2020 Kia Niro

CarsDirect (opens in a new tab) says the 2020 Niro enters the model year with a slight refresh: new headlights and taillights, a redesigned grille, restyled front and rear ends and new wheels, with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard and a 10.25-inch unit newly available. Green Car Reports (opens in a new tab) notes that top models can have a 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation and Harman Kardon audio, and that Kia's dedicated hybrid was introduced for 2017. Dutchess Kia (opens in a new tab) adds more advanced driver assistance systems.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts the cheapest 2020 Niro, the Touring wagon, at a Fair Purchase Price of $14,150 and rates fuel economy at 46/40 to 52/49 mpg city and highway. EPA rates the 2020 Niro family at 43 to 112 mpg or MPGe combined and $700 to $1,450 a year in fuel, with front-wheel drive, the top figure belonging to the electric Niro and its range of up to 239 miles.

NHTSA lists one recall campaign for the 2020 Niro, 23V534000, covering 2017 to 2022 Niro and 2018 to 2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire, and dealers inspect and replace the actuator as necessary and install a new fuse.

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA: unknown or other with 16, electrical system and power train with 13 each, engine with 9 and service brakes with 6. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) keeps a common-problems page for the year.

EPA rates the 2020 Niro at 43 to 112 mpg or MPGe combined and $700 to $1,450 a year in fuel. The Toyota Prius lists 46 to 56 at $1,100 to $1,350, and the Hyundai Kona 27 to 120 at $600 to $2,300, a range that includes its electric version. The Niro's gasoline-electric versions sit just under the Prius, and the Kona's electric version has the lowest fuel cost of the three.