I’m always looking for great, fuel-efficient, daily drivers at a reasonable price and boy did I find one! This week I am reviewing the 2024 Kia Niro hybrid compact SUV. Kia Niro has been around since 2017, but as of last year it became longer, wider, and taller than in the past.
You can get the Niro as a regular hybrid like the one I have, a plug-in hybrid, or as a full-electric. As you might guess, this is the least expensive of the models, and it is only available in front-wheel drive.
My review vehicle is the SX Touring trim, and of the six available hybrid levels, this is the top-of-the-line.
The exterior looks are sharp and crisp in this Mineral Blue color. In case you haven’t noticed, blue is the new hot, hip, and happening color these days, and this one is beautiful. Wide black trim runs along the bottom of the Niro to offset the blue between the front and rear wheels.
I was glad to see the wide aero blade some of them have on the sides, toward the rear, is gone. Beautiful 18” alloy wheels and a rear spoiler really enhance the cool factor of the Niro
The Niro is powered by a 139-hp 4-cylinder powertrain that consists of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard equipment. While the horsepower sounds low, the Niro generates 195-pound feet of torque, and in Sport mode, this little SUV will get up and go. No worries getting up on the freeway.
Interior
Inside, you find mostly recycled materials and a very uncluttered, clean interior. Seats are made from Vegan materials, and the center of the seats is made from eucalyptus leaves. My only complaint is the large amount of gloss black materials on the doors and the center console, but you don’t get that on the lower trims. It is very difficult to keep clean and shows fingerprints very badly.
As you sit behind the steering wheel, there is a nice-sized digital gauge cluster that you can configure from the steering wheel. It will show you your battery strength, gasoline range, speed, speed limit where you are, and there is a tachometer. In the center, it will show you if you are running on hybrid mode, idle mode, and when the hybrid battery is being charged.
On the steering wheel you can change drive modes from Eco to Sport. Moving to Sport will put you in all gasoline mode and it is a night and day difference in the amount of power.
Center dash is a 10.25” digital screen that handles the 7-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system that has SiriusXM and HD radio, navigation, Bluetooth, and a lot more including Quiet Mode, which turns off rear speakers if there are sleeping children. There is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but they are not wireless.
The center console has 2 USB-A and 1 USB-C ports, a wireless phone charger, the T-handle gear shifter, and buttons to turn on the heated and cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, park assist, camera views, and auto hold, which I always love.
Back seat room is exceptionally good for a compact SUV, both for head and leg room. Rear passengers get their own air conditioning vents and there are USB-C ports built into the back of the front seats. There is also a fold-down armrest with cup holders.
In the rear, there is a very good amount of cargo, with more room underneath. If you need more, you can fold down the rear seats to access 63.7-cubic feet of floor space. The lift gate is power, always a nice touch, and not always something you find on compact non-luxury SUVs. Underneath the load floor, there is a tire repair kit instead of a spar
Standard Equipment and Options
My tester came loaded with nice features. Besides what I already wrote about, you get remote start, power driver’s seat, a power sunroof, rearview camera, aluminum pedals, LED headlights and fog lights, dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and parking distance warning.
Options are scant with only floor mats, a cargo mat, and a cargo cover to hide valuables. All three options total $390.
Safety
On the safety side, you get automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance, safe exit warning, rear cross traffic alert, and driver attention warning.
The Niro drives and handles great. There isn’t much road noise at all, and the Niro is not bouncy like many small SUVs. This is a very poised SUV.
The EPA fuel economy ratings are 53 in town, 45 on the highway, and 49 combined. I am not getting quite those numbers, but I wasn’t trying at all. I was in Sport mode the entire time and driving with a lead foot, as always. There is something truly wonderful about filling a gas tank that only holds 11 gallons of regular unleaded and having over 500 miles of range.
MSRP as equipped is $37,105 fully loaded, and today, that is just an outstanding value. Kia knocked the cover off the ball with the Niro hybrid!
To view larger photos see the slideshow on CarPro.com.