2025 Kia Niro

Kia has a deep roster of vehicles. Take a tour on a Kia dealer lot when you're looking for an inexpensive crossover and you'll find three options: the Soul, Seltos and Niro. The big reason to consider the Niro is what's under the hood. Kia sells it as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or a fully electric model. There are notably few hybrids in this class, giving the Niro a significant advantage in regard to fuel economy, yet it's priced similarly to non-hybrid subcompact crossovers.

It's often difficult to get a thorough understanding of how much a hybrid could save you over the long run, so we've crunched the numbers for you. Take a typical non-hybrid subcompact crossover such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer. It gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg combined. Compare that to the Niro's 53 mpg. With gas set at an arbitrary $4 a gallon, you'd save about $800 annually at the pump if you drive 15,000 miles. A Trailblazer also costs more than a similarly equipped Niro, so there's no hybrid cost premium to make up for. Multiply those savings by how many years you plan on keeping your vehicle and the savings really add up.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is a viable alternative to the Niro. It has a lower fuel economy estimate of 42 mpg, but it does come standard with all-wheel drive, which is a plus if you live in a region with a lot of wintry weather. Other alternatives include the smaller Toyota Prius and larger Kia Sportage Hybrid. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below to help you decide if the 2025 Kia Niro is best for you. You can also search on Edmunds for our separate reviews of the Niro Plug-in Hybrid and Niro EV.