The Hybrid Best Bought Used Instead Of New

When browsing the car market, you’ll likely run into several occasions where a used model might seem more appealing than a used one. There are countless reasons why buying a used car over a new one may be more optimal, but it always comes down to your expectations, needs, and desires. When you buy used, some bonuses revolve around lower costs, such as price tags that are typically discounted thanks to depreciation or lower insurance rates. These are just two minor reasons, and the list can go on. The question always gets asked if buying the most up-to-date model for a specific car or buying a used one is better.

Each car platform differs in this question, with electric vehicles (EVs) having different outlooks on used vehicles versus your traditional non-electric platform (ICE). An area within the car world that thrives with used cars is hybrids (HEVs). Not only can you gain some benefits with used vehicles, but the floodgates open when you explore hybrids. Whether affordability, reliability, or efficiency, new and used hybrids offer all this and more. So, are there any examples that fit the bill for a hybrid you should buy used over new ones? Of course, there isn’t just one, but one stands at the forefront.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Kia and other authoritative sources, including the EPA and Kelly Blue Book.

The 2021 Kia Niro Is Better To Buy Used

The 2021 Kia Niro is a great hybrid SUV to pick up in 2025, and this isn’t to discredit the most up-to-date version. Both variations are solid hybrids, but the older model seems to pull in some extra bonuses over the newer one. Kia is one of the few car manufacturers who have made great strides in the electric automotive industry with their innovative hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. For the Niro, Kia debuted this SUV in 2017, and over the years, it’s rivaled other mainstream SUVs such as the RAV4 Hybrid, the Honda CR-V Hybrid, and a few Hyundai hybrids.

The Fuel Economy That’s Still Competitive Five Years Later

A bonus that you tend to get with hybrids is its incredible fuel economy. At one point in the car world, it used to show that many cars were left behind in the dust just after three to five years. In today’s age, this can be true, but when it comes to used hybrids, they still put up a fight years later. This is the case for the 2021 Kia Niro with its competitive fuel economy. Kia offers multiple trims on the Niro, and for just the Touring, it offers 46 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 43 MPG.

For the rest of the models, the Niro gets even more efficient, offering 51 MPG in the city, 46 MPG on the highway, and 49 MPG combined. In terms of its range, this hybrid SUV delivers 512 to 595 miles. Kia keeps the fuel costs low on this used hybrid, projected to cost $950 to $1,100 every year on fuel. Surprisingly, or maybe not surprising at all, the 2021 Niro still looks beyond relevant five years later.

2021 Kia Niro Fuel Economy

Kia’s Hybrid Powertrain That Delivers 195 Pound-Feet Of Torque

Since 2019, Kia has offered three powertrain setups on the Niro: electric, plug-in, and hybrid. While they could’ve hit all four, missing out on a non-electric powertrain, the hybrid may be a safe bet for some since it’s the closest you’ll get compared to an ICE vehicle. The 2021 Kia Niro is powered by a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder hybrid engine, producing 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.

One of the unique mechanical components is its transmission, which you don’t see too much on hybrids nowadays, which is an automatic 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. A dual-clutch transmission can be seen on many sports cars, and it is a solid transmission but tends to cost manufacturers a bit more than your average hybrid transmission. The 2021 Kia Niro isn’t dedicated to performance, so when it came to its 0-60 mile-per-hour sprint, it was a bit lackluster, accomplishing it in 11.5 seconds.

2021 Kia Niro Performance Specifications

2021 Kia Niro vs. 2025 Kia Niro

The 2021 Kia Niro is a part of the first generation, and it wasn’t too long before it entered the second generation. This is the area that most people contemplate, knowing that they likely could save up a couple more thousand and buy a used model that’s part of the most up-to-date setup. Like anything in life, if you compare something to its newest form, you will likely want the latest over the used. This may be the case with the 2021 Niro versus the 2025 Niro, but the 2021 model isn’t anything to doubt or laugh at.

The 2025 Niro keeps most of its specs the same, utilizing a similar 1.6 four-cylinder hybrid engine, delivering the same power as the 2021 model. Over the years, it’s still in the same ballpark regarding efficiency, offering the same combined fuel economy, with the main differences being the city and highway fuel economy. For its overall setup and powertrain, you won’t get any advantages from either or, further making a case for buying the 2021 over the 2025.

Kia Debuted Significant Changes On The Niro In 2023

The major change that you’ll initially see between the two is its appearance. Anything that you have to judge with your eyes comes down to personal preference or opinions. Still, it’s a safe bet that the 2025 Niro is more stylish and aesthetically pleasing in terms of its exterior design. The 2023 model marked the new generation for the current model, showcasing a boxier design with sharper edges and sleeker curves. The LED lights set the stage, with the 2025 model repping distinct changes compared to the “buglike” headlights seen on the 2021 model. The years on the Niro from 2023 and up house some new electronics and interior designs, but these are all features you could live without because the 2025 Niro isn’t the only year that boasts convenient standard features and an interior that encapsulates comfort.

The 2021 Kia Niro Comes Heavily Discounted

Arguably, the best bonus for the 2021 Kia Niro is its current-used price range. Kia offered this hybrid SUV in five trims, with the base at $24,690 and the highest trim at $32,950. Even today, the Niro Hybrid is one of the most affordable hybrid SUVs you can get into. The 2021 Niro sits even lower, with an average used price of around $17,102 to $21,530. The Niro was already affordable as is, but if you’re trying to find a hybrid SUV that can knock even more of its price tag off that’s still a part of the 2020s, the 2021 Niro is an ideal candidate.

What Each Trim Has To Offer

The 2021 Niro LX was the starting trim, which houses and showcases Kia’s free standard features. The next trim up is the LXS, which builds off of the base and comes with some technology upgrades such as auto emergency braking technology, lane keeping and departure technology, and blind spot detection. If you want some changes to the exterior, the Touring gets upgraded with 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered sunroof, and tech upgrades such as smart cruise control with stop-and-go. The Touring Special Edition builds off all three trims, offering LED projector beam headlights, satin black roof rails, and an upgraded 10.25-inch navigation display. Lastly, the EX Premium is equipped with all the bells-and-whistles, repping synthetic leather seating with heating and ventilation, and 16-inch alloy wheels with partial cover.

2021 Kia Niro Trims And Prices

The Used Hybrid That Keeps Costs Low And Provides Impressive Efficiency

Similar to buying a new phone, it doesn’t take long for an updated or new look for a newer gen to come along, and it can get tiring to keep chasing and purchasing the newer model every year. With cars, it’s a bit slower, typically waiting around five years for the new look to come out, but car brands have been engineering and styling cars so well that models like the 2021 Kia Niro still look like worthy cars to buy five years later. The main advantage of a new model over a used one is its design, but if you can live without that, the 2021 Niro still offers exceptional fuel economy at an affordable price tag.