2019 Kia Niro Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

The Graphite Edition trim has been renamed the S TouringUpdated infotainment systemPart of the first Niro generation introduced for 2017

　　Kia markets the Niro as an SUV, but that description is hard to believe when you consider what the Niro doesn't have. It doesn't have an SUV's raised ground clearance or available all-wheel drive, so it lacks the SUV's ability to keep going when the going gets tough. Really, the Niro is more of a hatchback that's styled to look like a crossover SUV.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Kia Niro FE 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$75/mo  for Niro FE

　　Niro FE

　　FE 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $23,490 MSRPLX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) (Most Popular) - $23,900 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $26,400 MSRPS Touring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $28,800 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $32,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　As long as you're OK with that, there's a lot to like. The Niro's hybrid system uses a 1.6-liter engine and an electric motor to power the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Altogether, this system generates 139 horsepower and a combined EPA fuel economy rating between 50 to 43 mpg, depending on trim. It's frugal but not fast.

　　From a features perspective, Kia stacks the deck. Even the base Niro FE trim includes standard smartphone integration and dual-zone automatic climate control. On the more expensive trims, you can even get luxury-oriented features such as ventilated front seats and a Harman Kardon sound system. There's also a roomy back seat and decent cargo capacity.

　　Should you want a hybrid with more SUV-like traits, such as more cargo space and all-wheel drive, you might want to take a look at the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Otherwise, we think the Niro provides an appealing mix of efficiency, maneuverability and value.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Kia Niro as one of zzdcar' Best Hybrid SUVs for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.0 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Kia Niro EX (1.6L inline-4 hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch automatic | FWD).

　　Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current vehicle has received some minor revisions to its feature content. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's vehicle, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.0 / 10
Driving	6.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	6.5
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

6.0

　　zzdcar' instrumented testing confirmed that the Niro is quicker than its rival, the Toyota Prius, by a good margin. But we also found its emergency braking performance to be subpar and the powertrain tuning on this production model to be far cruder than the model we previously drove.

　　

Acceleration

7.0

　　When driven in the default Eco mode, the Niro feels wholly unmotivated. In Sport mode, the Niro accelerates to 60 mph nearly a full second quicker than the Toyota Prius. There's good low-end torque and the transmission shifts quickly, but this mode is less efficient. We need an in-between mode.

　　

Braking

6.0

　　Braking feels completely natural under routine conditions, and the switchover from electric-regeneration to conventional brakes is imperceptible. Under panic braking, however, the pedal goes to the floor. In our testing, the Niro needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average for this class of vehicle.

　　

Steering

6.5

　　The steering is direct and responsive with a good level of assist. And there's a clear difference in the degree of assist when you switch between Normal and Sport modes. But this car lacks a clear sense of on-center feel or feedback, which can be disconcerting because it demands constant attention.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　The Niro handles more like a car than a crossover because it's essentially a hatchback. It stays planted through turns better than expected and carries its weight lower thanks to batteries mounted beneath the rear passenger seat.

　　

Drivability

5.0

　　Driving in the default Eco mode can be annoying. Its anemic takeoff power and lazy first-to-second shift are only remedied by driving in Sport mode.

　　

Off-road

4.0

　　At the very least, crossovers should have the option of all-wheel drive and decent ground clearance. Unfortunately, the Niro has neither, and people expecting otherwise will be disappointed.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　The Niro may not feel luxurious, but there's a good level of comfort on hand for the daily commute. The seats have sufficient support and powerful heaters, with ventilation available on the higher trim levels. The biggest strike is the amount of road noise, which gets tiresome on long drives.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　The seats aren't anything fancy but have good padding and decent lateral and lumbar support.

　　

Ride comfort

7.0

　　The ride comfort, for the most part, is agreeable. Though we didn't experience any harsh crashing over bumps, we wouldn't call the Niro plush either. On the other hand, body movement felt well-controlled and car-like, instead of floppy as in a tall SUV or crossover.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　There is a fair amount of road noise and the occasional sound of loose gravel pinging against the underbody. Wind noise is better isolated, though there is still a bit of it around the front sideview mirrors at highway speeds. The interior is absent of squeaks and rattles.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Dual climate controls are straightforward and easy to reach, with the usual assortment of buttons and knobs for fan speed, temperature, etc. The system performed well to maintain pleasant cabin temps. The seat heaters are very effective, which is nice to have in cold climates.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The cabin of the Niro is easy to get in and out of and scores high marks for interior passenger space, driver accommodation and a simple user interface. We might have had a small complaint with rear visibility, but all Niros come with rearview cameras so it's not an issue.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The touchscreen infotainment menus take a little familiarization but are easy enough to figure out and have shortcut buttons. When using the stalks to change headlight or wiper settings, a prompt appears in the gauge cluster showing your selection and others available, a nice feature.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The doors open wide, almost to 90 degrees, with decent size openings and comfortable seat heights. You still sit down into the seat rather than slide in because the bottom seat cushion height is around knee level. There's a small step-over, but it should be easy for most, including elderly passengers.

　　

Driving position

9.5

　　The tilt-and-telescoping steering column has a lot of adjustment, and the optional power driver's seat has two-way lumbar adjustment and height adjustment. It's pretty easy to find a comfortable driving position thanks to copious amounts of head- and legroom to suit a wide range of drivers.

　　

Roominess

7.5

　　There is good head- and legroom both front and rear, but hard plastic front seatbacks don't leave much of a buffer if you're sitting behind an especially tall driver. The middle passenger will appreciate the relatively flat floor, but sitting three adults in back will be a little tight.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　Even with the raked front roof pillars, forward visibility is pretty good. The thick rear pillars create a minor blind spot when you're looking over your shoulder. But the view directly rearward is decent and relatively unobstructed by the rear headrests.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　A lot of hard plastic covers the lower half of the doors, dash and center console. The interior looks cheap in the light gray color scheme. Even the soft-touch surfaces on the upper parts of the dash lack a quality feel. The armrest padding isn't bad but could be better on the doors.

　　

Utility

6.5

　　Compared to a small sedan, the Niro offers an appealing amount of utility for its size. But when compared to other hybrid hatchbacks or crossover SUVs in the class, it doesn't offer quite as much cargo space or clever cabin storage for small items.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　There's convenient storage for personal items forward of the gear shifter, where you would charge your phone wirelessly if so equipped. The door pockets will hold a 16-ounce water bottle and a couple of other small items, but they're on the narrow side. The center armrest bin is average size.

　　

Cargo space

6.5

　　The 60/40-split rear seats fold perfectly flat, and the optional underfloor storage adds a bit more utility. Yet, at 19.4 cubic feet with all the seats in place (54.5 cubic feet with them folded), the Niro doesn't have as much space as most other hybrid hatchbacks.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

　　LATCH anchors are tucked away in between cushions where the rear seatbacks fold down, which makes access moderately difficult. Each outboard rear seat features a pair of anchors and an easy-access top tether on the back.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　The Niro is strong on the technology front, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard equipment and a host of available advanced safety systems that aren't even offered on some cars above its class. The Uvo navigation system could use a design update but functions well.

　　

Audio & navigation

6.5

　　The Uvo navigation system is the same as in other Kia models, easy to use but beginning to look dated compared to other systems on the market. The base stereo system won't impress the more musically savvy, but the optional Harman Kardon system is a noticeable upgrade.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.5

　　With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard in all models, you likely won't miss the upgraded navigation system in the Touring model. The Touring trim also comes with wireless charging for smartphones that have the capability. That feature is available as a package option at the EX level.

　　

Driver aids

7.5

　　The adaptive cruise control works well to maintain a distance between the Niro and the car in front, but it will only bring the Niro to a complete stop for a moment before relinquishing control.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Native voice controls are available for navigation, radio, phone and even Google search (if equipped). The prompts are straightforward, and voice recognition works pretty well. When using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, the voice control button activates the respective voice recognition system, which is how it should work.

　　

Which Niro does zzdcar recommend?

　　For fuel-conscious drivers, the FE is the obvious choice because it gets the best fuel economy of the Niro range. But if you'd like a few more features, opt for the EX. It features heated seats and push-button ignition, and it also includes blind-spot detection and cross-traffic monitoring. Consider tacking on the Advanced Technology package for its additional driver safety aids.

　　

2019 Kia Niro models

　　The 2019 Kia Niro is a five-passenger hatchback available in five trims, beginning with the most fuel-efficient FE trim, with features added incrementally moving up to the LX, EX, S Touring and Touring trims. All models come with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid-electric powertrain (139 horsepower, 195 pound-feet total output) that sends power to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The FE is surprisingly well-equipped for a base model, while the fully loaded Touring trim comes with nearly every modern comfort feature standard.

　　The base FE is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, six-way manually adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split folding rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, selectable drive modes, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a rearview camera, Uvo eServices app suite, Bluetooth, and a four-speaker sound system with a USB port.

　　Stepping up to the LX trim adds rear LED taillights, roof rails, keyless ignition and entry, an underfloor storage tray for the rear cargo area, and a rear center armrest with cupholders. Optional for the LX is the Advanced Technology package, which bundles forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. It also has foglights, LED daytime running lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

　　The EX trim comes with the foglights, LED running lights and leather-wrapped steering wheel plus power-folding and heated side mirrors, a high-gloss black upper console, cloth and leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear air-conditioning vents, an additional USB charge port, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. As with the LX trim, all options for the EX are now bundled into packages. The Advance Technology package includes the same active safety features as the LX but adds a power-adjustable driver's seat.

　　A rather expensive Premium package for the EX trim is available. It adds xenon headlights, a sunroof, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory function, a heated steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen display, navigation, an eight-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system, LED map lights, front and rear parking system, wireless phone charging and a 110-volt power outlet.

　　This year's new S Touring trim is priced in between the EX and the top Touring trim. In terms of features, it's closer to the EX trim but includes the power-adjustable driver's seat, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and the premium Harman Kardon audio system. It also features a trim-exclusive Platinum Graphite paint, glossy-black 18-inch wheels, glossy-black roof rails and a metallic-colored front grille. The only caveat is none of the EX trim's packages are available with this trim.

　　Finally, the Touring trim comes with everything standard this year, including the active safety aids from the Advanced Technology package on lower trim models. The only choices you have are colors and smaller accessories. So if you plan to check all the boxes, and you don't mind 18-inch wheels instead of the EX's 16-inchers, you're best off beelining it to the Touring trim.

　　zzdcar Latest Kia Niro News

　　The Kia EV9 Is zzdcar Top Rated Best of the Best for 2024

　　

2019 Niro Highlights

Trim: FELXEXS TouringTouringFE

　　

Base MSRP	$23,490
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	50 MPG
Cost to Drive	$75/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles