2019 Kia Niro Review

Name: 2019 Kia Niro
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $14,790 - $21,990

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$16,954 avg. price

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Appraise My 2019 Kia Niro

Kia Niro model years

2019
2018
2017

Kia Niro for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Calvin Kim

Pros

Impressive fuel economy from the base model
One of the more affordable hybrids available
Offers plenty of standard and optional features

Cons

All-wheel drive isn't available despite crossover styling
Less cargo space than most rivals
Feels lazy when driving in the default Eco mode

What's new

The Graphite Edition trim has been renamed the S Touring
Updated infotainment system
Part of the first Niro generation introduced for 2017

Kia markets the Niro as an SUV, but that description is hard to believe when you consider what the Niro doesn't have. It doesn't have an SUV's raised ground clearance or available all-wheel drive, so it lacks the SUV's ability to keep going when the going gets tough. Really, the Niro is more of a hatchback that's styled to look like a crossover SUV.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Mountain View, CA

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2019 Kia Niro
EX 4dr SUV
$16,590
fair price
$445 above market
- 87,556 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 5 Seats, 51 City / 46 Hwy MPG
- Carvana - Cleveland (2,153 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Cleveland, OH
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
49 Combined MPG (51 City/46 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDCE3LC1K5265683
Stock: 2004006090
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-28-2025
2019 Kia Niro
EX 4dr SUV
$18,998
fair price
$1,282 above market
- 68,692 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 5 Seats, 51 City / 46 Hwy MPG
- CarMax Hillside (Eisenhower Expy) (1,832 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Hillside, IL
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
49 Combined MPG (51 City/46 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDCE3LC1K5241447
Stock: 26863886
Certified Pre-Owned: No

See all for sale

As long as you're OK with that, there's a lot to like. The Niro's hybrid system uses a 1.6-liter engine and an electric motor to power the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Altogether, this system generates 139 horsepower and a combined EPA fuel economy rating between 50 to 43 mpg, depending on trim. It's frugal but not fast.

From a features perspective, Kia stacks the deck. Even the base Niro FE trim includes standard smartphone integration and dual-zone automatic climate control. On the more expensive trims, you can even get luxury-oriented features such as ventilated front seats and a Harman Kardon sound system. There's also a roomy back seat and decent cargo capacity.

Should you want a hybrid with more SUV-like traits, such as more cargo space and all-wheel drive, you might want to take a look at the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Otherwise, we think the Niro provides an appealing mix of efficiency, maneuverability and value.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Kia Niro as one of Edmunds' Best Hybrid SUVs for this year.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.0 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Kia Niro EX (1.6L inline-4 hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch automatic | FWD).

Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current vehicle has received some minor revisions to its feature content. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's vehicle, however.

Scorecard

Overall	7.0 / 10
Driving	6.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	6.5
Technology	7.5

Driving

6.0

Edmunds' instrumented testing confirmed that the Niro is quicker than its rival, the Toyota Prius, by a good margin. But we also found its emergency braking performance to be subpar and the powertrain tuning on this production model to be far cruder than the model we previously drove.

Acceleration

7.0

When driven in the default Eco mode, the Niro feels wholly unmotivated. In Sport mode, the Niro accelerates to 60 mph nearly a full second quicker than the Toyota Prius. There's good low-end torque and the transmission shifts quickly, but this mode is less efficient. We need an in-between mode.

Braking

6.0

Braking feels completely natural under routine conditions, and the switchover from electric-regeneration to conventional brakes is imperceptible. Under panic braking, however, the pedal goes to the floor. In our testing, the Niro needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average for this class of vehicle.

Steering

6.5

The steering is direct and responsive with a good level of assist. And there's a clear difference in the degree of assist when you switch between Normal and Sport modes. But this car lacks a clear sense of on-center feel or feedback, which can be disconcerting because it demands constant attention.

Handling

7.5

The Niro handles more like a car than a crossover because it's essentially a hatchback. It stays planted through turns better than expected and carries its weight lower thanks to batteries mounted beneath the rear passenger seat.

Drivability

5.0

Driving in the default Eco mode can be annoying. Its anemic takeoff power and lazy first-to-second shift are only remedied by driving in Sport mode.

Off-road

4.0

At the very least, crossovers should have the option of all-wheel drive and decent ground clearance. Unfortunately, the Niro has neither, and people expecting otherwise will be disappointed.

Comfort

7.5

The Niro may not feel luxurious, but there's a good level of comfort on hand for the daily commute. The seats have sufficient support and powerful heaters, with ventilation available on the higher trim levels. The biggest strike is the amount of road noise, which gets tiresome on long drives.

Seat comfort

7.5

The seats aren't anything fancy but have good padding and decent lateral and lumbar support.

Ride comfort

7.0

The ride comfort, for the most part, is agreeable. Though we didn't experience any harsh crashing over bumps, we wouldn't call the Niro plush either. On the other hand, body movement felt well-controlled and car-like, instead of floppy as in a tall SUV or crossover.

Noise & vibration

7.0

There is a fair amount of road noise and the occasional sound of loose gravel pinging against the underbody. Wind noise is better isolated, though there is still a bit of it around the front sideview mirrors at highway speeds. The interior is absent of squeaks and rattles.

Climate control

8.0

Dual climate controls are straightforward and easy to reach, with the usual assortment of buttons and knobs for fan speed, temperature, etc. The system performed well to maintain pleasant cabin temps. The seat heaters are very effective, which is nice to have in cold climates.

Interior

8.0

The cabin of the Niro is easy to get in and out of and scores high marks for interior passenger space, driver accommodation and a simple user interface. We might have had a small complaint with rear visibility, but all Niros come with rearview cameras so it's not an issue.

Ease of use

8.0

The touchscreen infotainment menus take a little familiarization but are easy enough to figure out and have shortcut buttons. When using the stalks to change headlight or wiper settings, a prompt appears in the gauge cluster showing your selection and others available, a nice feature.

Getting in/getting out

8.0

The doors open wide, almost to 90 degrees, with decent size openings and comfortable seat heights. You still sit down into the seat rather than slide in because the bottom seat cushion height is around knee level. There's a small step-over, but it should be easy for most, including elderly passengers.

Driving position

9.5

The tilt-and-telescoping steering column has a lot of adjustment, and the optional power driver's seat has two-way lumbar adjustment and height adjustment. It's pretty easy to find a comfortable driving position thanks to copious amounts of head- and legroom to suit a wide range of drivers.

Roominess

7.5

There is good head- and legroom both front and rear, but hard plastic front seatbacks don't leave much of a buffer if you're sitting behind an especially tall driver. The middle passenger will appreciate the relatively flat floor, but sitting three adults in back will be a little tight.

Visibility

8.0

Even with the raked front roof pillars, forward visibility is pretty good. The thick rear pillars create a minor blind spot when you're looking over your shoulder. But the view directly rearward is decent and relatively unobstructed by the rear headrests.

Quality

6.0

A lot of hard plastic covers the lower half of the doors, dash and center console. The interior looks cheap in the light gray color scheme. Even the soft-touch surfaces on the upper parts of the dash lack a quality feel. The armrest padding isn't bad but could be better on the doors.

Utility

6.5

Compared to a small sedan, the Niro offers an appealing amount of utility for its size. But when compared to other hybrid hatchbacks or crossover SUVs in the class, it doesn't offer quite as much cargo space or clever cabin storage for small items.

Small-item storage

7.0

There's convenient storage for personal items forward of the gear shifter, where you would charge your phone wirelessly if so equipped. The door pockets will hold a 16-ounce water bottle and a couple of other small items, but they're on the narrow side. The center armrest bin is average size.

Cargo space

6.5

The 60/40-split rear seats fold perfectly flat, and the optional underfloor storage adds a bit more utility. Yet, at 19.4 cubic feet with all the seats in place (54.5 cubic feet with them folded), the Niro doesn't have as much space as most other hybrid hatchbacks.

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

LATCH anchors are tucked away in between cushions where the rear seatbacks fold down, which makes access moderately difficult. Each outboard rear seat features a pair of anchors and an easy-access top tether on the back.

Technology

7.5

The Niro is strong on the technology front, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard equipment and a host of available advanced safety systems that aren't even offered on some cars above its class. The Uvo navigation system could use a design update but functions well.

Audio & navigation

6.5

The Uvo navigation system is the same as in other Kia models, easy to use but beginning to look dated compared to other systems on the market. The base stereo system won't impress the more musically savvy, but the optional Harman Kardon system is a noticeable upgrade.

Smartphone integration

8.5

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard in all models, you likely won't miss the upgraded navigation system in the Touring model. The Touring trim also comes with wireless charging for smartphones that have the capability. That feature is available as a package option at the EX level.

Driver aids

7.5

The adaptive cruise control works well to maintain a distance between the Niro and the car in front, but it will only bring the Niro to a complete stop for a moment before relinquishing control.

Voice control

8.0

Native voice controls are available for navigation, radio, phone and even Google search (if equipped). The prompts are straightforward, and voice recognition works pretty well. When using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, the voice control button activates the respective voice recognition system, which is how it should work.

Compare 2019 Kia Niro trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Kia Niro models

The 2019 Kia Niro is a five-passenger hatchback available in five trims, beginning with the most fuel-efficient FE trim, with features added incrementally moving up to the LX, EX, S Touring and Touring trims. All models come with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid-electric powertrain (139 horsepower, 195 pound-feet total output) that sends power to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The FE is surprisingly well-equipped for a base model, while the fully loaded Touring trim comes with nearly every modern comfort feature standard.

The base FE is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, six-way manually adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split folding rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, selectable drive modes, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a rearview camera, Uvo eServices app suite, Bluetooth, and a four-speaker sound system with a USB port.

Stepping up to the LX trim adds rear LED taillights, roof rails, keyless ignition and entry, an underfloor storage tray for the rear cargo area, and a rear center armrest with cupholders. Optional for the LX is the Advanced Technology package, which bundles forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. It also has foglights, LED daytime running lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The EX trim comes with the foglights, LED running lights and leather-wrapped steering wheel plus power-folding and heated side mirrors, a high-gloss black upper console, cloth and leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear air-conditioning vents, an additional USB charge port, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. As with the LX trim, all options for the EX are now bundled into packages. The Advance Technology package includes the same active safety features as the LX but adds a power-adjustable driver's seat.

A rather expensive Premium package for the EX trim is available. It adds xenon headlights, a sunroof, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory function, a heated steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen display, navigation, an eight-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system, LED map lights, front and rear parking system, wireless phone charging and a 110-volt power outlet.

This year's new S Touring trim is priced in between the EX and the top Touring trim. In terms of features, it's closer to the EX trim but includes the power-adjustable driver's seat, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and the premium Harman Kardon audio system. It also features a trim-exclusive Platinum Graphite paint, glossy-black 18-inch wheels, glossy-black roof rails and a metallic-colored front grille. The only caveat is none of the EX trim's packages are available with this trim.

Finally, the Touring trim comes with everything standard this year, including the active safety aids from the Advanced Technology package on lower trim models. The only choices you have are colors and smaller accessories. So if you plan to check all the boxes, and you don't mind 18-inch wheels instead of the EX's 16-inchers, you're best off beelining it to the Touring trim.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in California

$114/mo

$225/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

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Reliability

The 2019 Kia Niro has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, ranks it #3 out of 6 among Alternative Fuel Vehicles. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent

#3 out of 6 among Alternative Fuel Vehicles

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$377/yr

vs. $377/yr
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Frequency

0.38x/yr

vs. 0.52x/yr
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Severity

8.3%

vs. 8.3%
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 23V534000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC276
Number of vehicles affected:: 121411
Defect Description:: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.
Defect Consequence:: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 29, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Hybrid component Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Kia Niro Owner Reviews

4.0

37 reviews

5(49%)

4(24%)

3(11%)

2(8%)

1(8%)

See all 37 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Could have been the best

Rick, 11/25/2019

2019 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)

We bought a Niro LX for $21,000 + tax. Here are the highlights and low lights. Amazing MPG - I'm getting over 60 mpg. Price without leather was great...$21,000. The sports mode turns this into A SUPER FAST sports car. (No kidding...it will blow almost anything away for 20 yards.) I couldn't believe it. Now the bad... The front seat sucks but a good cushion will fix it. The ride is a bit …

best of both world

Johnny K, 09/01/2019

2019 Kia Niro S Touring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)

I have a S-Touring; 51+MPG commuting in DC traffic, nice entertainment system with Android Auto [must have], nice comfortable seats, nice interior design and overall quality. traded in RX350 and now I am saving $1300 a year just on gas and I have all the capacity I need with roof-box and hitch cargo carrier. rock solid reliability after 40k on ODO on same tires and brakes to boot. DTC is …

Best hybrid for the price

Karin, 11/01/2019

2019 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)

Just bought our second Kia Niro. We got one 11 months ago and are so crazy about it, that my husband and I argued about whose turn it was to take it. So I went out and bought my own. Gas savings are fabulous and it's very roomy and comfortable. Love the price, too.

The Niro is a Hero

Dave Miller, 11/27/2018

2019 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)

This is a great commuter vehicle. I am consistently getting better than the advertised average gas mileage at almost 55 MPG. It is a very comfortable vehicle even for me being larger than most people. The technology is outstanding and well laid out on the dashboard. I have the back seats down most the time to take advantage of the extra cargo space. I have to admit it was a big …

See all 37 reviews of the Kia Niro

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2019 Niro Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,490
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	50 MPG
Cost to Drive	$114/month
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 models:

Blind-Spot Monitoring: 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 interval behind the car ahead and will bring the car to a stop briefly before relinquishing control.
Lane Keeping Assist: Identifies lane markings and applies a steering correction if you begin to drift out of your lane.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat4 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover12.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2019 Kia Niro Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

For sale near Mountain View, CA

2019 Kia NiroEX 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2019 Kia NiroEX 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Off-road

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which Niro does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Kia Niro models

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Kia Niro Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Could have been the best

best of both world

Best hybrid for the price

The Niro is a Hero

2019 Niro Highlights

Safety

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2019 Kia Niro
EX 4dr SUV

2019 Kia Niro
EX 4dr SUV