Used 2018 Kia Niro SUV Consumer Reviews
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Sleeper Hybrid Winner
sal, 07/09/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
36 of 36 people found this review helpful
We had a Soul that was up on lease. We really liked the Soul, but in primarily city driving, the gas mileage was terrible. Having owned 4 Kia vehicles, beginning with a 2001, Kia Rio, the vehicles keep gaining refinement and great features. Build quality is at it's highest level so far. To the Niro, this car is a perfect Soul Replacement. It feels like it rides high like the Soul, but the gas mileage has been better than estimates. We averaged just over 56 mpg, in mixed driving in the first week. It runs so smoothly, the transition between electric and gas are noticeable, but not a hindrance of any kind. While I doubt we'll win a drag race, the car moves so quietly and easily, you can quickly find yourself over the speed limit. We opted for the mid-range EX, because it had all the tech we wanted. The tech package added leather seats and dash trim, but honestly it was way too much car, and the car as we have it is comfortable and has all but emergency braking. The interior craftsmanship is modern and interfaces are easy to use. I feel Edmunds 3 Star rating sells this vehicle way too short. Granted, I'd agree the mpg drop off for the highest trim level is unfortunate, but the EX, with or without the Tech package, provides more than enough comfort and safety features for the average commuter. I honestly can't wait to get another when our 2nd car is ready to be replaced.
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Impressed by KIA Yet Again
Justin, 08/10/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
33 of 33 people found this review helpful
Before getting the Niro, we purchased the KIA Soul in 2014. By far, the KIA Soul was worth the price and extremely reliable (140,000 miles and no problems). This made us decide to purchase our next vehicle from KIA. Yet again, we were not disappointed. The value this car has it truly phenomenal, most cars/suvs with this level of features range in the high 35,000's. The MPG is exceptional too; we've been getting 50 mpg which I believe is quite astonishing. For room, it is basically the same size as the KIA Soul. That being said, at 6'4 person like me will be able to fit in the front & back. The one thing I'd say is a negative is the acceleration. It feels like a 4 cylinder. If you don't have a heavy foot though, this will do just fine. We plan on getting another vehicle in about 6 months, and it's definitely going to be another KIA.
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niro is my hero
mike p, 06/01/2018
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
54 of 55 people found this review helpful
it's not fast. in fact from a stop light you wont beat anyone. im 52, its plenty peppy for me. took it too nashville tn. (frm nyc) first week and a steady 82 mph is easy, no noise. super comfortable, for both front passengers. you need a smart phone with minimum 6.0 platform for the linkup navigation, google music. tech is very advanced. nav is very good, voice command music is still a challenge to get right. dont know if its googles or kias fault. brakes need a good mash for stopping, spongier than any car ive owned. mpg is 50ish local and 47 on long hiway trips. i like this car. my first hybrid. serviced today and there were 3 recalls, all repaired. brakes, hybrid motor, wire harness. this may be a concern to some. my dealership and service dept are very friendly. id buy a kia again.
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No regrets!
David Dullman, 05/29/2018
2018 Kia Niro Touring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
41 of 42 people found this review helpful
We have only put on 1000 miles to date. Kia thought of everything and we are really enjoying the comfort and gas mileage. I am totally impressed with the headlights...you can see EVERyTHING ahead and at the sides of the roadway and the back up camera is impressive both during the day and more so at night! My wife feels so much more confident changing lanes with the "blind spot" feature. This is our second Kia and we are thrilled.
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Amazed
scott, 11/10/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
First Kia and/or hybrid owned, and absolutely love it. Steering is tight, grips/leans perfectly into turns, and feels solid and quiet. Acceleration is fantastic when the Power mode shift is used, which is easy and immediately jolts speed upward seamlessly when wanted or needed. Have achieved 560 miles per tankful so far doing only daily commuting and weekend errand runs. Electronics are terrific. Feel inside is comfortable, solid, and quality. Design is subtle style with tasteful lines and angles. Only wishes are that it sat a bit higher (a bit more ground clearance), a bit better floor insulation/noise suppression (slightly noticeable road noise at highway speeds), and the ability to slightly recline rear seats. Overall this is a fantastic car, is well worth the price, and should be much higher rated by Edmunds and other sources. Am also amazed that Kia does not market and advertise this aggressively, since I found it to be clearly the best crossover/small SUV hybrid available now. If Kia decides to produce a hybrid Sportage with this feel, quality, and performance, I will buy one immediately.
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Wow I love this car!
Mike, 12/11/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
...and I'm picky. I'll start with the bad. Yes, the tie down clips in the back are CHEAP. I haven't broken one yet, but I will. Maybe someone will come up with an aftermarket replacement? My MPG has drifted down a bit from my first tank of gas (~53), but then again, I keep adding weight (me AND stuff), so perhaps that has come into play (oh yeah, I was REAL gentle for that first week). OK then, I think that's it! Here's the good: The professional reviewers have issue with acceleration. Yeah, if I was in the market for a Porsche or a Tesla, I'd rate it a 7.0 too. I'm plenty satisfied with acceleration in Sport mode, but probably only use that 5% of the time. The fit and finish are perfect... tight as a button and very well laid out (I looked at Priii... what a mess (new ones less so))! Drive comfort is excellent (just returned from a 6 hour drive) - it's not THAT noisy at HW speeds (unless your other car is a Lexus) - the electronics are pretty intuitive (could use some small tweaking, but I'm a UI snob, so take this with a grain of salt) - the dash cluster is SO sexy - the electronic safety features (I went for the EX Tech package) are amazing - handling is terrific (haven't had to stuff on the brakes yet but you know, I look ahead of me and don't fiddle with my phone so I can't say that sudden braking has been much of an issue in my 35+ years of driving) - 525mi range is SO cool to see!
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Amazing car
chris, 07/13/2019
updated 01/19/2021
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I had a Kia Optima I traded in to buy this for using for Uber. The display says I am getting between 55-62 mpg which is crazy because it was rated to get 48 I think. It depends on how much time I'm on the freeways but mostly hangs around 59. I have put about 10k miles on it in the 4 months I have had it. My only complaint about the car is the lack of power and the transmission. I was under the impression that a CVVT transmission would be smooth but this one must artificially exaggerate the shifts because it is a bit annoying at times. I don't know why it does this. And when the engine kicks in it is very noisy. But other than that I love the car. I am saving a ton on gas. It has lots of room. You sit high so you can see. It has a backup camera which I haven't had before so it makes backing into areas easier. Overall I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I loved my 2008 Scion XB and this is just as good with twice the mpg. Update: I’m almost to 50k miles now and I am still very happy with the car. It may sound as though I’m complaining with what I say here but I’m just informing you in case you buy one. I haven’t had any problems with the car so far. All of my nags about it are because it is an economy class. Like it’s noisy, the lack of power, the stereo speakers aren’t very good. Also the brakes really like to be jerky sometimes I think due to the regenerative ability. I’m not sure because I haven’t had a car with brakes that can do that. Like occasionally as you pull up to a stop light if the light turns green before you totally stop and then you try to go the car doesn’t know what to do and sits for a second and then lurches forward once it realizes you press the gas. Also as you are slowing down sometimes it goes from a stopping power of 3 to a spill your drink power of 8 real quick. But I’ve gotten used to it and it is a bit aggravating but I’d still buy the car again. Even with all these little complaints it’s only about $25 to fill a tank and I can go over 500 miles which is more than twice as far as my other car at half the cost. I would still buy this again.
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Missing Link- Support and Service Department
Ronald Eng, 09/27/2018
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
52 of 69 people found this review helpful
Kia Case Number 12829869 I purchased my Kia 2018 Niro VIN #: KND.....6317 on May 15, 2018. 3 weeks into the purchase, one of the hard plastic anchors of the cargo net broke. The car was barely 500 miles. I saw that same issue in the 2017 Niro Edmunds consumers review. I thought that was fixed, but apparently not so. Between the Kia dealership in Fremont CA and Kia Consumer Assistance Center (800-333-4542) during the last 4 months, I was completely ignored, despised numerous follow ups. However the dealer did say it should be repaired under warranty but their hands are tied without Kia's authorization. Finally On Sept 11, I wrote Kia a letter and gave them a week to respond. Today Sept 26 I have received nothing, no response at all, not even their position whether it was or was not under warranty, or how much to get it repaired, just......nothing. On the overall picture, this is a very small matter but it does call into one question, what if this is something to do with their 10 years, 100,000 miles drive train warranty! You think they still will stand behind their products, or is that warranty statement just an advertising ploy? I have given them ample chances for a two way communication to resolve this little problem but to this date they chose to ignore me. How can Kia Marketing allows this to happen, not even defending the most important element in the support and service structure in the new car business. I had nothing of a kind on car purchases that happened to me. I am so disappointed. Ron
Buyer Beware!
Michelle. G, 08/03/2018
updated 12/17/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
27 of 37 people found this review helpful
Had to trade car after a month of owning it. I had a major horrible scare with my Kia Niro within the first few weeks of owning with a very strong gasoline and burning plastic smells in the cabin of the car. First I thought that maybe I spilled gas on myself, but no, it was coming out of the vents each time I either ran the AC or heat didn't matter what setting you had it on it was bad. Along with the gas smell there was also a burnt wire/plastic smell which was so bad I was expecting to see smoke or flames coming out of the vents or hood, it never did thankfully. Both smells made me completely nauseous and sick each time I had to drive the car I had to put the windows down to feel better. I felt so uncomfortable in the car feeling this sick. Dealership said nothing is wrong with the car but then Kia's have had fires in other models so it worried me that it could of happened with that KIA. There were other things among the smells just didn't seem well for a brand car it lacked power and had jerky/missing during acceleration right out the dealer lot, passenger door handles broke with only 1000 miles on the car. Good bye KIA brand. I ended up trading it in on a 2019 Buick Encore which has been a wonderful vehicle in the past 3 months since my trade of the junky KIA. Second year this model has been out, might want to wait until they fix all the bugs.
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Disappointing mpg
cbailey, 02/02/2019
updated 02/04/2020
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
20 of 27 people found this review helpful
I've had my Niro for about nine months now. The first six months I got great gas mileage, above 50 consistently and up to 58. The last three months I am getting 39. I asked the dealer about that and he asked, "Are you using the heater?" I said of course. He said that was the difference in the mileage. I find that hard to believe, a 10 to 15 mpg difference because I turned the heater on high instead of low. Otherwise the car is a dream to drive, but I'm very disappointed that it doesn't get the 46 - 50 mpg as advertised. UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020: My mileage in the winter is 36 mpg. In the summer it usually increases to about 46, 90% slow, small-town driving to the store and back. I don't know why I can't get the suggested mpg. it certainly isn't my driving as I don't have a lead foot or hot rod mentality. The heater is on low during the winter except for start-up times. PLUS, the car was in the dealership for TEN WEEKS. It turned out to be a bad sensor, but it took them ten weeks to figure that out. I put that on bad mechanics. Otherwise I still love the car and the way it drives and its comfort, but am very disappointed with the mileage.
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My Forever Car
Victoria, 01/02/2019
updated 01/06/2020
2018 Kia Niro Touring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have owned several cars and by a long shot this one is my favorite. I converted from two previously owned Kia Soul's Liked the cars but they have some manufacturer defects, the trim around the side windows after two years looked like it was 15 years old. Traded them both after two & three years of owning them, although they have great trade in value they do not compare to the Kia Niro. This is the most comfortable car I have owned. Made my first long time trip and was very pleased with the fuel mileage and the comfort level. I will own this car for a long time! Can't say enough about the technology you can even get your text messages via the car. Talk about safety. Best car I have purchased in 30 years! It's now been 6 mo since my purchase. I rave about this car. 42 mph city, 46 hwy. Now that I've had more time to learn about the car I like it it even more. The dashboard information is awesome my favorite features would be navigation turn by turn not just on the screen but also in the dash right in front of me, but the ultimate is being able to check the tire pressure with a click on the wheel! My forever car for sure.
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Exactly what you’d expect
Christopher Berg, 01/15/2019
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The niro gets great gas mileage , and is very comfortable. It doesn’t have the best acceleration but is fine cruising at 80 on the highway when it gets there. Overall very happy with the car
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I love this car!
Mags, 01/15/2019
2018 Kia Niro Touring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I looked at the Bolt, the Volt, the Prius, and the Ioniq when I was car shopping. I'm so happy that I went with the Niro! It looks great, is really comfortable (a major issue with me, since I need a lot of lumbar support due to a bad back). The rear seats are also really spacious, which was critical with my teenagers. I average 40 mpg and only have to refill the tank on a monthly rather than a weekly basis now. The entertainment system/Apply carplay is a dream, especially the way it connects to Waze. Six months in and I have no complaints, it's a fantastic car!
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Great car!
Kristen Lederman, 08/03/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
8 of 11 people found this review helpful
No CD player. From a complete stop it takes a moment to go again (engine turns off, it seems). I love the car, especially the smoothness and quiet operation of it.
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Great little SUV, hatchback, wagon or whatever.
David, 06/22/2019
updated 12/27/2021
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My wife loves her little SUV, wagon, hatchback or whatever it is. She is able to deal with our aging parents with a lower to the ground clearance than most SUVs and a back cargo to take in a folded portable wheel chair. She then can pick up the grandchildren right after because the back seats are pretty roomy. The car play and Bluetooth work seamlessly and the gas mileage is fantastic. We bought it at the very beginning of 2018 and drove it to Florida from NY and back in early February. It wasn’t as comfy as the Lexus R350 but it was excellent for a car that size. We wanted our first hybrid but couldn’t stand the Prius look, design, instrument panel and the idea that it’s comfort didn’t compare to the NIRO. We are taking a chance because the NIRO really has no record to stand on while the Prius is proven as very reliable. If I was still working (Retired) I would have loved it because my commute was 20 miles each way. Since I had to go over to my old job a few times I tested the mileage and I got 56 MPG. Update: 12/25/2021 We have put about 18K and my wife still loves the car. Our gas mileage around our city is about 36mph because we are a city of stop signs every block. Our mileage around Venice, Fl was around 56mph because of less stop and go.
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Great Car
Ray, 12/23/2020
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love The Kia Niro. 50+ MPG and the radio is amazing. A lot of power for passing and it feels bigger than it is. I would say most families have two or more vehicles with that being said long trips with the family wouldn't be ideal. If you want a car to save at the pump this is it. I would also say go full synthetic on oil changes!
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2018 EX-Touring Graphite Edition
Jack Aubrey, 04/26/2021
updated 04/28/2023
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We still love our Niro(we've added a 2021 Niro EV since). We have been exceeding the EPA mileage by some margin. However, winter gas, cold temps and short, under five mile commutes, can really bring down the mpg's, but that's not just for hybrids but for all cars. In the summer,however, 600 mile tankfuls are doable. A hybrid, any hybrid, will get best mileage in a specific set of circumstances. If your circumstances match that criteria the Niro HEV is an excellent choice. You can beat the EPA rating if ideally the road is flat, with a speed limit of between 40-50mph, temps around 70 and one-way distances of at least 10 miles. Coast up to red lights instead of braking at the last second. Apply the brakes lightly slowing from a distance for max re-gen effect. In the Niro HEV the first to second shift is sluggish in ECON mode. The S(SPORT) mode is another matter though. It's there at your finger tips if you need. Shifting over into S mode really transforms the vehicle from sluggish to quite peppy. It comes in handy, such as dealing with a short on-ramp on an older highways. S mode takes the worry out of blending into fast chasing traffic. The low slung battery and the Touring Graphite Edition's 18" low profile tires give the Niro very nice cornering ability. My wife really loves the color of the Touring Graphite Edition. The Harmon-Kardon sound system is a nice plus. The interior is comfortable, roomy(I'm 6'3" 230lbs) front and rear. We looked at the Prius but the Jetson'y interior turned us off. The Niro is more classic, elegant in a way. It's not cheesy or cheap. The dials on the radio, the knobs for the vents, push buttons and the seats have a nice feel of quality. You don't need to climb up or deep knee bend down to get in. That was a big plus for us. Visibility is very good all around with the added comfort of the rear view camera and proximity alert. It picks up moving vehicles and pedestrians too, the ones suddenly coming out from behind the big SUV parked next to you. It works 99.9% of the time so still be careful. I can't understand why KIA doesn't market the Niro more aggressively. If it wasn't for Edmunds I wouldn't have known it existed. It's a lot of hybrid for the money. For Empty-nesters, perhaps a young couple with one child the Niro makes a lot of sense. A couple of caveats about MPG expectations from hybrids. In cooler weather(60F) the mpg's do start to drop off. If your commute is very short(less than 5 miles) mpg can drop dramatically. In such cases an electric or a plug-in hybrid would probably be the better choice.
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Love my little Niro
Sarah, 06/25/2021
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love my Blue Niro, I got it mainly because I wanted a bigger car than my Elantra but was kind of intimidated by bigger SUVs. I also was driving 600 miles every other week for work so I needed something efficient. On average I get about 48mpg between highway and city driving. I don't use cruise control often - I've noticed that's not as efficient - and I've gotten used to the way a hybrid engine drives. Like other reviews have mentioned, it takes a bit of effort to go from a complete stop and up hills but cruising is very smooth. My partner likes to jump into "sport mode" to zip around a bit more. The backseats are very roomy and the trunk is adequate - My two 70lb dogs can both lay down in the trunk area no problem. I love Apple Carplay and the other various tech. My only complaint is that phone calls are not very loud. I have to crank up the volume to max every time and sometimes - on particularly noisy roads - I'm better off putting my phone on speaker instead. Safety wise, I don't think I will go back to a car without a backup camera and blindspot assist. It makes driving and parking less stressful.
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Fiddling with the Niro
Lisa, 09/01/2018
2018 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Love the blind spot monitor and rear traffic alerts.
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Very Poor build quality!
Sam and Jacky, 08/01/2022
2018 Kia Niro FE 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Cons: Nearly every component of this car is faulty or sub par in some way. Fuel cap doesn't open, rear hatch door has loose parts inside the frame (you can hear loose parts rattling inside), the steering wheel column has a weird noise when turning (sounds like parts are rubbing together in the steering assembly). The A/C compressor went out within the 1st year. No spare tire included (we found this out the hard way)! Death by a thousand cuts... Thankfully the only redeeming quality was the fuel economy which was a big help this year with rising gas prices at the pump. Otherwise, I will likely never recommend a Kia to anyone who wants a headache free and reliable car. If you do decide to buy this car, make sure you have additional warranty coverage.. you will 100% need it.
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Grea car for gas.
Sandy, 07/29/2021
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I fill up with gas I can go between 800 and 827 km on 1 tank of gas. That is so great with the cost of gas going up. The car recharges itself so I do not have to plug it in. It is very comfortable to drive in and in the winter I really enjoyed having a heated steering wheel and heated heats. Another great option is that the driver and passenger can adjust their own levels of heat. I really enjoy driving the car and when you start it up you do not hear anything.
Kia Niro for MPG
John B., 01/25/2020
updated 02/05/2024
2018 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Everything is wonderful about this car. I usually get up to 54 MPG on the road and 43-47 in the city.
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