2022 Kia Niro Review: A Contemporary Hybrid Crossover

The Kia Niro is a compact crossover SUV offering car-like drivability and SUV-like practicality synonymous with the class, but with the added advantage of hybrid fuel efficiency. Under the hood of the Niro is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybridized engine that's coupled to an electric motor for combined outputs of 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This is routed to the Niro's front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. With this powertrain, the Niro is one of the most fuel-efficient hybrids out there. With EPA gas mileage estimates of 50 mpg returned in mixed driving conditions, only a few cars like the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius can surpass the Niro's efficiency. The Niro isn't just an easy-to-drive, practical, and highly fuel-efficient crossover hybrid SUV, but it's also a relatively stylish one that's packed with contemporary features and safety technology, which altogether make it an ideal family commuter.

What's the Price of the 2022 Kia Niro?

The most affordable model from the 2022 Niro lineup is the LX, which, in the US, comes in at a starting MSRP of $24,690, excluding any tax, registration, and licensing fees as well as Kia's $1,175 destination and handling charge. For several extra driver-assist technologies, the LXS follows closely at a price of $26,090. The LXS SE adds a few desirable creature comforts and is priced at $27,590. Next up is the Touring Special Edition, which features an exclusive aesthetic for a base price of $29,890. For everything the Niro lineup has to offer, the top-of-the-line EX Premium is offered at a sticker price of $31,990.

Handling and Driving Impressions

It takes a little time for the Niro to gather itself up initially, and the slow pick-up can be annoying, but it can be mostly mitigated through use of the Sport mode. Because of the Kia Niro's compact crossover configuration, it rides more like a typical car than an SUV. It's easy to maneuver around tight city streets and it exhibits very little body roll in the corners, thanks to its low center of gravity. The Niro isn't the most comfortable vehicle on the road, but its ride quality is suitable nonetheless. The suspension competently soaks up most larger bumps, while more common road imperfections and undulations are effectively kept from reverberating through to the cabin. The cabin remains appreciably quiet too, even at higher speeds.

As for the steering, responses are accurate and the weighting neither too hefty nor too light. Engaging the Sport mode, however, weights up the feel significantly. There is some vagueness on the center feel of the steering, but it otherwise always tracks straight with no hint of dead spots. While the brakes work fine in everyday driving scenarios, they can occasionally feel rather spongy, especially with heavy braking due to the changeover to regenerative braking.

Verdict: Is the 2022 Kia Niro A Good SUV?

As a hybrid compact crossover, the Kia Niro is a pretty straightforward package and its advantages lie clearly in what it offers as a hybridized crossover SUV - exceptional gas mileage estimates as a hybrid FWD vehicle, along with the easy drivability and decent level of practicality synonymous with that of its crossover SUV body. It also boasts a brilliant infotainment system, which is one of the more user-friendly, comprehensive, and high-quality units out there. The bigger 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen is one of the largest screens within the compact class, to boot. Unfortunately, there are also many downsides to the Kia Niro. Firstly, it's not available in all-wheel drive, it offers no towing capability, and its straight-line performance and handling dynamics are average at best. Overall, the Kia Niro offers a fair balance, but many of its competitors beat it in key areas and are certainly worth consideration.

What 2022 Kia Niro Model Should I Buy?

The new Kia Niro LXS is the model to go for in the range. It's only a little more expensive than the base-spec Niro LX model, but comes standard with push-button start, which improves convenience, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, improving the cabin's atmosphere. There's also a good selection of advanced driver assist technologies, including blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and driver attention warning. The LXS's 16-inch alloy wheels also help it to be one of the more fuel-efficient models in the lineup.

2022 Kia Niro Comparisons

2022 Kia Niro vs Hyundai Kona

Though the Hyundai Kona is not a hybridized vehicle (although there is an EV variant in the range), it is quite a bit more affordable than the Kia Niro. What has the Kona stand out, however, is its more powerful base engine, which has it drive more enjoyably than the Niro already, considering the even more powerful turbocharged option which accelerates the Kona from 0 - 60 mph in a fraction over six seconds, according to an independent test drive. The Kona handles better too and is available with AWD. Neither of the Kona's engines are as fuel efficient as the Niro's hybrid engine is, obviously, but it's still near the 30 mpg mark in combined driving scenarios. The Kona also arguably looks way better, boasting a bit more of a rugged aesthetic that better suits the crossover SUV ethos. The Niro earns points for having its better infotainment system and a better selection of features at standard, but the Kona, considering how much it costs, delivers more value overall.

2022 Kia Niro vs Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is offered at around the same price as the Kia Niro. It's no hybrid vehicle, however, and the Sportage is also a larger vehicle overall. The Sportage is more spacious with better on-road feel. It comes equipped with a more powerful base engine and has a turbocharged engine available too. With this engine, the Sportage is easily the faster vehicle. Of course, the Niro is far more economical on fuel than what the Sportage is, with the latter's EPA estimates being 23/30/26 mpg, but that's about all it has over the Sportage. Unlike the Niro, the Sportage is available in AWD guise and also offers a 2,000-pound maximum towing capacity while the Niro isn't rated for towing at all. The Sportage's cabin is far more premium and is, along with the exterior, a little more contemporary as the Sportage is the newer vehicle. Ultimately, if fuel-efficient and eco-friendly living is your priority, then the Niro is your pick, but the Sportage otherwise offers more value on almost every other front.