM)

We live in Olympia, Washington. This is a great car for our needs. It's a small city, so 26 miles electric is plenty for our in-town driving. We just passed 3,000 miles, and have used 24 gallons of gasoline. We really like the ease of entry and exit. Upright seats, high enough off the ground so you don't crawl out of it like a Prius, and doors that open super wide. There is one … clear bit of lazy engineering: the heating system only works when the engine is running. The Prius Prime (the heads up competitor) has a heat pump system, that runs using electricity. The Niro does not, even though an air conditioner is essentially the same device as a heat pump running in reverse. In Olympia, where we have cool weather and dampness, we do need to run the heat all winter. That forces on the engine (but the car still is propelled as an electric; this big four-cylinder 1600cc engine running just to provide heat and defrost. This is why I say it's a great car for Phoenix or San Diego, where you don't need heat much of the time. Around here, the Prius Prime is probably a better value if it meets your needs. It does not meet our needs. I am a big 300# fella. This car fits me reasonably well. The Prius does not. Update at two years and 23,800 miles: We've had the Kia Niro Plug-in for two years now. We still like it. The E-Niro has become available, with 240 miles of range. If were were buying today, we would probably buy the full-electric. We've carefully tracked how many times we would have needed to charge "on the road." Three trips, for a total of about 10% of our total miles. Each time, we had overnight charging available to us close to where we stayed. Even if we had to pay a premium price for a fast charge, it would still be a great value to be all-electric -- charging at home is the equivalent of $1.20/gallon. No squeaks or rattles at the 2 year mark. Just entering winter, the frustrating season when we cannot run all-electric because of the heating system engineering flaw mentioned in the original review. Update at the 3-year mark: Still happy with the car. Have taken some longer road trips, and learned to use the "sport" mode for steep highway climbs. It drops you a gear lower, and the car zips up the steepest grades (and keeps the engine in the power range, so the "economy" gauge shows green. If buying a new car today, we would buy the E-Niro. Update at the 6 year mark. We still like the car a lot. Very spacious inside, small outside, comfortable, easy to get in and out. We have just had our very first repair, an item on which Kia has a specific service bulletin. The 12V battery was going dead. Very dead. I could charge it with a conventional battery charger, and it ran fine. Turns out the problem was a failed rear door latch, creating a power drain. A $447 repair. Other than that, it's been one oil change a year, and nothing else. We're seriously considering leasing a new E-Niro (lease is a way around the tax credit limitation we would face as a buyer). But we definitely urge Niro PHEV owners to learn where their 12V battery is in the rear cargo area, and also where the "jumper points" are under the hood.

Great car! except for...

Former Subaru driver, 10/25/2020

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6AM)

Bought this car about 2 months ago and love it! Except for the Very Loud backup alarm. I understand that this is required to warn pedestrians and cyclists as the engine in electric mode is very quiet. Warning sound is required to be between 56 and 75 dBA - mine measures at 73 which is LOUD. Leaving our garage early in the morning is excruciating; trying to back out quickly enough to …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Niro Plug-In Hybrid since its last redesign.

See all 39 reviews of the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

Write a vehicle review

2020 Niro Plug-In Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

LXS

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$29,490
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,125 Based on income
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	26 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	105 MPGe^{MPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.}
Cost to Drive	$66/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	2.3 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Niro Plug-In Hybrid models:

Blind-Spot Detection: Detects and alerts you with visual and audio warnings when a vehicle in the adjacent lane is in your blind spot.
Smart Cruise Control: Maintains a set speed and distance behind the car ahead and will bring the car to a stop briefly before relinquishing control.
Lane Departure Warning: Identifies lane markings and alerts you if you begin to drift out of your lane.

People who viewed this also viewed

Kia Niro
5.0 average Rating out of 3 reviews.
Starting at $26,940

See Kia Niro Inventory

Toyota RAV4 Prime
5.0 average Rating out of 7 reviews.
Starting at $43,690

See Toyota RAV4 Prime Inventory

Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid
4.0 average Rating out of 3 reviews.
Starting at $38,725

See Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Inventory

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid Review

Price & Payment

For sale nearby

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridEX Premium 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridEX 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridEX 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridLXS 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Niro Plug-In Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid models

Most helpful consumer reviews

The Right Vehicle for my needs.

Compromise Can Be Good Updated Review 5/31/24

Great car for San Diego; Flawed Heating System;

Great car! except for...

2020 Niro Plug-In Hybrid Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Kia

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
EX Premium 4dr SUV

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
EX 4dr SUV

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
EX 4dr SUV

2020 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
LXS 4dr SUV