At $24,430 to start, the FE gets 16-inch wheels with hub caps, cloth upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, one USB plug and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Niro FE is the most efficient version sold without a plug, and the least expensive too. The rear cargo area swallows more than 19 cubic feet of gear with the seats up, more than 54 cubes with the seats down. Kia says charging the Niro PHEV on a typical Level 2 home charger takes less than three hours.īoth versions of the Niro are spacious and quiet inside, comfortable for four adults as a commuter, or an un-crossover family ride that’s ultra-efficient. The Niro makes due with a 1.56-kwh hybrid battery that returns fuel economy in the high-40 mpg range combined in most versions the Niro Plug-In Hybrid gets a 8.9-kwh battery that powers the car for up to 26 miles on electricity, 46 mpg combined when used as a hybrid. The net output is the same between the Niro and Niro Plug-In Hybrid, despite small differences in the electric motors’ outputs: 139 horsepower. The Niro’s a hatchback (or wagon) without fussy lines or sheet metal frippery, it’s borderline boring or massively understated depending on your worldview.īoth Niro versions use the same 1.6-liter inline-4 teamed to an electric motor and hybrid batteries for propulsion. The Niro skips the techno trends in vogue with other car companies.
Opting for a bigger battery (and up to 26 miles of all electric range) in the Niro PHEV costs at least $4,200 over a similarly equipped Niro, although nearly all of that initial outlay can be recouped from a federal tax rebate and any applicable state incentives. The Niro is available in FE, LX, EX, S Touring, and Touring trim levels the Niro Plug-In Hybrid comes in LX, EX, and EX Premium trim levels.
The Niro comes in two flavors, hybrid or plug-in hybrid, with mostly similar trim levels scattered between then.