2022 Kia Niro

The Kia Niro is a compact crossover SUV offering car-like drivability and SUV-like practicality synonymous with the class, but with the added advantage of hybrid fuel efficiency. Under the hood of the Niro is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybridized engine that's coupled to an electric motor for combined outputs of 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This is routed to the Niro's front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. With this powertrain, the Niro is one of the most fuel-efficient hybrids out there. With EPA gas mileage estimates of 50 mpg returned in mixed driving conditions, only a few cars like the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius can surpass the Niro's efficiency. The Niro isn't just an easy-to-drive, practical, and highly fuel-efficient crossover hybrid SUV, but it's also a relatively stylish one that's packed with contemporary features and safety technology, which altogether make it an ideal family commuter.

The Kia Niro carries the typical modern crossover SUV design ethos and features a diamond-patterned grille up front with stylishly designed headlights, and LED daytime running lights in a double-chevron arrangement for an even more contemporary aesthetic. There is a pronounced faux skid plate at the rear, too. From the LXS Special Edition, a power tilt/sliding sunroof is standard and from the Touring Special Edition model onward, front fog lights, LED rear combination lights, and mirror-mounted LED turn signals with power-folding and heated mirrors are standard. Bi-function projection headlights with auto light control are standard on all trims. All models feature a black beltline, wheel arch cladding, and a rear spoiler with a LED high mounted stop lamp. The LX, LXS, LXS Special Edition, and EX Premium all ride atop 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Touring Special Edition rides on larger 18-inch alloy wheels.

Because of its hybridized components, the Niro boasts slightly larger dimensions than the average compact crossover SUV. At an overall length of 171.5 inches, it's 5.9 inches longer than the Hyundai Kona, its height of 60.8 inches makes it a tad bit shorter, but its width of 71.1 inches makes it a little wider. Its 106.3-inch wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than the Kona's though the Kona rides 0.4-inches higher than the Niro's 6.3-inch running ground clearance. In terms of curb weight, the Niro registers figures of between 3,117 and 3,287 pounds.

There are a total of seven exterior paint colors available for the 2022 Kia Niro lineup. Available for all models at no additional cost are Steel Gray - a new color that replaces last year's Silky Silver - and Deep Cerulean. Other colors will either require an additional charge or choosing a different trim. These are Aurora Black, Snow White Pearl, Horizon Blue, Runway Red, and Solar Orange. Horizon Blue is reserved for the Touring Special Edition and EX Premium trims and Solar Orange for the LXS, LXS Special Edition, and Touring Special Edition trims.

The Kia Niro hybrid combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivering power to the front wheels quite adequately. With its 0 to 60 mph time of around 8.6 seconds, however, the Niro won't be exciting to even the most reserved of drivers, but it does still manage to feel somewhat peppy around town. Its combined 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque is more than enough to do the school run without a hassle, as we found in our review. Sadly, Kia doesn't offer the Niro with the option of all-wheel drive or with the ability to tow at all. Though notably pricier, both the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V hybrids are equipped with more powerful engines and are offered with permanent all-wheel-drive systems as standard, giving the Niro a run for its money.

The Niro's 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine is just fine for routine excursions around town. While the engine itself produces 104 hp and 109 lb-ft, the AC synchronous motor it's integrated with contributes an additional 43 hp and 125 lb-ft for combined outputs of 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. All outputs are routed via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission to the front wheels of every model.

The Niro is quite peppy with this setup, especially around town, however, the engine's limitations are quickly reached, particularly when accelerating up steep inclines or on longer journeys, and when needing to travel at higher speeds - top speed is only 101.9 mph. While most modern hybrids make use of a CVT, the Niro's DCT is a nice break from the norm. Its responses are more precise and it tangibly delivers power more readily; there is, however, a noticeable sense of hesitation in the shift programming, particularly with hard acceleration from a stop. Engaging the Sport drive mode helps to mitigate this a bit by improving the powertrain's throttle response and shift times.

It takes a little time for the Niro to gather itself up initially, and the slow pick-up can be annoying, but it can be mostly mitigated through use of the Sport mode. Because of the Kia Niro's compact crossover configuration, it rides more like a typical car than an SUV. It's easy to maneuver around tight city streets and it exhibits very little body roll in the corners, thanks to its low center of gravity. The Niro isn't the most comfortable vehicle on the road, but its ride quality is suitable nonetheless. The suspension competently soaks up most larger bumps, while more common road imperfections and undulations are effectively kept from reverberating through to the cabin. The cabin remains appreciably quiet too, even at higher speeds.

As for the steering, responses are accurate and the weighting neither too hefty nor too light. Engaging the Sport mode, however, weights up the feel significantly. There is some vagueness on the center feel of the steering, but it otherwise always tracks straight with no hint of dead spots. While the brakes work fine in everyday driving scenarios, they can occasionally feel rather spongy, especially with heavy braking due to the changeover to regenerative braking.

The Kia Niro performs exceptionally as a hybrid, in a class where gas mileage is the name of the game - only the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius improve on what the Niro delivers. The most efficient Niro manages figures of 53/48/50 mpg city/highway/combined. The LXS, LXS Special Edition, and EX Premium are a little heavier and are subsequently a little less frugal with EPA estimates of 51/46/49 mpg on those same cycles. The Touring Special Edition is equipped with larger 18-inch alloy wheels resulting in even lower gas mileage estimates of 46/40/43 mpg. Every model is equipped with a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion battery and an 11.9-gallon gas tank. With the tank filled up, the Niro LX should be able to cruise on for around 595 miles.

Kia did a great job with the Niro's interior. The build quality is spot on and the combination of both hard and soft-touch materials has been used in a way that has the cabin look and feel masterfully coordinated and well put together. The layout is very simplistic and easy to understand, and the 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen in the Touring Special Edition and EX Premium is certainly a crowd-pleaser, along with the eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Passenger room is decent throughout the cabin, while any adult will easily find a suitable seating position up front. Room in the rear seats can be rather limited, especially with taller adults occupying the front seats, however.

Overall cabin room in the Kia Niro crossover is decent for the segment. While there is seating for up to five passengers, only four will actually be comfortable, as the shoulder room in the rear seats diminishes quickly with two adults in the outboard seats. There's plenty of room in the front seats even for six-foot-tall adults, and the seats feature decent levels of adjustability, making it easy for most passengers to find an optimal seating position. Outward visibility is good out front, though the sloping rearward roofline does hinder the view out the back a little. Fortunately, the standard rearview camera helps make rearward maneuvers easier. Ingress and egress are effortless to and from any of the seats, thanks to the Niro's large door openings.

The interior of the Niro is aesthetically pleasing, despite its prominent use of hard-touch plastics. Soft-touch materials have been used on key touch points and a leather-wrapped steering wheel helps create the impression of decent quality. Cloth seating upholstery is standard in the LX and LXS in Gray or Charcoal, while the LXS Special Edition features a cloth/leather combination in Charcoal or in Light Gray with Electric Blue accents. The Touring Special Edition and EX Premium both feature SynTex leatherette upholstery in the same two color schemes, the choice depending on the exterior color chosen. Most of the available color options are linked to specific exterior paint colors, and this needs to be kept in mind when selecting your overall look.

With the Niro's battery pack stored below the rear seats rather than in the cargo bay, practicality is kept to a relatively decent standard in comparison with the competition. The Niro offers up 19.4 cubic feet of usable space in its cargo bay which is more than enough room for a couple of hiking rucksacks and a cooler box for snacks. Cargo room expands to 54.5 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats released. While the Niro's cargo bay is a little larger than the Hyundai Kona's, which offers 19.2 cubes, the larger Honda CR-V Hybrid's 33.2 cubes trumps both, though.

In-cabin storage solutions include a small-items bin in the forward center stack, two cupholders behind that, and a reasonably large center armrest cubby further back. There's a passenger-side glove box, door side pockets capable of holding bottles in all doors, passenger seatback map pockets on all trims, and two front cupholders. All trims except the LX have a folding center rear armrest with cupholders.

While the base trims of the Niro are more basic, specification levels do increase favorably with the jump to each consecutive trim. In the LX, there's keyless entry, a drive mode select system with shift paddles, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, four-way manually-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster, an integrated rearview camera, cruise control, and hill-start assist. Moving up to the LXS sees the addition of push-button start, remote engine start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, and Kia's Drive Wise suite of advanced driver assist technologies including blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-following and -keeping assist, and driver attention warning.

The LXS SE is the only model with leather/cloth combination upholstery and also adds to the LX's features a power sunroof, a ten-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and rear park-distance warning. Touring SE trim adds leatherette upholstery, a seven-inch display in the instrument cluster, and rear console vents, and navigation-based smart cruise control with stop and go and that slows down for curves - but it loses the rear park-distance warning. Finally, the top-spec EX Premium features a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and regains the rear parking sensors.

Infotainment is covered by an eight-inch touchscreen as standard. The images it displays are crisp and it comes tethered to an AM/FM/MP3-compatible stereo and stock six-speaker sound system, with full smartphone integration including wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free operation, AUX/USB inputs, and voice recognition. In the Touring SE, the system is upgraded with both HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Touring SE and EX Premium both feature a larger 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen although here, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration is wired, not wireless. These trims also boast a wireless phone charger and premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system as standard. A single front USB charger and 12V power outlet are provided on all trims.

It's been a trouble-free couple of years for the Kia Niro in the USA. The last model year to be affected by a recall was the 2018 version; the issue back then was for a possible fire risk from electrical resistance at the main relay. J.D. Power last rated the Niro in 2019 when it received a reasonable quality and reliability rating of 77/100. Even so, Kia still covers the Niro with an impressive ten-year/100,000-mile hybrid system and powertrain warranty and with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Roadside assistance also runs for five years or 60,000 miles.

Recent Kia Niro safety reviews have returned decent but not perfect results. The 2021 Kia Niro achieved maximum Good ratings in every crashworthiness test conducted by the IIHS. The results from the NHTSA were not perfect, though; the 2022 Kia Niro scored a four-star overall safety rating but only three stars for the front passenger side test due to the higher likelihood of a chest injury for this occupant in a crash.

A consignment of seven airbags, including a driver's side knee airbag, is standard across the Niro lineup. At the base level, assisting the driver in the way of safety is an integrated rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, cruise control, and hill-start assist. The LXS is additionally installed with Kia's Drive Wise suite of driver assists which comprises blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, and driver attention warning with lead vehicle departure alert. On top of those, the Touring SE also gets highway driving assist and navigation-based smart cruise control with stop and go and Control-Curve. Only the LXS SE and EX Premium enjoy rear parking sensors.

As a hybrid compact crossover, the Kia Niro is a pretty straightforward package and its advantages lie clearly in what it offers as a hybridized crossover SUV - exceptional gas mileage estimates as a hybrid FWD vehicle, along with the easy drivability and decent level of practicality synonymous with that of its crossover SUV body. It also boasts a brilliant infotainment system, which is one of the more user-friendly, comprehensive, and high-quality units out there. The bigger 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen is one of the largest screens within the compact class, to boot. Unfortunately, there are also many downsides to the Kia Niro. Firstly, it's not available in all-wheel drive, it offers no towing capability, and its straight-line performance and handling dynamics are average at best. Overall, the Kia Niro offers a fair balance, but many of its competitors beat it in key areas and are certainly worth consideration.

The most affordable model from the 2022 Niro lineup is the LX, which, in the US, comes in at a starting MSRP of $24,690, excluding any tax, registration, and licensing fees as well as Kia's $1,175 destination and handling charge. For several extra driver-assist technologies, the LXS follows closely at a price of $26,090. The LXS SE adds a few desirable creature comforts and is priced at $27,590. Next up is the Touring Special Edition, which features an exclusive aesthetic for a base price of $29,890. For everything the Niro lineup has to offer, the top-of-the-line EX Premium is offered at a sticker price of $31,990.

There are five trims in the 2022 Kia Niro SUV lineup: LX, LXS, LXS Special Edition, Touring Special Edition, and EX Premium. All models share an identical mechanical package consisting of a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine with a hybrid system with an electric motor and 1.56-kWh battery. This system drives the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in all models.

The entry-level car is the LX and it runs on 16-inch Aero wheels with wheel covers. Standard on the exterior are automatic bi-function projector headlights, LED DRLs, black beltline trim, a rear spoiler with a high-mounted center brake light, and wheel-arch cladding. Standard features include cloth upholstery, four-way manually adjustable front seats, keyless entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a manually tilting and telescoping multi-function steering wheel, a 4.2-inch driver-information display, and a drive-mode system with shift paddles. The infotainment system has an eight-inch touchscreen and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB audio support, Bluetooth streaming, and a six-speaker audio system. Safety features include seven airbags, stability control, rear occupant alert, and hill-start assist.

The LXS has all of these but can be distinguished on the outside by its 16-inch alloy wheels. On the inside, it gains push-button start, remote engine start, a folding rear center armrest with cupholders, a luggage board with under-floor storage, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shifter. It benefits from a whole suite of driver-assistance features, including auto high beams, forward-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, driver-attention warning, and leading-vehicle departure warning.

The LXS Special Edition is based on the LXS and adds a few luxury features, notably a power sunroof, cloth-and-leather seat upholstery, and a ten-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support. It also gets rear parking sensors.

The Touring Special Edition looks noticeably different by dint of its 18-inch alloy wheels. It also gets heated and power-folding exterior mirror with integrated LED turn signals, front fog lights, and LED tail lights. Inside, additional features include SynTex leatherette upholstery, a seven-inch driver-information display, rear console air vents, adjustable mood lighting, a wireless phone charger, and LED reading lights. The infotainment system is upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, SiriusXM, and HD Radio, as well as an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. On the safety front, it gains forward-collision avoidance, highway driving assist, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control with stop and go and that can slow down for curves, but it loses the rear parking sensors.

The flagship EX Premium reverts to 16-inch alloy wheels but gains heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a cargo cover. It also regains the LXS SE's rear parking sensors.

There are no optional packages available for any of the 2022 Kia Niro models, although a few minor accessories can be specified. These range from $115 mud guards, a $325 interior lighting kit, or a $350 dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink and compass on the LX and LXS only. Cargo netting, a bumper applique, and aluminum scuff plates will cost you $100 or less.

The new Kia Niro LXS is the model to go for in the range. It's only a little more expensive than the base-spec Niro LX model, but comes standard with push-button start, which improves convenience, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, improving the cabin's atmosphere. There's also a good selection of advanced driver assist technologies, including blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and driver attention warning. The LXS's 16-inch alloy wheels also help it to be one of the more fuel-efficient models in the lineup.

Though the Hyundai Kona is not a hybridized vehicle (although there is an EV variant in the range), it is quite a bit more affordable than the Kia Niro. What has the Kona stand out, however, is its more powerful base engine, which has it drive more enjoyably than the Niro already, considering the even more powerful turbocharged option which accelerates the Kona from 0 - 60 mph in a fraction over six seconds, according to an independent test drive. The Kona handles better too and is available with AWD. Neither of the Kona's engines are as fuel efficient as the Niro's hybrid engine is, obviously, but it's still near the 30 mpg mark in combined driving scenarios. The Kona also arguably looks way better, boasting a bit more of a rugged aesthetic that better suits the crossover SUV ethos. The Niro earns points for having its better infotainment system and a better selection of features at standard, but the Kona, considering how much it costs, delivers more value overall.

The Kia Sportage is offered at around the same price as the Kia Niro. It's no hybrid vehicle, however, and the Sportage is also a larger vehicle overall. The Sportage is more spacious with better on-road feel. It comes equipped with a more powerful base engine and has a turbocharged engine available too. With this engine, the Sportage is easily the faster vehicle. Of course, the Niro is far more economical on fuel than what the Sportage is, with the latter's EPA estimates being 23/30/26 mpg, but that's about all it has over the Sportage. Unlike the Niro, the Sportage is available in AWD guise and also offers a 2,000-pound maximum towing capacity while the Niro isn't rated for towing at all. The Sportage's cabin is far more premium and is, along with the exterior, a little more contemporary as the Sportage is the newer vehicle. Ultimately, if fuel-efficient and eco-friendly living is your priority, then the Niro is your pick, but the Sportage otherwise offers more value on almost every other front.