With just five years on the market, the Niro is a relatively recent addition to Kia’s catalog. It offers great value, funky styling, and an optional fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The 2021 Niro PHEV got updates that included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but Kia made no changes for 2022.

Pricing for the 2022 Kia Niro PHEV starts at $30,765. The mid-range EX trim starts at $34,565 and the top EX Premium model starts at $37,665. Buyers opting for the entry-level LXS trim won’t have too much to complain about, as Kia was feeling particularly generous during the design process. Standard features include a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a full parallel hybrid system. A dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard, and front-wheel drive is the only option. That powertrain combines to produce 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.

Tech is plentiful in the Niro, where standard features include an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted controls, USB audio inputs, and a 12-volt outlet. Kia offers a larger 10.25-inch screen in higher trim levels, but the size of the unit made wireless CarPlay and Android Auto impossible. Kia’s infotainment software isn’t as elaborate or colorful as some of its rivals’ systems, but there’s a benefit to that simplicity. The system doesn’t require several taps to accomplish simple tasks, which helps the driver keep their eyes on the road.

Passenger space is surprisingly strong in the Niro, where front passengers see 40.1 inches of head room and 41.7 inches of leg room. Folks in the back seat enjoy 39.1 inches of head room and 37.4 inches of leg room. Nobody’s going to be stretching out, but riding in the back seat is hardly punishment. The Niro’s gently sloped roof doesn’t interfere with head room to a great degree, and the large door openings make loading and unloading car seats much easier. Cargo space behind the second-row seats comes in at 19.4 cubic feet. Folding the rear bench flat opens up 54.5 cubic feet of space.

The Niro PHEV’s battery pack is good for an all-electric range of 26 miles and a total combined driving range of 560 miles. Unlike traditional hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids must be (wait for it) plugged in. The cars run on electricity until their range is exhausted, at which point they switch to the gas engine and operate similarly to a normal hybrid. Since normal fuel economy ratings aren’t up to the task of measuring mpg in electrified cars, the EPA uses MPGe, or miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent.

The 2022 Niro PHEV hasn’t been crash-tested yet, but the extremely similar 2021 model earned Good scores in all crashworthiness categories, a Superior score for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention, an Advanced rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention, and an Acceptable rating for its child seat anchor system’s ease of use.