Kia Niro Hybrid (2016-2021) Review

As an introduction to hybrid power, the Kia Niro Hybrid is a really good choice. It’s far from exciting, but it does represent very good value for money with an extensive list of standard equipment and a long warranty. Don’t go buying a Kia Niro Hybrid without doing your research, though - if you cover a lot of miles, you might find a diesel alternative still makes a lot of sense for you.

Deciding between hybrid or plug-in hybrid models (or electric, for that matter) will depend on your requirements. If you can’t (or don’t wish to) charge a car at home, go for the straight-forward hybrid model. All trim levels are well-equipped, although we’d like a Kia Niro Hybrid 3 or 4 for their bigger infotainment screen.

If an electric car could work for you, you should also read our review of the Kia e-Niro. Otherwise, hybrid and plug-in hybrid competitors include the Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona, Vauxhall Grandland X and Peugeot 3008, as well as hybrid hatches like the Toyota Corolla and Prius. Petrol and diesel crossover SUV alternatives include the Skoda Karoq, Kia Sportage, SEAT Ateca and Nissan Qashqai.

While it's not going to trouble the fit and finish of some premium brands, the quality of the Kia Niro Hybrid's interior is pretty good overall.

The Kia Niro Hybrid features some nice squishy plastics that are complemented by gloss trims to help convey a good impression of quality. Just don't start looking too closely lower down in the cabin, where the plastics become noticeably more scratchy and certainly less tactile. 

The entry-level Kia Niro Hybrid 2 comes with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which comes with the usual DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. You'll be relying on either of these for mapping as the base model doesn't feature as sat nav system. 

Plump for the Kia Niro Hybrid in either 3 or 4 trim and you'll get a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen display, while both benefit from Kia's built-in sat nav. Don't worry though as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity still comes as standard. There's also wireless charging, meaning less wires cluttering up the cabin, while the Kia Niro Hybrid 4 also enjoys a 7-inch digital instrument display.

The 8-inch display on the Kia Niro Hybrid 2 is fine, but the extra real estate of the 10.25-inch display makes for a better user experience. Either way, the user interface Kia has installed in the Niro Hybrid is one of the better systems to navigate and use in a car of this class. 

Both the Kia Niro Hybrid 2 and 3 come with a 6-speaker stereo system as standard, while the Kia Niro Hybrid 4 features an 8-speaker JBL sound system. 

Designed to be a relatively versatile family car, the small SUV Kia Niro Hybrid measures 4355mm long and 1805mm wide, making it a little longer and wider than something like the Skoda Kamiq. 

There’s plenty of room in the front of the Kia Niro Hybrid, with loads of head- and legroom for even the tallest of drivers and passengers. It’s clearly been designed with family life in mind - there are plenty of useful cubbies and usefully-large door bins.

Moving to the back and the Kia Niro Hybrid should be pretty comfortable in the back for two adults, where leg- and headroom is comparable to rivals. Things will feel a bit tight if you try to squeeze a third person in the middle seat, but that’s pretty standard.

The Kia Niro Hybrid's boot space is adequate at best 382 litres - although this drops to 324 litres in the plug-in hybrid model. That's actually less than the Kia e-Niro, which has 451 litres of boot space, while the Nissan Qashqai has 430 litres of boot space.

Whether you opt for the self-charging or plug-in hybrid, both cars use the same 1.6-litre petrol engine hooked up to an electric motor. The self-charging Kia Niro Hybrid uses a small 1.56kWh lithium-ion battery that means the Kia Niro Hybrid can only be used in electric mode at low speeds for short distances. The result is a combined 141PS, while peak torque is a fairly hefty 265Nm (available from just 1000rpm). It’ll accelerate to 62mph in 11.1 seconds which is nothing to shout about, but it feels nippy enough for day-to-day driving.

The PHEV Kia Niro Hybrid on the other hand uses a larger 8.9kWh battery. As well as being slightly quicker (it’ll reach 62mph in 10.4 seconds), it can travel further under electric power alone. Officially, it’s capable of covering up to 30 miles before the petrol engine kicks in. The downside of this is you have to plug it in rather than relying on the petrol engine to charge it. You can use a standard three-pin plug to charge, which will take around five to six hours to top up, or a Type 2 cable and connect to a fast charger, which will take less than three hours to brim the battery. 

The standard dual-clutch automatic gearbox is a highlight of the Kia Niro Hybrid, when other hybrids like the Toyota C-HR use CVT transmissions which are generally less refined.

The Kia Niro Hybrid is, as you'd expect, nice and quiet when running on pure electric power, with just a gentle hum of the motors to keep you company (on the rare occasion it's not drowned out by the sound of kids fighting in the back). 

When the petrol engine does need to kick in to take up the slack, the transition is nice and seamless. It's only when you have to work the engine hard that it really makes itself known in the cabin, otherwise it's a relatively inoffensive gentle thrum as it goes about its business with minimal vibration. 

In most instances, the ride quality of the Kia Niro Hybrid is also very good. Comfort is the name of the game here, balancing out uneven road surfaces nicely to deliver a relatively smooth ride. It'll only put up a bit of a fight when you encounter some pretty broken road surfaces (which if you live in Surrey, feels like most roads), but it does a good job considering. 

The Kia Niro Hybrid scored 4 out of 5 stars when crash-tested by Euro NCAP. A very solid performance, with the Kia Niro Hybrid scoring highly for both adult (83%) and child safety (80%), though pedestrians come off a little bit worse at 57%.

There's a decent array of safety equipment that comes with the Kia Niro Hybrid. For starters there are seven airbags dotted around the cabin, while Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) are standard features throughout the trim levels. The Kia Niro Hybrid 4 also comes with Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). 

If you're looking to use the Kia Niro Hybrid as a family car, then you'll be pleased to hear there are two ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer rear seats, while access is pretty easy thanks to the relatively wide opening of the rear doors. 

The Kia Niro Hybrid seems to be a big hit with buyers, with it coming in tenth place of the most satisfying cars to own in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index 2020 with a score of 91.1%.

There's only been one recall, in 2019, which only affected earlier models (a reduction of contact pressure on the main relays that caused heat build-up in the main Power Relay Assembly (PRA) since you ask), while Kia's come with one of the best warranties on any car available today. Not only do you get cover for an impressive seven years (or 100,000 miles), Kia also bundles in three years of roadside assistance.

The good news is that if you buy a used Kia Niro Hybrid that's a couple of years old, the warranty transfers over to you, which could see you having a good few years cover remaining. 

Pick the Kia Niro Hybrid in base 2 trim with 1.56kWh self-charging hybrid tech and you'll be looking at insurance group 11. The plug-in hybrid isn't much more, falling into insurance group 14. Both are quite a bit lower than the Kia e-Niro, which starts at insurance group 20. 

Even if you plump of the new trim level up, the Kia Niro Hybrid is only in insurance group 15. As always though, it's always best to shop around to get the best insurance quote. A comparison website is a great place to start if you want to save more on your car insurance. 

As the Kia Niro is a hybrid (or plug-in hybrid), models registered since April 2017 will be charged tax at a flat rate of £140 a year after the first year. Earlier examples are taxed based on their CO2 emissions so could be eligible for free car tax.

Don’t expect any flowery trim levels here - the Kia Niro Hybrid range starts with trim level ‘2’ and goes up to ‘4’.

The basic Kia Niro Hybrid 2 is actually pretty comprehensively equipped. Highlights include 16-inch alloy wheels and privacy glass as well as LED daytime running lights and tail lights. Inside, you’ll find part-leather upholstery, an eight-inch media system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and a useful reversing camera. There’s a whole host of driver assistance features, too - including Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Lane Following Assist. The plug-in hybrid model in 2 trim also comes with front parking sensors.

The Kia Niro Hybrid 3 comes with 18-inch alloy wheels and a bigger 10.25-inch infotainment system, complete with navigation. There’s also a wireless phone charger, front parking sensors, LED front fog lights, heated front seats (and steering wheel) and electric driver’s seat adjustment (with adjustable lumbar support). The 3 PHEV loses the 18-inch wheels in favour of 16-inch alloys.

Topping the range is the Kia Niro Hybrid 4. Highlights of this include LED headlights, an electric sunroof and a premium JBL sound system. You get heated outer rear seats and ventilated front seats. There’s ambient lighting, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster and aluminium pedals.