2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

The Niro Plug-in Hybrid's exterior remains unchanged from 2018 and features the prominent "tigers nose" grill flanked by upswept projection headlights. The front bumper has blue trim and integrated fog lights. The side profile has a generic SUV look, but the rear is neat, with a little spoiler and LED light cluster.

All trims of the Niro Plug-in Hybrid have a curb weight of 3,274 lbs and a ground clearance of 6.3 inches. The length is 171.5 inches on a wheelbase of 106.3 inches, while the width is 71.1 inches and the height is 60.8 inches.

There's a choice of six colors available for the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid range. Silky Silver and Platinum Graphite come at no extra cost, Snow White Pearl and Aurora black Pearl cost $395, while Runway Red and Gravity Blue both cost $295.

All the trims in the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid range are front-wheel drive and use the same four-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has an electric motor connected to a lithium-ion battery to give a combined output of 139 hp.

Unfortunately, the 1.6-liter engine lets the Kia Niro PHEV down with its lackluster performance. Instant torque is a hallmark of an electric vehicle but in this case, the acceleration is notably slow and feels like a conventional gasoline car. On the freeway, overtaking and changing lanes must be planned out, and while Sport mode can mitigate this to an extent, the overall drive is still compromised. If the Niro PHEV was available in all-wheel drive and had a bit more clout, it would be a much better car.

The acceleration is poor and the fact that the gasoline engine keeps kicking in when even a little more power is needed can be quite irritating. The interior, while not the best, is still functional and spacious and the comfortable seats and smooth ride make the Niro PHEV a decent everyday town car. The handling is reminiscent of some of the mid-sized hatchbacks out there with moderate body roll and a firm ride. The steering is responsive and light which is more than can be said about the transmission, which feels slow, and has rough shifts. Overall the Niro PHEV doesn't stand out and delivers an average driving experience.

The whole point of getting a plug-in hybrid is because of fuel economy and in this department, the Niro PHEV doesn't disappoint returning gas mileage of 48/44/46 mpg. The size of the fuel tank is 11.3 gallons and based on the combined mileage, it has a range of 519 miles. In electric mode the battery has a range of 26 miles and the combined economy of the gasoline engine together with the battery should provide a combined MPGe of 105 miles.

In comparison, the Chevy Bolt has a combined MPGe of 119, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has an MPGe of 74. Of course, the range is also dependent on how the car is driven, as well as the weather conditions. The figures quoted are a bit on the conservative side and the Kia Niro PHEV can probably go a bit further if push comes to shove.

The Kia Niro PHEV is a five-seater crossover but has proportions similar to a hatchback. Four people can sit comfortably on long trips, with the fifth having to squeeze in. The front seats have headroom of 40.1 inches and legroom of 41.7 inches, while the rear seats have headroom of 39.1 inches and legroom of 37.4 inches. The tall roof creates adequate headroom for both front and rear passengers and increases all-around visibility.

The cargo space in the Kia Niro PHEV is average for its class at only 19.4 cu-ft with the rear seats upright. Folding the rear seats opens it up to a decent 54.5 cu-ft, which should be enough for most families. Small item storage comprises an overhead console with storage, front seatback storage, front and rear door pockets, and front and rear cupholders. There is also a center console storage area.

In terms of features, the Kia Niro PHEV is loaded and can compete against some higher priced rivals. The entry-level LX comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen with rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, keyless ignition, climate control, emergency braking preparation, pre-collision safety system, post-collision safety system, and emergency brake assist. It also has lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and driver attention alert. The EX adds power-adjustable lumbar support to the driver's seat, eight-way power driver's seat, Xenon HID headlamps, and blind-spot detection, lane change assist, blind-spot detection, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel as well as the option of leather and cloth seats. The EX premium adds ventilated front seats and a leather interior. The EX Premium model also features lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, a wireless phone charger, lane departure warning, dual zone climate control, heated front seats, and a forward collision warning system.

The Niro PHEV comes standard with a seven-inch infotainment unit with a rearview camera, Kia's UVO services, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, six speakers, SiriusXM radio with three months paid subscription, Bluetooth connectivity, AM/FM radio and a USB port for media and two more for charging. The EX has the same infotainment system as the LX, but the EX Premium adds an eight-inch touchscreen with onboard navigations, as well as a Harman Kardon premium audio system with eight-speakers including a subwoofer.

The 2019 Kia Niro PHEV has no complaints and no recalls, although the 2018 model had minor complaints about head unit failure and the engine light coming on. Kia has one of the best warranties out there with a basic warranty of five years/ 60,000 miles, a powertrain warranty of ten years/100,000 miles, and an anti-perforation warranty of five-years/100,000 miles. It also has ten year/100,000 mile warranty on the hybrid electrical components.

None of the Kia Niro models have been tested by the NHTSA yet. In the IIHS testing, it got a best possible score of good in most of the tests, with only the LATCH anchors getting average and the headlights on the LX trim getting poor. The Niro PHEV was also voted as a 2019 Top Safety Pick.

The Kia Niro PHEV has some shortcomings that undermine its desirability. The poor performance is lethargic at best and irritating at worst. The clunky gear changes and mediocre handling also does it no favors. Despite its styling, it's more of a high riding hatchback than an SUV, and the lack of cargo space and option of front-wheel drive only underline that fact.

On the plus side, the performance is okay for close range day-to-day driving and thanks to its phenomenal fuel economy is very cheap to run. The interior is functional with well laid out buttons and comfortable seating, as well as a decent amount of space for its occupants. Having a great infotainment system, as well as excellent safety features just add to the Niro PHEV's appeal.

At a starting price of only $28,500 and a class-leading warranty, the Niro PHEV is definitely worth having a look at when considering a plug-in hybrid car.

All the models in the range use the same electric motor and 1.6-liter engine that delivers a combined output of 139 hp. The cheapest trim is the LX with an MSRP of $28,500, then there's the EX at $32,100. At the top is the EX Premium with a starting price of $35,200. The prices mentioned exclude any tax, licensing, and registration fees as well as the destination charge of $995. The Niro PHEV also qualifies for certain federal tax credits and other rebates depending on the state.

The middle of the range EX is the best option in the Kia Niro Plug-in lineup. The LX is decent but lacks some of the features of the EX such as blind-spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, leather and cloth upholstery, as well as heated front seats. The EX Premium comes with many more features such as rear cross traffic alert, lane keeping assist, smart cruise control, a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, ventilated seats, as well as the Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers. Although the EX premium comes with more features, it still drives the same but costs around three thousand dollars more than the EX. The EX provides the best balance of price and features, but for those that must have an amazing sound system as well as the latest safety features, the EX Premium is the better choice.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a bigger car and has better ground clearance of 7.3 inches compared to the Niro PHEV's 6.3 inches. The Outlander PHEV also has a better combined output of 197 hp compared to the Niro PHEV's 139 combined horsepower. Another advantage that the Outlander PHEV is the ability to send power to all four wheels to mimic a 4x4, unlike the Niro PHEV, which is front-wheel drive only. Both cars have the option of an excellent infotainment system with the Niro PHEV having the option of a Harman Kardon audio system compared to the Rockford Fosgate offered on the Mitsubishi. The Kia's strong points are that it is a bit more agile due to its smaller size, and has way more safety features such as autonomous braking, rear cross traffic alert, and forward collision warning.

The Kia has a starting price of $28,500 compared to the $35,795 for the Outlander PHEV. Of the two, the Kia is better for short trips around town and is a well priced and well-equipped car. For long distance traveling, off-road adventures and more cargo space, the Mitsubishi is better.

The Subaru Crosstek Hybrid offers slightly more power, 152 hp compared to the Niro PHEV's 139 hp. In terms of safety, they are both evenly matched, but the Kia has a much longer warranty of five years/ 60,000 miles compared to the Crosstek Hybrid, which only has three years/36,000 miles warranty. The Crosstek Hybrid also offers more ground clearance at 8.7 inches compared to the 6.3 offered on the Niro. It also has the option of symmetrical all-wheel drive, while the Niro Hybrid is only available with front-wheel drive. Built-in Wi-Fi is another great feature that's offered on the Crosstek but not on the Niro PHEV.

The Niro PHEV starts at a price of $28,500 compared to the starting price of $34,995 for the Crosstek Hybrid. Although the extra $6,000 does get you a lot more features. The Niro PHEV is still great value for money and is the better car if it will be used for short distance driving and not for off-roading or towing. Buyers looking for a more off road cable PHEV should consider the Crosstrek.