Kia Niro

Kia Niro at a glance: generations and body

The Niro is a five-door, five-seat crossover between a hatchback and a compact SUV in size. Kia first showed the idea as the Niro concept at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2013. The production hybrid made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2016, went on sale in South Korea that March and reached Europe in the third quarter of 2016. It shares its platform with the Hyundai Ioniq.

In Europe the electric first-generation car was called the e-Niro. Elsewhere it was the Niro EV, the name the second generation now uses everywhere. South Korea also had a taller Niro Plus, mainly for taxi fleets, which was never exported to Europe. In Germany the Niro EV left the range in November 2024, after the smaller Kia EV3 arrived, while the hybrids stayed on sale; a facelifted Niro was revealed in January 2026. The rest of Kia's range is in the Kia catalogue, and the brand's background is in the history of Kia.

Engines, battery and performance

Every Niro drives its front wheels. The hybrids pair a 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine with an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Kia chose the dual-clutch unit instead of the CVT used by most rival hybrids, so the Niro feels more like a conventional automatic when you accelerate.

In the first-generation hybrid, the engine gives 78 kW (105 PS) and the motor 32 kW. According to Kia, the second-generation hybrid needs 10.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (some tests measured 10.8) and reaches 164 km/h. The plug-in is quicker at 9.6–9.8 seconds. The Niro EV does 0–100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and tops out at 167 km/h, the same sprint time the old 1cars text gave for the 150 kW e-Niro (the 100 kW version needed 9.8 seconds).

Charging improved with the second generation. The e-Niro accepts up to 77 kW on a DC charger. The Niro EV takes up to 100 kW and goes from 10 to 80% in about 43 minutes, and it can also power external devices with up to 3 kW. The batteries in both electric generations come from SK Innovation.

Dimensions, interior and boot

The second generation is 60 mm longer than the first and has a 20 mm longer wheelbase, which shows mostly in rear legroom. There is no transmission tunnel in the EV, so the middle rear passenger has a flat floor.

The first-generation hybrid's boot is quoted at 408–428 litres depending on the year and the measuring method. The old 1cars text gives about 450 litres for the e-Niro, rising to some 1,400 litres with the rear seats folded. According to the same text, higher first-generation trims have an 8-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard.

Hybrid fuel use and EV running costs

The Niro hybrid's selling point is low consumption without a plug. Kia quoted 4.7–5.5 l/100 km (about 43–50 mpg US) for the first-generation hybrid on the older test cycle. In December 2016 a Niro set a Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel use by a hybrid, averaging 3.1 l/100 km (76.6 mpg US) on a drive across the United States. That was a careful economy run, not a normal figure.

For the plug-in hybrid, real costs depend on how often you charge. Short daily trips can run mostly on electricity, while long motorway runs use the petrol engine with extra battery weight to carry. The Niro EV has the lowest energy costs if you charge at home, and its 463 km WLTP range is enough for most weekly mileage. Compared with the 64 kWh e-Niro, the newer EV adds only 8 km of WLTP range (463 km against 455 km), so a used e-Niro with the large battery is nearly as usable.

Trim levels and standard kit

Trim names vary by country. In Germany, for example, the first generation was sold as Edition 7, Vision and Spirit; the second generation adds Inspiration for the EV. Germany listed the first plug-in hybrid from 32,350 EUR at its launch in 2017.

The old 1cars text listed the typical equipment of the e-Niro: LED lights front and rear, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, tyre-pressure sensors, a rain sensor, heated front seats and a 7-inch touchscreen in the base version. Higher trims add leather, a larger navigation screen, dual-zone climate control, lane-keeping assistance, city emergency braking and a sunroof.

Safety ratings: Euro NCAP

The second generation protects adults much better (91% against 83%) and pedestrians much better (75% against 57%). Its safety-assist score stayed close to the first generation's, which kept it at four stars.

Rivals: how the Kia Niro compares

The closest relative is the Hyundai Ioniq, which uses the same platform and hybrid system in a lower hatchback body. The Niro gives a higher seating position and a bigger boot. The Toyota Prius is the classic self-charging hybrid, with a CVT-type transmission instead of a dual-clutch gearbox. Among small crossovers, the Kia Soul EV offers a similar electric drive in a boxier body, and the larger Kia Sportage is the choice if you need four-wheel drive.

The Niro's advantages are three electrified powertrains under one body, a practical boot and a strong sales record: European registrations peaked at 88,843 cars in 2021. Its weaknesses are front-wheel drive only, a ground clearance of about 160 mm that limits rough-road use, and a four-star safety rating. To line it up against other crossovers, use our car comparison tool or browse the electric cars by range and power.