Model research hub
Kia Niro
The Kia Niro is a subcompact crossover made since 2016 as Kia's first dedicated hybrid, offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV, now in its second generation from 2021. CarsCounsel says buyers should approach the 2017 and 2023 models carefully due to first-year production quirks and significant safety recalls, and REREV says Consumer Reports rates the 2024 as more reliable than other cars from the same model year. Federal data shows the 2017 with the most recalls (4). The 2026 Niro starts at $28,885.
What the Kia Niro is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Niro as a subcompact crossover SUV made by Kia since 2016, an electrification-focused vehicle offered as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid (until 2026) and an EV, with a first generation (DE) from 2016 and a second generation (SG2) from 2021 with a 2026 facelift. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says Kia's first dedicated hybrid, the Niro, launched for the 2017 model year and competed with the Nissan Kicks, Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3, none of which were hybrids at the time. The 2026 Niro is rated 48 to 113 mpg-equivalent by the EPA depending on powertrain, about $700 to $1,300 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $28,885 for the LX, $31,685 for the EX and $34,885 for the SX.
Best and worst Niro model years
Federal data shows the 2017 Niro with 4 recalls, the most of any year, covering hybrid propulsion and the powertrain, and the 2018 with 3. The 2019 to 2022 have 1 recall each, the 2023 has 2, for the electrical system and seats, with 42 complaints, the most of any year, and the 2024 and 2025 have 1 each.
CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says buyers should approach the 2017 and 2023 models carefully due to first-year production quirks and significant safety recalls. REREV (opens in a new tab) says for second-generation buyers, Consumer Reports rates the 2024 Niro as more reliable than other cars from the same model year, drawing on CarComplaints PainRank, NHTSA complaint volume and recall counts, RepairPal ratings, Consumer Reports subscriber data and owner forum reports.
Used prices and choosing a year
CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says a one-year-old 2025 Niro averages around $26,300, while a three-year-old 2023 averages roughly $23,600, and that used Niro prices rose about 9.7% over the past year, far outpacing the roughly 2.3% gain across the broader used-car market, pointing to strong value retention. The 2024, praised by Consumer Reports, is the pick among second-generation years, and a 2017 or 2023 needs its recall history checked most closely.
Questions buyers ask
Which Kia Niro years need extra care?
CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says the 2017 and 2023 models, for first-year production quirks and significant safety recalls.
Which Kia Niro year is considered more reliable?
REREV (opens in a new tab) says Consumer Reports rates the 2024 Niro as more reliable than other cars from the same model year.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Kia Niro is built around 1.6L hybrid four-cylinder, rated at 139 horsepower across its compact hybrid crossover body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 5 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Niro seats 5 and is a Compact hybrid crossover.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Niro.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Kia Niro
Every Niro trim shares the 139-horsepower hybrid powertrain and six-speed dual-clutch automatic; trims separate by wheel size, upholstery and comfort equipment. For 2027 Kia dropped the Plug-in Hybrid Niro entirely, making the Niro hybrid-only in the U.S., and added a new S trim between LX and EX.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
7 indexed Kia Niro model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Kia Niro | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Kia Niro | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Kia Niro | 2025 record → | |
| 2024 Kia Niro | 2024 record → | |
| 2021 Kia Niro | 2021 record → | |
| 2020 Kia Niro | 2020 record → | |
| 2019 Kia Niro | 2019 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Kia Niro.
The Kia Niro is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) manufactured by Kia since 2016. It is an electrification-focused vehicle, offering three versions: hybrid, plug-in hybrid (until 2026) and battery electric (until 2026) variants.
- Reception
- Popular Mechanics named the 2019 Kia Niro EV as its 2019 Car of the Year, praising it for its normal looks, 239-mile range, and that it can use Volkswagen Group of America's Electrify America chargers to allow the car to be used on long car trips.
Source: Kia Niro (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Kia Niro at a glance
- Production
- 2016–present
- Model years
- 2017–present
- Class
- Subcompact crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-motor, front-wheel-drive (EV)
Kia Niro generations
The Kia Niro has been redesigned in 2021, gaps of 5 years, an average of 5.0 years between generations. The current generation (second generation, SG2) began in 2021.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | DE | 2016–2021 | |
| Second generation | SG2 | 2021–present | The second-generation Niro was released at the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show on 25 November. |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Kia Niro overall 4 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- January 2025, Seats. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or… Consequence: Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 17 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Kia Niro, most often about unknown or other (8), suspension (3), electrical system (3).
Year by year
The Kia Niro across 11 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Kia Niro | 50 | $1,300 | 1 | |||
| 2026 Kia Niro | 48–113 | $700–$1,300 | 4 | 4 stars | ||
| 2025 Kia Niro | 48–113 | $700–$1,300 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 4 stars |
| 2024 Kia Niro | 49–113 | $650–$1,250 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Kia Niro | 48–113 | $650–$1,300 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Kia Niro | 43–112 | $700–$1,450 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Kia Niro | 43–112 | $700–$1,450 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 4 stars |
| 2020 Kia Niro | 43–112 | $700–$1,450 | 5 | 1 | 4 stars | |
| 2019 Kia Niro | 43–112 | $700–$1,450 | 5 | 1 | 4 stars | |
| 2018 Kia Niro | 43–50 | $1,250–$1,450 | 4 | 3 | ||
| 2017 Kia Niro | 43–50 | $1,250–$1,450 | 3 | 4 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Kia Niro, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 4 to 1 | 80.5 to 50.0 | Labels: Niro Electric, Niro FE, Niro Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV, Electric motor / not listed; Transmissions: Automatic (A1); Fuels: Electricity, Regular Gas and Electricity | ||
| 2024 to 2025 | 3 to 4 | 81.0 to 80.5 | 253 to 143 | Labels: Niro Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 4 to 3 | 80.5 to 81.0 | 144 to 253 | Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Labels: Niro Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity; Size classes: Small Station Wagons |
| 2022 to 2023 | 5 to 4 | 77.5 to 80.5 | 133 to 144 | Labels: Niro Touring | |
| 2020 to 2021 | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6) | Transmissions: Automatic (AM6) | |||
| 2018 to 2019 | 4 to 5 | 46.5 to 77.5 | 26 to 133 | Labels: Niro Electric; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid, Electric motor / not listed; Transmissions: Automatic (A1); Fuels: Electricity | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI |
| 2017 to 2018 | 3 to 4 | first listed: 26 | Labels: Niro Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity |
Buying used
What the Kia Niro recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | seats | None |
| 2024 | 1 | seats | None |
| 2023 | 2 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); seats | None |
| 2022 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2021 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2020 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2019 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2018 | 3 | hybrid propulsion system; power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2017 | 4 | hybrid propulsion system; power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown or other | 33 | 30% | 2023 (15) |
| electrical system | 29 | 26% | 2023 (14) |
| power train | 15 | 14% | 2023 (6) |
| engine | 15 | 14% | 2022 (6) |
| forward collision avoidance | 12 | 11% | 2023 (7) |
| service brakes | 11 | 10% | 2022 (7) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Kia Niro trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX | FWD | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 195 | 3,247 | – | 49 | $28,885 |
| EX | FWD | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 195 | 3,247 | – | 49 | $31,685 |
| SX | FWD | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 195 | 3,247 | – | 49 | $34,885 |
| SX Touring | FWD | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 195 | 3,247 | – | 49 | $37,285 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Kia Niro model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 3,247 | – | 11.1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 3,247 | – | 11.1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 3,247 | – | 11.1 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 3,247 | – | 11.1 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 3,117–3,150 | – | 11.9 |
| 2021 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 139 | 3,100–3,227 | – | 11.9 |
| 2020 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 104 | – | – | 11.9 |
| 2019 | 5 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 104 | 3,106–3,287 | – | 11.9 |
| 2018 | 4 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 104 | – | – | 11.9 |
| 2017 | 4 | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 104 | 3,106–3,274 | – | 11.9 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Kia Niro.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0W-16 (4 qt) Smart stream G1.6 GDi HEV | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2026 | 0W-16 | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2025 | 0W-16 | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2024 | 0W-16 | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2023 | 0W-16 | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2022 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2019 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Kia Niro: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2017 Kia Niro : 4 recalls on file, most commonly affecting hybrid propulsion and powertrain.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 1 | 16 | seats |
| 2024 | 1 | 9 | seats |
| 2023 | 2 | 42 | electrical system, seats |
| 2022 | 1 | 30 | powertrain |
| 2021 | 1 | 9 | powertrain |
| 2020 | 1 | not available | powertrain |
| 2019 | 1 | not available | powertrain |
| 2018 | 3 | not available | hybrid propulsion, powertrain |
| 2017 | 4 | not available | hybrid propulsion, powertrain |
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Kia Niro model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Kia Niro?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2017 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Kia Niro model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2017 Kia Niro has 4 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting hybrid propulsion, powertrain. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Kia Niro by model year?
2025: seats. 2024: seats. 2023: electrical system, seats. 2022: powertrain. 2021: powertrain. 2020: powertrain.
Q04Why do some Kia Niro model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Kia Niro model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Hybrid and electric vehicles, Transmission and drivetrain, Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls.
2017 Kia Niro owners specifically: see Hybrid and electric vehicles and Transmission and drivetrain.
Compared with
Models this Kia Niro is most often compared with.
Nearest Kia models
Other Kia models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Niro come in?
The 2027 Kia Niro (compact hybrid crossover) comes in 5 trims: LX, S, EX, SX, SX Touring.
Q02What are the 2027 Niro trims?
The 2027 Kia Niro trims are LX, S, EX, SX, SX Touring, listed from the entry LX up to the top SX Touring.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Niro use?
The 2027 Kia Niro is built around 1.6L hybrid four-cylinder, rated at 139 horsepower across its compact hybrid crossover body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Niro have?
The 2027 Kia Niro is rated at 139 horsepower (1.6L hybrid four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Niro?
The 2027 Kia Niro is offered with FWD.