2020 Kia Niro Review
Price Range: $12,102 - $23,590
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Good
7.7
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The 2020 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.
Price & Payment
Changing year will take you to a new page
Average price: $18,247
$
to$
Price
Pros
- Plenty of features for your money
- Nimble handling
- Roomy interior with comfortable seats
Cons
- All-wheel drive isn't available despite SUV marketing and styling
- Slow acceleration
What's new
- Restyled headlights, foglights and grille
- Newly available 10.25-inch touchscreen
- More advanced traffic-adaptive cruise control system
- Part of the first Kia Niro generation introduced for 2017
Overview
The 2020 Kia Niro is a solid pick for a fuel-efficient vehicle. It stands out from rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius with its SUV-like styling. You don't get much more than the styling — there's no all-wheel drive available, for instance, and its cargo space is fairly modest. But it nonetheless provides plenty of value and right around 50 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
For sale near Ashburn, VA
17 listings
- $20,590
- 41,050 miles
- 1 accident, 1 owner, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 52 City / 49 Hwy MPG
- Carvana - Richmond (95 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Apple Carplay/Androi...
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Located in Richmond, VA
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: No
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:
50 Combined MPG (52 City/49 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDCB3LC8L5435242
Stock: 2004393350
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-01-2026 - $13,599fair price$871 below market
- 99,483 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 52 City / 49 Hwy MPG
- CarMax Raleigh (228 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Apple Carplay/Androi...
Close
Located in Raleigh, NC
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency. Certain cars may have unrepaired safety recalls, so check nhtsa.gov/...
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:
50 Combined MPG (52 City/49 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDCB3LC1L5420405
Stock: 27977878
Certified Pre-Owned: No
For 2020, Kia has given the Niro a variety of updates, including updated styling, more standard features for certain trims, and a newly available 10.25-inch infotainment display. How does it all stack up? Is it better than a Toyota Prius? Check out our Expert Rating on the Niro to find out.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
7.7
out of 10
We drove the 2020 Kia Niro on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7/10
How does the Niro drive? 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 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.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Niro? 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 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.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? 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 legible graphics and is responsive to inputs. In higher trims there's also a large driver information display in the gauge cluster.
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 legible graphics and is responsive to inputs. In higher trims there's also a large driver information display in the gauge cluster.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? 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 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.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? 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.
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.
Fuel Economy
7/10
How’s the fuel economy? The base model Niro is the most efficient trim at an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined (52 city/49 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.
Value
8/10
Is the Niro a good value? 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.
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.
Wildcard
7.5/10
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.
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.
2020 Kia Niro trim level differences
The 2020 Kia Niro is a five-passenger hatchback/small SUV available in five trims. 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: Compare the 2020 Kia Niro trim levels in-depth.
Which Niro trim does Edmunds recommend?
We think the Touring represents the sweet spot in the Niro lineup. It won't break the bank, and features such as heated mirrors and adaptive cruise control are useful to have. The power driver's seat allows you to dial in your perfect position, while paddle shifters make the Niro a little more fun to drive. Just be aware that fuel economy is lower with this trim level (43 mpg combined).

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$68/mo for Niro LX
Niro LX
vs
$150/mo
Avg. Compact SUV
Reliability
The 2020 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
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Frequency
0.38x/yr
vs. 0.52x/yr
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Severity
8.3%
vs. 8.3%
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
1 recall foundChecking 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 Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(54%)
4(22%)
3(10%)
2(7%)
1(7%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Could have been the best
4 out of 5 starsRick, 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 … sporty...it's not horrible but could be better.
The stereo speakers are ok but you might want to upgrade.
Well, that's it.
My wife loves the car but she loves her 2014 Prius.
I'll give it a 4 out of 5.
Also, Kia has a super warranty.
--------------------------------------------
3 month update:
I've driven about 2200 miles and am getting over 600 miles on a fill-up.
That's really nice.
I can hookup my phone with a YouTube app and play thousands of songs through the media button, so I won't need Sirusxm.
That's good.
The car is easy to wash. Takes about 20 minutes by hand.
Car handles very nice around town and is agile.
I'm 6'4" and weigh about 290 and I have plenty of room.
So far it's been a good purchase.
I was going to buy a RAV4 Hybrid but we saved around $8,000 with the NIRO and are getting way better gas mileage.
Update at 10,000 miles.
I've had no issues with the car.
We took it on a 3300 mile road trip.
It got absolutely great gas mileage.
Drives nice on the highway.
I've enjoyed this car and I hope it lasts.
best of both world
5 out of 5 starsJohnny 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 … a jewel and suspension with 18inch wheels boosts fun factor on curve roads. Niro also made me a better person behind the wheel :-)
Best hybrid for the price
5 out of 5 starsKarin, 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
4 out of 5 starsDave 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 … adjustment for me going from a V8 to 4 Cyl Hybrid as far as power, but it performs well enough for my everyday driving.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Kia Niro, so we've included reviews for other years of the Niro since its last redesign.
2020 Niro Highlights
LX
| Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $24,590 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Hybrid |
| Combined MPG | 50 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $68/month |
| Seating | 5 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 19.4 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
| Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Niro models:
- Blind Spot Detection System
- 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 corrects the steering if you begin to drift out of your lane.
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat4 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover12.1%
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