2020 Kia Niro Review

New headlights, a revised rear fascia and additional tech features spearhead the enhancements to the refreshed 2020 Kia Niro. Debuting at the LA Auto Show, the 2020 Niro gets a handful of new goodies to distinguish itself from previous years.

The foglights move from the front airdam to just in front of the wheels, while the daytime running lights and grille adopt a chevron motif. The rear valence is also redesigned for a sportier look.

More significant changes are in store for the Niro's cabin. All models now receive an 8-inch touchscreen standard (replacing last year's 7-inch unit), while a new ultra-wide 10.25-inch touchscreen is offered in conjunction with the navigation system. There's also a larger driver information screen in the instrument panel. Newly available paddle shifters and ambient lighting round out the interior improvements.

On the safety side, Kia has added automatic high-beam control, and the adaptive cruise control system gains the ability to stop and accelerate in heavy traffic without forcing the driver to take control.

The Niro calls itself an SUV. But there's no all-wheel drive, so hybrid shoppers in need of four-wheel traction will naturally gravitate toward the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid or even the Toyota Prius AWD-e.

If you don't need all-wheel drive, there are hybrid hatchbacks you might also consider, including the Honda Insight and the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. They offer similar hatchback cargo advantages, but the Insight, in particular, is significantly more refined on the road.