The Kia Niro is a subcompact crossover that comes standard as a hybrid and is also available in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicle (EV) configurations. Competitors include the Hyundai Kona, the Honda CR-V Hybrid, and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
2024 Kia Niro Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2024 Kia Niro
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2024 Kia Niro
The Kia Niro was introduced for the 2017 model year and was fully redesigned for the 2023 model year. That redesign incorporated fresh styling, more interior space, and an updated list of safety technology. For 2024, Kia has expanded availability of the Niro’s innovative cargo area, which incorporates two levels for more useful storage space.
Design
The Kia Niro has a commanding presence for a small vehicle. Its front end is particularly distinctive, with upscale-looking lighting and a thin horizontal band of body color separating upper and lower grilles. The rear is marked by thin vertical tail lights mounted at the corners alongside contrasting rear quarter panels. The Niro comes standard with 16-inch wheels, and 18-inch wheels are available.
Powertrain
The Niro comes with a hybrid powertrain by default (though, again, it’s also available in PHEV and EV forms). The standard hybrid Niro combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to make a total of 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.
The Niro is front-wheel-drive (FWD) only, though instead of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) typically seen in hybrids, it uses a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that yields slightly more engaging driving dynamics.
For fuel economy, keep in mind that EPA ratings vary significantly based on the Niro’s wheel size. With 16-inch wheels, the Niro is capable of 53 mpg city, 54 mpg highway, and 53 mpg combined. With 18-inch wheels, those estimates drop to 53 city, 45 highway, and 49 combined.
Interior
The Kia Niro seats five across its two rows, and unlike most vehicles in this class, there’s enough space for adults-even tall adults-in the back seat. However, that legroom comes at the expense of cargo space, which is below average for the segment at 22.8 cubic feet. The Niro comes standard with cloth upholstery and can be upgraded with a combination of cloth and synthetic leather, or with full synthetic leather. Other options include a sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Technology
The 2024 Niro’s technology features are simple and user-friendly, and the options menu is straightforward. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay comes standard, along with a six-speaker audio system, three USB ports, and remote keyless entry. Upgrades include a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless smartphone charging, a Harmon Kardon audio system, ambient lighting, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, and a smartphone-based digital key.
Safety
The 2024 Kia Niro has a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It comes standard with forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitoring system, safe vehicle exit warning, traffic-sign recognition, a rear-seat alert system, and automatic high-beam headlights. Available features include cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, front and rear parking sensors, an intersection assist system, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2024 Kia Niro is on sale now. As of this writing, Kia lists pricing starting at an MSRP of $26,940 for the base LX trim. The EX starts at $29,640, the EX Touring is $31,940, the SX starts at $33,040, and, finally, the top-of-the-line SX Touring, which includes basically everything on the Niro menu, starts at $35,340.