Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

Kia offers three versions of its Niro, and all are meant to provide fuel-efficient driving and lots of features at a low cost. There's the regular Niro, which is a hybrid, and the Niro Plug-In Hybrid — which is, as its name suggests, a plug-in hybrid — and then the full-electric Niro EV.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid can be a nice introduction to the electrified world. It has a bigger hybrid battery than the regular Niro and is capable of driving the vehicle under full electric power for a short distance. After that, the Niro Plug-In switches over to the gasoline engine for normal hybrid operation. It offers an EPA-estimated 26 miles of electric range, can be recharged at home on a 110- or 240-volt outlet, and still gets 46 mpg even if you never use the all-electric power.

To learn more about the ins and outs of the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid, check out our Expert Rating below. And if you're interested in other relatively inexpensive plug-in hybrids, be sure to look into the efficient Prius Prime or the new Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid that can go 37 miles on a charge. Subaru also makes a plug-in version of its Crosstrek SUV that has standard all-wheel drive and extra ground clearance and increased off-road capability.

Which Niro Plug-In Hybrid does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Niro Plug-In Hybrid is available in three trim levels: LXS, EX and EX Premium. All three trims come with a plug-in hybrid system that's good for 139 horsepower. The EPA estimates it'll be good for 26 miles of electric range and 46 mpg in combined driving once the hybrid battery is depleted. Feature highlights include:

LXS Standard features on this base trim level include:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Keyless entry and ignition with remote start
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Four-speaker sound system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Niro back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

EX The midgrade EX trim adds:

• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Leather seats with cloth inserts
• Cargo cover
• Heated front seats
• Wireless phone charger
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Niro and the car in front)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

EX Premium The top-range EX Premium model comes with:

• LED headlights
• Sunroof
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Integrated navigation system
• 10.25-inch touchscreen display (deletes the wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto)
• Eight-speaker premium audio system