Though styled to look like a little SUV, the Kia Niro is actually a fuel-efficient hybrid. It gets up to 50 mpg in combined city/highway driving, according to the EPA. This isn't quite as high as some rival hybrids, but it's still plenty good and will help you save on gas. We also like its nimble handling and roomy interior. For 2021, Kia has added wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a more advanced navigation-based cruise control system.

Hybrids are becoming better all the time, and the Niro's got some stiff competition. Toyota's Prius is the quintessential hybrid, and even offers all-wheel drive, while Honda's Insight stands out with its pleasing power and refinement. So should you get the Niro or something else? Read the categories of our Expert Rating below to help you find out.

Edmunds' Expert Rating
7.7/10
The Niro provides a comfortable, relatively spacious cabin that's better equipped than most other rival hybrids. It's not as fuel-efficient as the segment leaders such as the Toyota Prius, but it makes up for it with appealing technology features, including some of the best advanced driving aids in the class.
The Niro isn't going to thrill you. In our testing we measured 0-60 mph in 9.7 seconds. That's a tad slow but enough to get you where you're going. The dual-clutch automatic transmission is somewhat slow to shift, but it's smooth and jerk-free. We prefer it to the conventional continuously variable transmissions that most hybrids are equipped with.

The steering is direct and has an appropriate amount of heft to it, which makes it easy to maneuver the Niro on the highway or around a parking lot. Unfortunately, the steering is devoid of road feedback. That last part only matters because the Niro's handling is surprisingly nimble but less engaging because it lacks connection. Emergency-stopping performance is lackluster, but at least the brakes are relatively easy to control for smooth stops on your daily commute.
The Niro is pretty comfortable overall. The front seats feature optional heat and ventilation, a rarity in this class, and are supportive with firm cushioning. The rear seats are decently comfortable as well.

The Niro rides smoothly over most surfaces, making it a pleasant commuter. The cabin remains fairly quiet at highway speeds, though you'll likely hear the engine working hard when you accelerate with gusto. The dual-zone climate control system is simple to use and works effectively with rear vents helping to distribute airflow to backseat passengers.
The Niro's interior is functional, and passenger space is excellent for a car of this class. The driver's seat has enough adjustability to accommodate a wide range of body types. Rear passengers will find the quarters to be pretty roomy, and all door openings are about as generous as it gets for this class.

Visibility is pretty good for the most part, but a larger rear window would help when backing up. Overall, the blind spots are minimal. The controls are clearly labeled, arranged logically and easy to use. The available 10.25-inch screen has crisp and easy-to-read graphics and is responsive to inputs. In higher trims there's also a large driver information display in the gauge cluster.
Bluetooth pairing is quick, and smartphones can be connected with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The voice controls are basic in functionality but work well. The available Harman Kardon audio system produces pleasing sound quality.

The navigation system is quick to respond and spreads across the widescreen for Apple CarPlay while Android Auto makes do with a split screen. We like that a number of advanced safety and driver aids come standard one trim up from the base. Adaptive cruise control worked well in our testing, as did all other safety functions. Our only complaint was the overly sensitive lane-keeping system.
The Niro's rear cargo space has 19.4 cubic feet of space available behind the rear seats. That's a respectable amount of space, even though the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq can hold a little more. It's easy to load cargo and the rear seats fold flat.

Up front, you'll find a decent number of places to store your small items. All four doors feature pockets and water bottle holders. The main cupholders can accommodate bigger cups and bottles too. The front cubby that houses the available wireless charger can hold larger phones but gets blocked by the gear shifter when you put it in park.

Got kids? We've found that it's pretty easy to install child safety seats thanks to the Niro's roomy rear seat and easily accessible seat anchors.
The base model Niro is the most efficient trim at an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined (53 city/48 highway). Though undeniably frugal, it is near the bottom of the hybrid class that includes models such as the Prius and the Honda Insight. The midtier Touring gets the worst gas mileage at 43 mpg (46 city/40 highway) due to its larger 18-inch wheels. We weren't able to match the EPA estimates during our testing of a Niro EX Premium.
The Niro offers good value in this hybrid market. It might not be the cheapest model out there, but you get a lot for your money. And the Niro feels well built despite some drab interior surface plastics and a shiny black dash that's a bit of a smudge-magnet.

Kia's warranty is one of the best in class. It includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. The hybrid battery also carries a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. Roadside assistance is provided for five years/60,000 miles.
The Niro can prove to be kind of entertaining on twisty roads as long as you aren't expecting a lot of speed. It's effective and comfortable when in its element, which is primarily dealing with the daily commute, and its compact nature makes it easy to park and maneuver through traffic.

The Niro is more conservative in its styling than rivals, but it's also less polarizing. We appreciate the design for its simplicity and not trying to be something more radical than it is. But we also don't consider this an SUV — it's a hatchback.

Which Niro does Edmunds recommend?

Of the five available trim levels, we like the Touring trim the best. It combines some nice features, such as adaptive cruise control and a power-adjustable driver's seat, without adding too much to the price tag. Just be aware that fuel economy is lower with this trim level (43 mpg combined).

Kia Niro models

The 2021 Kia Niro is a hatchback/small SUV available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, Touring, Touring Special Edition and EX Premium. Every Niro comes with a four-cylinder hybrid electric powertrain that's good for 139 horsepower. That power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Feature highlights for the Niro include:

LX
Starts off pretty basic with:

16-inch alloy wheels with wheel covers
Tinted rear windows
60/40-split folding rear seats
Dual-zone climate control
8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity
Six-speaker audio system
Keyless entry

LXS
Adds some nice-to-have features as well as a few advanced driver aids, such as:

Uniquely styled 16-inch wheels
Rear-seat center armrest
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Proximity key with push-button start
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Niro back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Touring
Includes a few extra features, such as:

18-inch alloy wheels
Power-folding, heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals
Cloth and leather combination upholstery
LED interior lights
Satellite and HD radio
Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Electronic parking brake
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Niro and the car in front down to a stop)

Touring Special Edition
Available only in unique shades of light blue or orange, the Touring Special Edition further adds:

LED headlights
Leather upholstery
10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen (deletes wireless capabilities for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto)
Eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
More advanced navigation-based adaptive cruise control (can also react to traffic signs and set speed)

EX Premium
The range-topping EX Premium doesn't include the Special Edition's LED headlights or unique paint. It also rides on 16-inch wheels. Otherwise, all other features are included, as are:

Heated steering wheel
Heated and ventilated front seats
Simulated leather upholstery
Wireless charging pad
Rear parking sensors
Cargo cover (optional on all other models)

Save as much as $1,872 with Edmunds