The Japanese might have been within the mass-market hybrid sport since 1997, however following intently behind with their first mass-market hybrid is the South Koreans. Particularly, Hyundai launched the Elantra LPI in 2009, though on the time, it was an LPG-powered delicate hybrid. Now, in 2025, Hyundai Motor Group, which consists of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, has a broad vary of hybrids to go well with right this moment’s rising demand for fuel-efficient autos.
- Base Trim Engine
-
1.6L I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
-
6-speed auto-shift handbook
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Entrance-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
139 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
195 lb-ft
- Base Trim Gas Economic system (metropolis/freeway/mixed)
-
53/54/53 mpg
- Base Trim Battery Kind
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Kia
- Mannequin
-
Niro
In a single article, we decided that probably the most environment friendly hybrid you should buy is the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, however what if you happen to favor the design language and model philosophy of Kia? What’s probably the most environment friendly Kia hybrid you should buy with out a plug? Properly, the excellent news is that if you happen to’re available in the market for a crossover SUV, then you definately’re in luck.
To provide the newest and correct info attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from varied producers and different authoritative sources.
Kia’s Niro Is A Actual-World Hero
In case you’re searching for probably the most environment friendly Kia with out a plug, think about the Niro Hybrid. This subcompact hybrid crossover SUV packs quite a lot of fashion and presence, all for only a tiny value premium over the Elantra Hybrid sedan.
53 MPG Mixed
With the 2025 Kia Niro Hybrid, you’re getting a barely extra sensible crossover SUV that solely takes a one MPG penalty versus probably the most environment friendly Korean hybrid, the Elantra Hybrid. It has an EPA-rated gasoline economic system of 53 MPG within the metropolis, 54 MPG on the freeway, and 53 MPG mixed. This bodes effectively with one other competing subcompact hybrid hatch from Japan, which is the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, and the lately launched Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.
2025 Hybrid Crossover Efficiency Comparability
|
Kia Niro Hybrid |
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid |
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid |
|
|
Engine |
1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid |
2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid |
2.5-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder hybrid |
|
Drivetrain |
Entrance engine, FWD |
Entrance engine, AWD |
Entrance engine, AWD |
|
Horsepower |
139 hp |
196 hp |
194 hp |
|
Torque |
195 lb-ft |
N/A |
199 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
6-speed DCT |
e-CVT |
e-CVT |
|
EPA Mixed MPG |
53 MPG (LX, EX, SX) 49 MPG (EX Touring, SX Touring) |
42 MPG |
35 MPG |
|
Max Towing |
N/A |
1,500 lbs |
1,000 lbs |
|
Base MSRP |
$26,990 |
$28,995 |
$33,995 |
Each of its Japanese crossover counterparts price much more, however each have extra highly effective hybrid programs to justify their value tags. Nonetheless, they’re thirstier, too. The Corolla Cross Hybrid and its 2.0-liter fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS V) with digital all-wheel drive (AWD) is sweet for a mixed 42 MPG, whereas the AWD 2.5-liter boxer engine within the Subaru Crosstrek’s S:HEV e-Boxer Robust Hybrid system is the least environment friendly with a mixed 35 MPG.
The Most Inexpensive Kia Hybrid
And certainly, affordability is what Kia is pitching right here with the Niro Hybrid. Positive, it might not be the quickest or probably the most succesful as a result of its 1.6-liter four-cylinder parallel hybrid system. It additionally lacks AWD, however with a beginning value of $26,990, it most likely would not matter to most consumers whose sole buying motivation for the Niro Hybrid is affordability.
The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid additionally has a barely smaller and fewer sensible inside as a result of it being a compact sedan. Sure, the Elantra Hybrid is dimensionally longer, however in relation to inside packaging, the Niro Hybrid provides 105.1 cubic toes of passenger quantity versus the 99.4 cubic toes of the Elantra Hybrid. That is additionally the case in relation to cargo, whereby the Niro Hybrid’s two-box crossover physique fashion supplies 22.8 cubic toes of cargo capability versus the Elantra Hybrid’s 14.2 cubic toes. Each of those figures are with their rear seats up.
What You Get For The Worth
As Kia’s most effective and most reasonably priced automobile with out a plug, what precisely do you get for its $26,990 beginning value? One factor that we like concerning the Kia Niro is that, essentially, this automobile has a hanging design. With its smooth entrance finish with commonplace LED daytime operating lights, a definite facet profile due to its practical aero blade on the C-pillar, in addition to the daring rear finish with its slim vertical LED taillights, you would not even really feel unhealthy settling for the bottom LX.
Even the bottom LX’s 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels look spiffy, while additionally letting you benefit from the Niro Hybrid at its most effective. That is as a result of the EX Touring and SX Touring’s 18-inch wheels drop the mixed EPA-rated MPG from 53 to 49 MPG. Go for the upper trims, although, significantly the range-topping SX Touring, and you will get a really fashionable hybrid crossover that options two-tone paint, full LED exterior lighting, a powered tailgate, and different premium exterior options.
Trendy Inside Design, However…
As for the inside, all variants of the Niro Hybrid characteristic a classy structure with loads of curves and attention-grabbing shapes. Nonetheless, as with most automobiles at this value level, the premium really feel varies vastly from trim to trim. Within the case of the bottom LX, the fashionable inside is wrapped in a sea of grey plastic, which is each a blessing and a curse. For one, much less shiny black panels means fewer scratchy inside surfaces, however once you use matte grey plastic for bezels surrounding the eight-inch infotainment and segment-type digital gauges, it turns into kind of an eyesore.
Stepping as much as the EX at the very least offers your instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment a extra seamless look, thanks to those two screens now being housed in a single glass piece. It is usually on this variant that the inside begins to really feel considerably extra premium, due to extra soft-touch supplies mixed with the artificial leather-based upholstery. Different premium options embrace:
- Energy adjustment for the driving force’s seat
- A Harman Kardon sound system
- A sunroof
- Wi-fi charging
The Niro Hybrid Driving Expertise
In case you’ve reached this far into the article, then it most likely means you are lifeless severe in lastly contemplating the Niro Hybrid. Fortunately, we have now managed to get our arms on a Niro Plug-In Hybrid, which shares related fundamentals because the Niro Hybrid, apart from the extra highly effective electrical motor and its means to be plugged in.
Linear Hybrid System Affords A Extra Pure Driving Really feel
Not like the Japanese manufacturers, which insist on a series-parallel hybrid system and an e-CVT (solely by identify, as they aren’t belt-and-pulley CVTs), Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) prefers to go the parallel hybrid route. On this case, the 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), which provides precise gear adjustments. In consequence, the Niro Hybrid provides a linear and extra pure driving really feel versus the Japanese manufacturers.
With a 1.6-liter hybrid system, although, acceleration is modest reasonably than breathtaking. Even within the Niro Plug-In Hybrid that was examined, its 180-horsepower output is just for a 9.5-second 0-60 mph acceleration time, so you’ll be able to solely think about how rather more leisurely the Niro Hybrid and its modest 139-horsepower output will dash to 60 mph. Then once more, your most important motivator for the Niro Hybrid is best-in-class gasoline effectivity, however the value to pay is that you’re going to expertise much less energy.
A Consolation-Oriented Drive Sweetens The Expertise
Matching its linear but clean hybrid drivetrain is its comfort-oriented demeanor. It is not a strong automotive, so why not maximize its effectivity by driving it sensibly, proper? With that, you may get pleasure from its snug experience and glorious, controllable regenerative braking properties. You may management it by means of the paddle shifters, during which switching the automobile to Sport mode allows you to management the six-speed DCT by means of those self same paddle shifters.
This one will get just a little noisy, significantly on the freeway with the engine operating. However by and huge, the Niro drives with urban-environment competency, together with glorious, controllable regenerative braking properties.
If there’s one slight con concerning the Niro Hybrid’s driving dynamics, that will be its noise ranges, significantly on the freeway when the engine is operating. All informed, nevertheless, the Niro Hybrid is a nice electrified commuter automotive that is each environment friendly and reasonably priced. It is not meant to be probably the most thrilling automobile, however for its relative affordability, it is all of the automotive you may most likely ever want.
Sources: EPA, J.D. Energy