Driven: 2025 Kia Niro – Economy Above All Else

If we told you to picture a hybrid car, a Toyota Prius would likely spring to mind. Toyota has been the go-to name in the hybrid space since before the 21st century, but other automakers have started to encroach on that success with models of their own. The 2025 Kia Niro is such an example: first launched in 2016 and given a second generation in the 2023 model year. Like the Prius, the Niro is only available as an electrified model (hybrid or plug-in hybrid) as well as a full electric vehicle. Unlike the Prius, which is a hatchback, the Niro has only ever been sold as a subcompact crossover, meaning it’s a direct competitor to the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

We drove the Niro Hybrid, the least expensive of the three powertrain options. The example we were sent was the 2024 model year in the top-of-the-line SX Touring trim, but the 2025 model year is essentially a carryover model with slightly different features and prices, so we are going to review it as the latter. Despite a slight price increase, the Niro remains one of the most affordable hybrid vehicles on sale in the United States, and the cheapest hybrid crossover. Does a low price make it one of the most compelling options for an electrified vehicle? We found out.

Exterior Looks: Funky Frugality

The Niro’s styling is unique, measured against the segment as a whole and within Kia’s lineup. A tiger nose grille blends into the bumper with a multi-tier construction, topped by a silver eyebrow and flanked by LED headlights with LED daytime running lights. At the back, the taillights have a bent boomerang shape, and can be paired with a black Aeroblade for $195 only on the top SX Touring trim. We think it’s a stylish look that looks vaguely resembles that of the original Audi R8, but some buyers might prefer it painted in body color. Speaking of colors, the base LX trim is only available in five hues, three of which are premium options for $395. Stepping up to the EX adds two more no-cost colors, Cityscape Green and Mineral Blue (pictured). Those two are the only ones that can be paired with the black Aeroblade.

16-inch wheels come standard on the LX, EX, and SX trims, while the EX Touring and SX Touring models get larger 18-inch wheels that up the curb appeal. Every trim besides the LX gets roof rails, while the EX Touring adds LED fog lights. At 174 inches long, which is seven inches shorter than the Prius, the Niro is easy to park and nimble to maneuver.

Interior & On-Board Technology: Style Done Cheaply

The outgoing Kia Niro had a pretty plain interior, so this new model steps up the interior quality and design. Several design elements from the EV6 trickled down to the Niro, albeit at a lower price point. The dashboard features some cool angles with steeply raked door cards that make the cabin feel taller. There are some cool-looking surfaces that don’t feel as expensive as they look, which is to be expected at this price point. Charcoal cloth seats come standard on the LX trim, while the EX and EX Touring upgrade to Charcoal or Gray SynTex with cloth. Stepping up to the SX or SX Touring brings full perforated Syntex seats in Gray/Charcoal or Charcoal.

The lower Niro trims levels are relatively spartan, but the upper trims pack some great comfort features. Available features on the SX include dual-zone climate control, heated/ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, LED interior lighting, wireless phone charger, and more. There are also a ton of driver assistance technologies as standard, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic avoidance, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and safe exit warning. The EX trim adds Highway Driving Assist, while the SX gets front and rear parking sensors.

Infotainment: Easy But Confusing

Only the base LX comes with an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. All other trim levels upgrade to a 10.25-inch screen, which loses the wireless functionality for both phone mirroring software. The screen is extremely easy to navigate, but the lack of wireless phone integration might be a dealbreaker for some buyers. A six-speaker audio system comes standard, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system in the SX and SX Touring sounds much better. A partially digital gauge cluster features retro graphics that may not age well, but look cool today. All the controls for the audio and climate are housed on the same screen, meaning you have to click to switch between them to access those functions. It can get annoying at times, but you can program it to automatically default to which one you use more frequently.

Performance: Slow But Sensible

We tested the standard Kia Niro Hybrid, though this vehicle is available as a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric vehicle. Those versions are reviewed separately, but you can see how they all compare on the table below.

Performance Impressions

So long as you aren’t expecting stellar performance, the Niro should be acceptable for buyers in this segment. We mashed the throttle to achieve an 8.97-second 0-60 mph time, the second-slowest of any vehicle we tested this year. The more powerful Corolla Cross Hybrid can hit 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds, though its maximum fuel efficiency is lower than the Niro. Because Kia hybrids use a six-speed dual-clutch instead of an eCVT, you don’t get any of the drone from the engine. The shifts aren’t the smoothest we’ve experienced from a DCT, but buyers who hate the sound of only having “one gear” will prefer it to most other hybrids.

Ride and Handling

The Kia Niro is a crossover designed for a single purpose: efficiency. As such, some other elements of the driving experience take a back seat. There are only two drive modes, Eco and Sport, which minimally change the steering weight and programming of the transmission. Neither mode makes the Niro feel exciting, but it’s far from sloppy. The suspension is reasonably comfortable, but you can tell it lacks some sophistication over rough pavement. We were surprised by the Niro’s relative quietness on city roads, and it doesn’t get too loud on the highway either.

Fuel Economy

If fuel economy is your number one priority, the Niro will not disappoint you. Trims with the smaller 16-inch wheels are rated for 53/54/53 mpg city/highway/combined. There are no crossovers on sale that can match it. The Corolla Cross Hybrid comes with standard AWD and more power, meaning it can only manage 45/38/42 mpg. Opting for either of the Touring trims with the larger 18-inch wheels drops the fuel economy to a still impressive 53/45/49 mpg. In our real-world testing, we managed 50.8 mpg around town, but dropped to only 39.7 mpg on the highway.

Verdict & Pricing: Economy über alles,

Not only is the Kia Niro the most efficient crossover money can buy, it’s also among the most affordable. This is the least expensive hybrid crossover on the market, starting at $26,990 for the LX trim. Prices do go up significantly from there, topping out at $35,390 for the SX Touring, though that trim doesn’t have any pricey options you need to add. A Toyota Corolla Hybrid is cheaper, but it’s not a crossover, so it’s not a straight comparison. As for the Corolla Cross Hybrid, it’s more comparable, starting at $28,395 and topping out at around $35,000.

There’s a lot to love about the Niro, if you want a frugal and affordable crossover with tons of available features. The Corolla Cross Hybrid is better if you want better performance, but the Niro has superior efficiency, technology, and practicality. It also packs features that are not available on the Toyota. A Prius might get better fuel economy, but if you absolutely need a crossover, the Niro is now the best option.