2018 Kia Niro Touring Review

Following Toyota’s lead with the RAV4 Hybrid, Kia finally got in on the hybrid compact crossover game with its Niro. But does this tiny hybrid deliver on all the promises Kia made? Keep reading to find out.

First, let’s talk about the design… yaaawwwwwn. Yeah, it’s another vanilla subcompact crossover that looks more like a lifted hatchback that’s aspiring to be a crossover. But, as a whole, it works. It’s big enough to fit normal-sized humans yet small enough to park in tight spaces. What’s more, it lacks the ridiculous proportions that others in its class have — looking at you, Jeep Renegade.

2018 Niro (Credit: © Kia)

Inside, the Niro is surprisingly roomy, with 41.7 inches of front legroom and 37.4 inches of rear legroom. What’s more, it can haul up to 19.4 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats up and 54.5 cubes with the seats down. Are you gonna haul a couch in it? No, but the kids’ sports gear and a week’s worth of groceries? No problem. In my fully loaded Touring model, the Kia Niro was also quite comfy, thanks to its leather upholstery, 10-way power driver’s seat, and ventilated front seats.

If there’s one complaint I can file on the interior, it’s the navigation system. The map seemed to be more than a year old, as my development, which was built about a year ago, was missing and it struggled to find any businesses built within the past three years. Typically, this would be minor, but I am sure Kia is more than happy to ring a few hundred bucks from you for an updated map on this brand-new model. We need to get Android Auto kicking in this thing, but that’s likely not happening until Kia’s contract with Microsoft runs out.

Kia claimed the Niro would be fun to drive, and that is debatable. In terms of speed, the Niro is a drag as its whiny 139-horsepower hybrid powertrain and uncooperative six-speed dual-clutch transmission don’t match up well. That said, it’s 8.6-second 0-to-60 time is not disgustingly awful. However, its handling was surprisingly precise for a small crossover. Is it a sports car? No, but it feels confident in the twisty stuff.

Where the Niro really delivers the goods is fuel economy, as it gets up to 52 mpg city, 49 mpg highway, and 50 mpg combined. The Touring trim’s fuel economy, however, takes a big hit and checks in at just 46 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 43 mpg combined. I hit that combined rating just about on the nose.

2018 Niro (Credit: © Kia)

As a whole, the 2018 Niro strikes a nice balance for a subcompact crossover. Sure, it wasn’t a world-beating crossover, but with prices that range from $23,240 to $31,900 and stunning fuel economy (in all but the Touring trim), it is a solid buy in my opinion, especially for smaller families.

Pros:

Great fuel economy in lower trims
Good handling
Roomy back seat
Premium feel without a massive price
Styling is not overdone

Cons:

Ride can be a little rough
Huge fuel economy dropoff in Touring trim
Transmission feels jerky and unresponsive
Navigation is outdated already

MSRP: $23,240 – $31,900