2025 Kia Niro Hybrid Review: Environmental and

When the Kia Niro came on the market, it was screened with a focus on fuel efficiency like its competitors. Kia isn’t just putting a version on the market – they launch traditional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric versions. Now, since we pushed the original trio, we’ve been back to test the full week of mixed versions to see how it stacks in the real world.

This review isn’t far from testing our week-long all-electric Niro GT cable. We found it very efficient, comfortable, but also a bit expensive. But what happens when we tend toward the other side of the spectrum? What does the Niro look like as a traditional non-plug-in hybrid?

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We took the Niro hybrid across the city, highway, cargo and several passengers’ pace. It turns out, yes, it is also very effective and comfortable. Of course, it accomplished these goals in different ways, and the price proved to be more attractive than the other two variants. Can want a city car do everything most buyers want? Niro proves Kia is on the right path.

Quick facts

As we mentioned when driving the Niro for the first time, it was hard to stand out in this segment. Kia’s goal is to achieve this with some very unique external touches. The brand’s iconic “Tiger Nose” grille is very different from all other Kias in the fold. The “heartbeat” day running lap helps inspire some units on other cars in the automaker’s range.

The C-pillar has a “side blade” that has a separate body color than the rest of the cars. It is worth noting that this feature will hit a certain level in 2025, so if you like it, get Niro as soon as possible.

Regardless of the color, Kia actually incorporates air ducts into the C-pillar that lead to the rear of the car for fuel efficiency. Is it made a big deal? Kia admits it’s edge, but hey, at least it’s fun, fun and still technically works. At least better than the plastic diamond plating on the hood of the Land Rover Defender we tested recently.

Then, another trick for Kia efficiency is: driving height. Despite being a crossover with only 6.3 inches (160mm) of ground clearance, it is located almost exactly the same as the Toyota Prius (6.0 inches). This helps it slide in the air and saves you fuel, which is less and less.

Powertrain

Speaking of fuel savings, this is the ultimate task of this car. Comfort, ride quality and practicality are all important aspects, but efficiency is really where Niro is trying to print it out. To do this, the hybrid we drove uses a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine whose traditional hybrid components absorb energy from the engine.

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It can only make 139 hp (104 kW) and 195 lb-ft (265 nm) in total, which is nothing no matter how you slice it. Thankfully, it weighs about 3,373 pounds (1,530 kg) in its heaviest mixed form (intolerant). Low power and relatively low weight (at least by today’s standards) combined in a slippery body enable the Niro to achieve combinations of up to 53 mpg.

Our test car is the SX Tour trim, so we should theoretically suffer a fuel economy fine based on the manufacturer’s own specifications, which states a 49 mpg fuel consumption. This is still a great number for a car of this size, shape and cost, but even so, we managed to beat it. In terms of pricing, NIRO is priced at less than $27,000 at destination and prior to processing.

Our decor will make the buyer priced at just over $35,000. For this cash, buyers can get 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, LED fog lights, parking sensors, hands-free tailgate, roof railings, and the cabin we think most owners will love.

The library of the cross-border cabin

Kia hasn’t updated Niro’s interior since its launch a few years ago. The door is big, so it’s easy to get in and out. The panoramic dashboard display includes a gauge group and an infotainment system in two side-by-side 10.25-inch displays. Overall, the dashboard is handsome, but not premium, although you probably won’t expect that price point.

The media/climate control we complain about also goes back to the EV6. We won’t get bored by complaining about how they work frustratedly, but hopefully Kia will be able to separate them in future updates. That is, the center console is as easy to live as getting. The storage space before shifting provides power ports, the cup holder is modular, while the cargo warehouse is sponge-like.

Moreover, the cabin feels spacious. The taller people can fit in two rows at the same time without feeling cramped. Second-row occupants also benefit from front seat backs, storage pockets and power outlets for power outlets. Most importantly, we really like SwitchGear. Although not as uniform or sharp as some competitor brands, it provides a very satisfying response to button-tap or press. This is also a huge improvement to the system in addition to the touch screen or haptic slider input.

However, this is not a perfect cabin. Piano black plastic has not been completely deported. Most importantly, the door card is still a little eye-catching. Some of them boil down to cheap materials on the cards.

Another bit comes from the design itself. Getting a deeper look at the door cards, at least to our point of view, they seem contradictory. The cohesion often found in other Kias does not seem to be here in the same way. In any case, this is a small way that does not affect daily comfort.

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Finally, let’s talk about cargo space, because that’s a big reason why people might actually need crossovers instead of sedans. Behind the rear seats, you’ll find 22.5 cubic feet, which is a lot. When transporting four to five people, it needs more than most people, and if more storage space is needed, the rear seats are almost completely flat.

Drive impression

I will be the first to condemn a car that is not fun. The Kia Niro is not a vehicle designed with exciting power. If anything, it encourages its drivers to be more efficient. Still, I initially expected it to be better to use it around town. The opportunity to bypass my hometown is very different from being in a brand new city in just a short time.

Niro feels familiar and can easily point and shoot to traffic divides, narrow parking spaces or through tricky intersections. The engine is not powerful, but it is responsive and improves quickly. Additionally, Kia’s engineering team thankfully chose a true six-speed automatic transmission instead of the CVT.

Other brands tend toward CVT almost entirely, and while it may contribute to its fuel economy quantity, it often hurts the driving experience. Kia, on the other hand, proves that cars like the Niro show that CVT is not a prerequisite for good fuel economy. Speaking of fuel economy, let’s talk about Kia’s claims and our experience.

The SX Tour we drove was supposed to be a merger of 53 mpg in the city, 45 mpg and 49 mpg on the highway. Instead of hitting any numbers, we only hit 43 mpg. That said, I believe that the less demand for the throttle to provide maximum horsepower will benefit our results.

A week before driving, I tested the Rivian R1 with over 600 horsepower. Maybe I missed the extra charm. That being said, considering that we sometimes used three during the week, sometimes four passengers and equipped Niro put Niro down for 43 mpg.

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It is worth noting that most passengers provide unreasonable comments on the ride quality of this little Kia. For a car that costs less than $40,000, the interior is surprising. The road conditions don’t bother it. In fact, those who like this version of the ride and cabin should check out the PHEV and EV if they like these drivetrains as they are even better.

In our initial comments, we noticed that the brakes don’t always feel consistent or linear. The 2024 hybrid seems to have solved this problem. Niro absolutely doesn’t need extra stimulation to slow down or stop completely accurately. This is reasonable, it may experience it more on PHEV or EV, but in recent tests of the EV GT line we did not notice the same problem.

competition

Few segments are as full of competitors as compact crossovers. It has a variety of models, from the Chevrolet Trax to the Subaru Crossstrek and everything in between. We won’t elaborate on how NIRO compares to everyone, but after a week of driving, here’s the key takeaway.

Nile is undoubtedly one of the best in the class. Of course, this may not be the leader, as other cars like the Trax offer most of the same utilities and economy while spending less. Trax, on the other hand, cannot get anywhere close to 40 mpg, less than 50 miles.

On the other hand, cars like Crossstrek are more focused on off-roading. Even on the off-the-scenes trail, you can’t really take Nile. Then there is the Mazda CX-30, which offers more luxury and best driving behavior throughout the segment. The Niro did the cuts for this, but it is definitely worth considering because it is very fuel efficient and very comfortable.

The final thought

Kia used to be a brand that few people really considered, and even today, I hear a lot of negative reviews among family and friends and some readers. After driving the recent cars, I believe the negative feelings towards Kia were misplaced. The brand has made a leap forward compared to two decades ago, with most of its models competing with anything in the class.

As for Niro, it may have several mistakes, but none of them are deals that disrupt their segments. Also, this is definitely a car with a lot of money, which is an attractive proposition for buyers to put this property on top or near their priorities.

Image source: Stephen Rivers / Kia