2024 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid

The world of electrified SUVs is growing, but a lot of that growth is coming from pricey luxury models. The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in SUV that won’t break the bank. It goes up to 33 miles on electric power alone, and even when the gas engine kicks in, it’s still super efficient. This SUV also boasts a spacious and sustainable interior with the latest technology. It’s all topped off by a class-leading warranty, giving peace of mind to drivers who might still be skeptical about hybrid reliability.

The closest rival of the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid isn’t an SUV. Rather, it’s the plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius Prime with similar pricing and efficiency ratings. Most non-luxury plug-in hybrid SUVs are a little bigger and pricier, like the Toyota Prius Prime and the plug-in variants of the Ford Escape and Kia Sportage.

The Kia Niro is also available as a conventional hybrid or an EV, which we review separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of plug-in hybrid SUVs, including the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid.

The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid was just fully redesigned for 2023, and it carries over into 2024 with almost no changes. The only change is the discontinuation of the Fire Orange Metallic paint option.

The Niro PHEV is priced a little higher than the Toyota Prius Prime and lower than the plug-in versions of the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.

Before buying a Niro Plug-in Hybrid, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay.

The Niro Plug-in Hybrid resale value is about average for the segment.

The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid is powered by a 180-horsepower gas-electric powertrain matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This SUV has quick acceleration thanks to instant electric torque from the plug-in hybrid powertrain. We were pleasantly surprised by how fun it was to drive on city streets, and it has enough muscle to be well-mannered on the highway.

The 6-speed transmission sending power to the front wheels gives it some nice feedback. Many hybrids use a less engaging continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and we appreciate Kia’s decision to give the Niro a more traditional transmission, which grants it a nice driving feel.

Comfort and handling are about what we expected from an SUV in this price range. The comfort level is not bad, but not exceptional, and overall, it drives like a regular subcompact SUV. The small footprint makes the Niro easy to park and maneuver on city streets.

The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid powertrain is a perfect fit for this SUV. Our testing revealed that it prioritizes efficiency over performance but still offers some driving engagement, especially when there’s juice in the hybrid battery.

Hybrid shoppers will appreciate Kia’s broad use of recycled materials and toxin-free paints dressing up the cabin. The bigger story, though, is that the interior styling and tech are genuinely striking. There are lots of standard and available features that gussy up the furnishings. For example, an 8-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system is standard on the SX Touring.

Using the subcompact SUV class as a basis for comparison, Kia claims the Niro has the greatest passenger and cargo space in the segment. We think it has more than enough space for five adults. In our drive of the newest Niro Plug-in Hybrid, we were impressed with its headroom and legroom in both rows of seats. It boasts 39.8 inches of rear legroom and 19.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the back seats. That’s roomy but has a little less cargo space than the Niro with the conventional hybrid powertrain.

The recently redesigned Niro makes a bigger visual splash than the first-gen model. Looks are subjective, but we think it’s one of the better-looking plug-in hybrid SUVs on the market. We especially like the black “Aeroblade” rear quarter panels with the Mineral Blue paint available on the SX Prestige model.

DriveWise safety technologies
Available on every Niro Plug-in Hybrid is a bundle of safety and driver-aid technologies that help keep your family safe. Among the included features are blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-keep assist, and more.

Highway Driving Assist
Optional on both Niro Plug-in Hybrid grades, Highway Driving Assist is a driver-assistance technology that can accelerate, brake, and steer the Niro EV under certain conditions with driver supervision.

Dual-screen display
This curved unit houses a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. A serious upgrade, it could easily appear in the cockpit of a German sedan costing thousands more.

Harman Kardon audio system
This is an 8-speaker audio system with Clari-Fi sound-enhancement technology and a subwoofer. It’s standard in the SX Touring.

Digital Key 2.0
Another feature that has trickled down from the luxury realm is that it puts the lock/unlock and start functions into the smartphones and smartwatches of multiple users. Switching to a new driver can be done by text message. It’s standard on every Niro Plug-in Hybrid.

Proximity Keyless Entry
Included on every Niro Plug-in Hybrid, this feature allows you to unlock your Niro simply by touching the door handle as long as the key fob is on your person. The system also includes a push-button start.

The Niro Plug-in Hybrid is an efficient SUV with low fuel costs. The all-electric range is 33 miles, and it gets 48 mpg combined when the hybrid battery runs out. According to EPA estimates, it has a monthly fuel cost of about $70, but that will vary depending on the price of gas and energy where you live.

The plug-in hybrid variants of the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 have longer electric range ratings but higher fuel cost estimates compared to the Niro Plug-in Hybrid.

More fuel economy information can be found at the EPA website.

Exceptional Warranty Coverage

The Kia Niro is covered by the automaker’s generous and reassuring 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage. Included in the 5-year/60,000-mile warranty is 24/7 roadside assistance. This combination of warranty protection is among the best in the industry.

Modern Safety Tech

The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid comes with an impressive list of standard safety tech features like enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, and rear parking sensors. While this PHEV-specific Niro hasn’t been rated by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the standard model earns a top 5-Star score. This generation of Niro has yet to be tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).