2024 Kia Niro Review

Offered as both a battery-electric and a more conventional petrol-electric hybrid, the Kia Niro is billed as a sleek little city car that sips fuel and electricity responsibly, helping to keep your running costs low.

It’s been a few years since the second-gen Kia Niro arrived on Australian shores, so let's take a look at how it stacks up against its rivals as an affordable, efficient and charming little compact SUV.

Kia Niro Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

The 2024 Kia Niro range is priced from $44,930 for the entry-level Niro S HEV Hybrid, with prices rising to $50,580 for the Niro HEV GT-Line.

Stepping up to the all-electric Niro EV S brings the price to $66,590 with the flagship Niro EV GT-Line priced at $72,360.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Kia Niro HEV S (Hybrid) Specifications

What Features Does the Kia Niro Have?

Kia’s entry-level Niro S range comes riding on 16-inch alloys and picks up halogen headlights with LED daytime running lamps, adaptive cruise control, cloth and leatherette upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, power-folding mirrors and a rear-view camera.

Opting for the Kia Niro EV S adds keyless entry & start, LED fog lights, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat and a larger infotainment display.

Stepping up to the Niro GT-Line range adds a set of 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, keyless entry & start, a 10-inch head-up display, a remote parking assistant, upgraded seats with heating and ventilation, ambient lighting, a wireless smartphone charger, two-tone paint options, alloy pedals and scuff plates and rear privacy glass.

Over the GT-Line hybrid, the Niro EV GT-Line picks up a single-pane sunroof, a hands-free boot lift, a heated steering wheel, leatherette upholstery and an upgraded eight-speaker sound system.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Kia’s entry-level Niro S HEV comes packaged with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the Niro S EV receives a larger 10.25-inch display, both of which are paired with a six-speaker sound system.

The size of the base touchscreen is a little underwhelming, though it’s more than up for the task with a simple, clean layout that is easy to navigate, with AM/FM radio as well as DAB+ digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity all packaged in.

Stepping up to the Niro HEV GT-Line also adds the larger 10.25-inch display, with satellite navigation bundled in, too.

Does the Kia Niro Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Interestingly, the Kia Niro range is offered with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, though this is a convenience only on offer in the base model Niro S HEV range.

Upgrading to the GT-Line with its larger 10.25-inch display means you’re relegated to a wired USB connection to access Apple CarPlay & Android Auto on the move.

One of the upsides of making the upgrade to the Hiro EV GT-Line, comes in the form of the eight-speaker sound system courtesy of Harman/Kardon that replaces the six-speaker unit packaged with the rest of the range.

Is the Kia Niro Comfortable to Drive?

Whether you’re opting for the petrol-electric Niro HEV Hybrid or the pure electric, the Niro is a reasonably well-mannered compact SUV that feels great on a run around town.

The Niro HEV receives a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and a small 1.32kWh battery pack which combined, produces 104kW of power and 265Nm of torque.

This is thrown to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission which offers fairly snappy shifts, though overall acceleration is modest, to say the least.

If you’re after some more performance off the line, the fully-electric Niro EV range produces a healthy 150kW of power and 255Nm of torque from its electric motor - by far the better option for perkier acceleration.

Whichever Niro powertrain you opt for, the package itself is remarkably well-mannered, particularly around town where it excels on short hops, parking and making three-point turns.

The steering is light, which makes it extremely easy to navigate the tight confines of the urban jungle, while the electrical assistance at low speeds means it's easy to keep up with traffic.

Pick up the pace and you’ll notice the little Niro is a bit overwhelmed on rougher country roads, with the added weight of the battery pack in the Niro EV making it a little lazier than its hybrid siblings while cornering.

On the highway, the Niro remains user-friendly and impressively refined thanks to its extremely quiet cabin, with the hybrid disguising noise from its petrol engine and the EV riding near-silently.

As a complete package, the Niro is a capable little SUV for the city that doesn’t mind stints on the highway, though country drivers may be looking for something that feels a little bit more confident on bumpy roads.

Is the Kia Niro HEV Hybrid Fuel Efficient?

Fuel efficiency is atop the Niro’s key selling points in the compact SUV segment, with impressive combined cycle fuel economy figures of 4.0L/100km on offer.

Better yet, Kia’s claims are attainable in real-world driving, which means you’re likely to match figures of 4.0L/100km on a combined cycle.

With the help of an electric motor that does a lot of the heavy lifting while accelerating around town, the Niro is remarkably fuel-efficient and makes for one of the leading options if you’re after an efficient compact SUV.

How Much Fuel Does the Kia Niro HEV Use Around Town?

• 4.0L/100km (city consumption) 

How Much Fuel Does the Kia Niro HEV Use on the Highway?

• 4.0L/100km (city consumption) 

How Far Can the Kia Niro EV Drive on a Single Charge?

The Kia Niro EV range is packaged with a 64.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack that offers a claimed 460km of driving range, under WLTP test cycle conditions.

The Niro EV picks up a regenerative braking system that captures energy otherwise lost during braking, with its energy consumption figures standing at 16.2kWh per 100km.

In terms of changing, the Niro EV can be DC fast-charged at speeds up to 84kW, which means you can bring the pack from 10 - 80 per cent in a claimed 45 minutes.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the Kia Niro and it’s clear to see that the futuristic styling package has been transferred inside the cabin, making for a futuristic compact SUV that feels unique to the Kia lineup.

Better yet, that styling has been paired with some seriously clever packaging that makes the Niro a seriously heavy hitter when it comes to interior space and practicality.

Kicking things off in the driver’s seat, headroom is abundant and there’s a great view out over your surroundings, while an ergonomic touch from Kia’s design department means everything is within easy reach.

Storage options are plentiful in the front of the Niro, which offers a large tray behind the rotary gear dial, a pair of cupholders and a substantial open storage area at the rear of the centre console.

Combine that with a decent-sized glovebox, large bottle holders on either door and a clean, simple layout and the Niro feels spacious and mature up front.

Move to the second row and the Niro is a small SUV with no compromises when it comes to passenger space, with more than enough room for adults to sit behind a tall driver.

Amenities in the rear include USB-C ports, air vents, a folding armrest with cupholders, as well as a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts on the seatbacks for easy installation of child seats.

All things considered, the Kia Niro offers an outstanding interior design that is welcoming for passengers in the front and rear of the cabin, the latter of which is definitely a sore point for a number of its small SUV rivals.

How Big is the Kia Niro’s Boot?

In a similar manner, the Kia Niro bucks the trend for the small SUV segment with a particularly healthy amount of boot space that makes it a truly versatile package.

There’s 475L of boot space on offer in the back of the Kia Niro which is exceptional for the segment rivalling several larger midsize SUVs and putting it atop the leaderboard for the small SUV segment. 

Fold the rear seats down and you’ll unlock 1,392L of storage for bulky items and sports gear, while the Niro EV offers a small storage area underneath the bonnet.

Is it Safe?

As standard, the Kia Niro range picks up a very healthy safety equipment list, with no key features reserved for more expensive versions.

This will come as great news for price-conscious buyers who don’t want to skimp on safety, with the list headlined by forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and adaptive cruise control.

The Niro also picks up lane-keep assist, leading vehicle departure alerts, lane-follow assist, safe exit warnings, driver attention alerts, speed limit assist, auto high-beam lights, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensor and eight airbags.

This means that even the entry-level Niro HEV Hybrid S comes packaged with every piece of active safety gear you could hope for.

Does the Kia Niro Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia Niro range has picked up a five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing conducted in 2022.

In those tests, the Niro scored the following marks.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 88%

• Child Occupant Protection: 84%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 76%

• Safety Assist: 87% 

What Warranty Does the Kia Niro Come With?

The Kia Niro range picks up the company’s outstanding seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty.

The Niro HEV Hybrid and fully-electric Niro EV have their battery and high-voltage components backed by a seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty.

Buyers also pick up the option of three, five and seven capped-price services for the Niro, each totalling $706, $1,351 and $1,997, respectively.

Service intervals for the Niro range stand at 12-months or 15,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Niro Worth it?

The Kia Niro range confidently ticks the major boxes of its design brief, namely its impressive efficiency, while adding a surprising amount of space and practicality inside the cabin.

For a small SUV, the Niro packs a mighty punch and proves itself a family-friendly small SUV package with a large boot and decent equipment lists, even in the base model.

Combine that with Kia’s long warranty coverage and jam-packed safety equipment list and we believe the Niro Hybrid is one of the most compelling options in the small SUV space, while the Niro EV offers impressive real-world driving ranges.

If you’re looking to buy a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price. 

Five Kia Niro Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. 4.0L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures in Niro HEV Hybrid

3. 460km range in Niro EV from 64.8kWh battery pack

4. 475L boot expands to 1,392L with rear seats folded

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating