2020 Kia Niro Review

　　

2020 Kia Niro Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The 2020 Kia Niro is a solid pick for a fuel-efficient vehicle. It stands out from rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius with its SUV-like styling. You don't get much more than the styling — there's no all-wheel drive available, for instance, and its cargo space is fairly modest. But it nonetheless provides plenty of value and right around 50 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Kia Niro LX 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 LX

　　Niro LX

　　LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $24,590 MSRPLXS 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) (Most Popular) - $25,990 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $28,290 MSRPTouring SE 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $30,790 MSRPEX Premium 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $32,790 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　For 2020, Kia has given the Niro a variety of updates, including updated styling, more standard features for certain trims, and a newly available 10.25-inch infotainment display. How does it all stack up? Is it better than a Toyota Prius? Check out our Expert Rating on the Niro to find out.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Niro drive? The Niro isn't going to thrill you. In our testing we measured 0-60 mph in 9.7 seconds. That's a tad slow but enough to get you where you're going. The dual-clutch automatic transmission is somewhat slow to shift, but it's smooth and jerk-free. We prefer it to the conventional continuously variable transmissions that most hybrids are equipped with.

　　The steering is direct and has an appropriate amount of heft to it, which makes it easy to maneuver the Niro on the highway or around a parking lot. Unfortunately, the steering is devoid of road feedback. That last part only matters because the Niro's handling is surprisingly nimble but less engaging because it lacks connection. Emergency-stopping performance is lackluster, but at least the brakes are relatively easy to control for smooth stops on your daily commute.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Niro? The Niro is pretty comfortable overall. The front seats feature optional heat and ventilation, a rarity in this class, and are supportive with firm cushioning. The rear seats are decently comfortable as well.

　　The Niro rides smoothly over most surfaces, making it a pleasant commuter. The cabin remains fairly quiet at highway speeds, though you'll likely hear the engine working hard when you accelerate with gusto. The dual-zone climate control system is simple to use and works effectively with rear vents helping to distribute airflow to backseat passengers.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Niro's interior is functional, and passenger space is excellent for a car of this class. The driver's seat has enough adjustability to accommodate a wide range of body types. Rear passengers will find the quarters to be pretty roomy, and all door openings are about as generous as it gets for this class.

　　Visibility is pretty good for the most part, but a larger rear window would help when backing up. Overall, the blind spots are minimal. The controls are clearly labeled, arranged logically and easy to use. The available 10.25-inch screen has crisp and legible graphics and is responsive to inputs. In higher trims there's also a large driver information display in the gauge cluster.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Bluetooth pairing is quick, and smartphones can be connected with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The voice controls are basic in functionality but work well. The available Harman Kardon audio system produces pleasing sound quality.

　　The navigation system is quick to respond and spreads across the widescreen for Apple CarPlay while Android Auto makes do with a split screen. We like that a number of advanced safety and driver aids come standard, one trim up from the base. Adaptive cruise control worked well in our testing, as did all other safety functions. Our only complaint was the overly sensitive lane-keeping system.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Niro's rear cargo space has 19.4 cubic feet of space available behind the rear seats. That's a respectable amount of space, even though the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq can hold a little more. It's easy to load cargo and the rear seats fold flat.

　　Up front, you'll find a decent number of places to store your small items. All four doors feature pockets and water bottle holders. The main cupholders can accommodate bigger cups and bottles too. The front cubby that houses the available wireless charger can hold larger phones but gets blocked by the gear shifter when you put it in park.

　　Got kids? We've found that it's pretty easy to install child safety seats thanks to the Niro's roomy rear seat and easily accessible seat anchors.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The base model Niro is the most efficient trim at an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined (52 city/49 highway). Though undeniably frugal, it is near the bottom of the hybrid class that includes models such as the Prius and the Honda Insight. The midtier Touring gets the worst gas mileage at 43 mpg (46 city/40 highway) due to its larger 18-inch wheels. We weren't able to match the EPA estimates during our testing of a Niro EX Premium.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Niro a good value? The Niro offers good value in this hybrid market. It might not be the cheapest model out there, but you get a lot for your money. And the Niro feels well built despite some drab interior surface plastics and a shiny black dash that's a bit of a smudge-magnet.

　　Kia's warranty is one of the best in class. It includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. The hybrid battery also carries a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. Roadside assistance is provided for five years/60,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The Niro can prove to be kind of entertaining on twisty roads as long as you aren't expecting a lot of speed. It's effective and comfortable when in its element, which is primarily dealing with the daily commute, and its compact nature makes it easy to park and maneuver through traffic.

　　The Niro is more conservative in its styling than rivals, but it's also less polarizing. We appreciate the design for its simplicity and not trying to be something more radical than it is. But we also don't consider this an SUV — it's a hatchback.

　　

Which Niro does zzdcar recommend?

We think the Touring represents the sweet spot in the Niro lineup. It won't break the bank, and features such as heated mirrors and adaptive cruise control are useful to have. The power driver's seat allows you to dial in your perfect position, while paddle shifters make the Niro a little more fun to drive. Just be aware that fuel economy is lower with this trim level (43 mpg combined).

　　

2020 Kia Niro models

The 2020 Kia Niro is a five-passenger hatchback/small SUV available in five trims. Every Niro comes with a four-cylinder hybrid electric powertrain that's good for 139 horsepower. That power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Feature highlights for the Niro include:

　　LX

　　The Kia Niro's base trim starts you off with:

　　16-inch wheels Roof rails Dual-zone automatic climate control 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Six-speaker audio systemLXS

　　Adds a variety of features such as:

　　Keyless entry and ignition Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (alerts you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse) Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Lane keeping assist (automatically steers the car back into its lane if the Niro begins to drift over the lane marker)Touring

　　The Touring includes everything above, plus:

　　18-inch wheels Sunroof Paddle shifters Power-adjustable driver's seat Cloth and leather combination upholstery Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Niro and the car in front)Touring Special Edition

　　Available only in unique shades of light blue or orange, the Touring Special Edition further adds:

　　LED headlights Leather upholstery 10.25-inch touchscreen 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system EX Premium

　　The range-topping EX Premium doesn't include the Special Edition's LED headlights or unique paint. It also rides on 16-inch wheels. Otherwise, all other features are included, as are:

　　Heated steering wheel Heated and ventilated front seats Simulated leather upholstery Wireless charging pad Rear parking sensors Cargo cover (optional on all other models)

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2020 Niro Highlights

Trim: LXLXSTouringTouring SEEX PremiumLX

　　

Base MSRP	$24,590
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