Kia’s Niro is an example of just how far this Korean brand has come. Far from feeling low-rent in places, the Niro’s quality and robustness show that it has really come to play with the big-hitters. Plus, Kia’s approach to the Niro has been to offer an electrified powertrain to suit all types of drivers, which is why you’ll find this car available with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid setups, as well as a pure electric model.
When buying a used Kia Niro, start by checking the service history and MOT record. The Niro is available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric model, so check the version suits your driving needs. On plug-in hybrid and electric models, make sure the battery charges properly and the real-world range looks consistent for the car’s age and mileage. On hybrid petrol models, the gearbox should feel smooth, with no jerky or rough changes.
Reece Proctor is a Roadside Patrol at The AA, with practical experience in both workshop and roadside roles, and specialist expertise in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Read bioThe Kia Niro has a strong reliability record and does not suffer from many major common faults. Most issues are minor and usually linked to age, software or routine wear.
Common issues include:
• Minor infotainment glitches on some earlier models
• 12-volt battery wear after several years
• Rough or jerky gear changes if gearbox servicing has been missed
• Tyre and suspension wear, especially on higher mileage cars
• Gradual battery range reduction on plug-in hybrid and electric models
Software updates usually resolve infotainment issues. On hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, smooth gearbox operation is worth checking carefully on a test drive.
Most hybrid and plug-in hybrid Niro models need servicing every 12 months or around 10,000 miles, depending on age, engine and service schedule. Electric versions have fewer routine service items but still need regular checks.
Key maintenance to keep on top of includes:
• Oil and filter changes on petrol hybrid models
• Brake fluid replacement when due
• Cabin filter replacement every 12 to 24 months
• Air filter and spark plug replacement on petrol models when due
• Gearbox servicing at the correct interval
• 12-volt battery checks
• Tyre, brake and suspension inspections
• Battery and charging checks on plug-in hybrid and electric models
The Kia Niro is a practical, efficient and good-value compact SUV. It offers strong reliability, useful equipment and a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric power. After 5 to 7 years, most issues are likely to be routine wear, 12-volt battery replacement, tyres, brakes or software updates.
With hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains all on offer, the Kia Niro is the car for those who want electrification but aren’t quite sure which would work for them. This smart-looking car is also well-equipped and has a great reputation for reliability.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioPrices for the Niro range start from £30,795 for an entry-level hybrid in ‘Pure’ trim, which still brings features such as 16-inch wheels and a 10.25-inch touchscreen inside. The plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, is only available in higher-spec ‘2’ trim and above, with prices starting at £35,435. Finally, there’s the fully electric version, and this starts at £37,335. Of course, there’s a good level of choice on the used market too. On AA Cars currently, you can find a Niro Hybrid in top-spec ‘4’ specification with just delivery miles on the clock for £29,995. Plug-in hybrids can be found for £28,295, too, while electric models start at just under £27,000, again with delivery miles. All of these examples are 2025-year cars, too.
Kia has always tried to offer a broad range of electrified powertrain options with its cars, and that’s no different in the Niro. Things kick off with a standard ‘self-charging’ hybrid which is housed around a 1.6-litre petrol engine, linked to a compact electric motor. It can deliver up to 61.4mpg and, because it doesn’t need to be plugged in, is a great option for those who can’t regularly get access to a charger.
Then there’s the plug-in hybrid. Again, this has a 1.6-litre petrol engine at its heart, but this is joined by an 11.1kWh battery which unlocks an electric-only range of up to 40 miles on certain models. It’s reasonably brisk, too, and should deliver 0-60mph in just under 9 seconds, compared to the self-charging hybrid’s 11.0 seconds. Then, there’s the electric model. This uses a 64.8kWh battery for a range of up to 285 miles from a single charge. It’s also the quickest of the lot, getting from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds.
When you’re out and about, the regular hybrid will deliver a short amount of electric-only driving, but only at slow speeds, so when you’re parking or crawling through traffic. The plug-in hybrid is a far more electric-focused affair, and with around 40 miles of electric-only power, it does feel like an EV for most of the time. However, call the petrol engine into question and it can get quite vocal, particularly when you’re accelerating hard.
The electric model is quiet and refined thanks to a lack of vibration or engine noise, and though it’s the quickest Niro of the lot, it doesn’t feel too scarily fast, unlike some other electric vehicles on sale today. However, if you’re coming from a traditional petrol or diesel car, it’s likely that the Niro EV will feel noticeably quicker away from the lights.
The Niro’s on-road character seems to focus on being as easy-going as possible. It’s probably why the steering feels quite light when you’re pootling about town, but this does mean that it can be a little out of its depth when you’re going more quickly. However, it’s certainly not out of the ordinary for this segment, though some rivals might be a little more exciting to drive. The good news is that the Niro’s ride quality is decent enough that it blocks out the worst of the lumps and bumps in the road, and though wind noise is definitely noticeable, it’s not distracting or too loud.
Everything you interact with inside the cabin of the Niro has a solid finish to it. It’s ideal for a family, as a result, as all of those major touchpoints feel as though they’re going to handle daily life with ease. Space-wise, the Niro’s boxy design means that headroom is excellent, and even taller passengers should be able to get comfortable in either the front or rear of the car. While the latest Niro models get a large central screen, there are loads of physical buttons which make changing certain settings a lot easier when compared with a screen-only setup. There is quite a lot of gloss black plastic used throughout and this can attract dust and fingerprints, but it does help to give the Niro a more premium finish than you’d expect.
Space in the Niro is top-notch. As mentioned, headroom is excellent, while legroom for those in the rear is plentiful, too. There’s a good amount of space for their feet, too, and a compact transmission hump in the centre means that the middle-seat passenger still has a decent amount of room to stretch out. You’ll find storage throughout the Niro, too, with the cupholders in the front centre console being of a good size. You also get two cupholders housed within the fold-down armrest at the back. In terms of boot space, it really depends on which powertrain you opt for. The ‘self-charging’ hybrid has a 451-litre load area, while the PHEV’s luggage space falls back in comparison to 348 litres. Surprisingly, it’s the electric model which offers the most boot space at 475 litres in total.
As with all Kia models, the Niro comes well-equipped as standard. An integrated curved display is included on all grades, as are both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you don’t want to use your phone, then the in-built navigation comes as standard too. It’s good news for those who like some extra help with their parking, too, as a reversing camera is on all versions alongside rear parking sensors. All electric versions get a handy three-pin socket, allowing you to top up domestic devices using the car’s power.
Some trim levels were revised for the Niro recently, but you’re still getting a lot of standard equipment regardless of the specification. On the standard hybrid model, entry-level ‘Pure’ grade brings 16-inch alloy wheels, as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster. A six-speaker sound system and reversing camera are still included at this grade. Range-topping ‘Aspire’ hybrid models get a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels and a head-up display.
Plug-in hybrid and electric cars, meanwhile, are available in ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’ grades. That entry-level specification has the two main 10.25-inch screens, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels, start-stop function with keyless entry and smart cruise control with a stop-and-go function that will allow it to crawl in traffic without the need for driver intervention. Popular ‘3’ grade adds heated seats and a heated steering wheel, as well as front parking sensors and a blend of cloth and artificial leather upholstery. Finally, ‘4’ adds a greater number of assistance systems, alongside a head-up display and a remote smart park function.
Kia models have always had reliability on their side and that’s reflected in the confidence that the manufacturer has to offer a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty on its cars. It’s transferable between owners, too, so if you are looking used, then you could get a car with some cover still intact. The Niro is a common top-place vehicle in reliability studies, with only minor electrical faults seeming to affect certain cars.
When crash-tested by specialists Euro NCAP in 2022, the Kia Niro scored a full five-star rating, making it a very safe option indeed. In fact, Euro NCAP awarded the Niro an impressive 91 per cent rating for adult occupant protection, alongside an 84 per cent rating for child occupant protection. All cars get a range of standard safety features, including forward collision avoidance assist, speed limit assist and smart cruise control, among other systems.
With some form of electrification included across the board, all models of the Niro are efficient and good on fuel. Even regular self-charging hybrid models will manage up to 64.2mpg combined alongside emissions as low as 100g/km. Switch to the PHEV and emissions drop to as low as 18g/km, while fuel consumption is claimed to be 353.1 on certain grades. You’d need to run on electric-only power for nearly all of the time in order to achieve this, mind you.
If you’re able to access cheap home charging, then the electric version will be the most cost-effective to run. This really does depend on the availability of cheap charging; if you need to rely heavily on the public infrastructure, then it could prove more expensive than with the self-charging or plug-in hybrid models.
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