The 2023 Kia Niro is a great all-around option for anyone wanting an efficient, compact crossover. Acceleration is lackluster, but the Niro gains back points with its helpful driving aids, smooth ride quality and value for the money.
Fully redesigned, the 2023 Kia Niro will be offered in three flavors: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric. Here we'll be talking about the regular hybrid; the other variants are reviewed separately. In addition to new styling, updated tech and even more space for people and cargo, Kia promises the new Niro Hybrid will be both better to drive and more fuel-efficient than before, though final EPA fuel economy figures haven't been released.
The outgoing Niro made its debut in 2017, and while there's still a lot to like with that car, it was feeling a bit bland compared to newer, more stylish rivals. This full redesign aims to fix that image, and if newer Kia models like the EV6, K5 sedan and Telluride SUV are any indication, the latest Niro should be plenty strong.
What's under the Niro's hood?
The 2023 Niro Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a 32-kW electric motor. Altogether, the Niro Hybrid will send 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, which is the same output as the outgoing 2022 model.
Kia says the new Niro has a new Green Zone drive mode that uses GPS data to put the car in EV mode in residential areas or in the vicinity of schools and hospitals.
How does the Niro drive?
The Niro defaults to Eco mode, and while it has no issues keeping up with traffic, it isn't going to blow you away with its acceleration. That said, in times when you need a burst of acceleration or simply want to drive more enthusiastically, activating Sport mode provides a noticeable improvement in the throttle response. We averaged between 40 and 42 mpg during our drive on a mix of highways and city streets, which was impressive for a couple of lead-footed journalists trying to test the car's performance.
Forward visibility is excellent, with an expansive view of the road from the driving position. We were also impressed with how well isolated the cabin felt. It dampened wind noise and sounds from the outside, and even the engine felt relatively quiet when it was working hard.
How's the Niro's interior?
Like the exterior, the Niro's interior has been fully redesigned. It's not surprising that the Niro's interior draws a lot of influence from the larger and flashier all-electric EV6. The center console and dashboard aren't exactly the same, but a family resemblance is apparent. Two 10.25-inch displays dominate the dashboard. Even the seats appear to be the same as those in the EV6, and Kia says the Niro will use animal-free textiles, recycled materials for the headliner, and more environmentally friendly paint on some of the interior panels.
Kia has slightly increased the Niro's overall length as well as its wheelbase for this new generation. That means more space inside for passengers and cargo, the latter measuring 22.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
How's the Niro's tech?
As you might expect, the Niro is loaded with some of the latest in-car tech and driver aids that Kia has to offer. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard, though there are multiple USB ports you can plug into as well. Wireless charging is available, too, as is a head-up display that can project speed, navigation directions, media and more onto the windshield. Kia has a smartphone app that can connect to the Niro Hybrid remotely. If you have an Apple iPhone, an Apple Watch or a Samsung Galaxy, your phone can be used to unlock as well as start the car in place of a key fob.
There are a ton of standard driver aids on the Niro Hybrid, including forward collision avoidance, lane keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control as well as enhanced versions of some standard driver aids can be added as optional features.
Edmunds says
Even with more and more full EVs hitting the market, there's still a place for a compact yet spacious hybrid like the 2023 Niro Hybrid. If other recent Kias are any indication, there's going to be a lot to like once we finally get our hands on one.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Kia Niro LX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.08 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Kia Niro from 2008-2022.
$377/yr
vs. $377/yr for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).
0.38x/yr
vs. 0.52x/yr for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).
8.3%
vs. 8.3% for Average Alternative Fuel Vehicle
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
2023 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
I've had my EX for 2 months now. I'm really liking it. It gets super gas mileage in ECO mode which I use almost all the time. I've been getting about 53 mpg (using a lot of regen braking). The ride quality is pretty good considering the wheel/tire size. It could be improved if the wheel/tire size is increased but then you wouldn't have the super mileage it gets. By comparison I … believe the Prius wheels/tires are even smaller so I think this is a good compromise. The build quality is very high, to me almost feels like a luxury car. I was blown away when the sales lady popped the hood at the dealership to have hood raise up by a pair of gas struts. 1st car I've ever owned that doesn't have the prop rod. Interior room is very generous. It has very roomy back seats. 4 adults can ride very comfortably in this car. For me it would have been better to have cramped rear seats and a bit more cargo room behind the seats since we have no kids, just 2 small dogs. The seats are very comfortable. In fact that was one of the selling points for me. One of the more comfortable car seats I've ever sat in. Since the driver seat is all electric it can remember the adjustment settings between different drivers. There is a lot of tech in this car which I'm still getting used to since I'm coming from a 2003 Subaru. Kia recommends you either use top tier gas or add fuel treatment on a regular basis. I'm using Chevron gas which isn't a big deal given that I'm getting 53mpg. Kia classifies this as an SUV which is kind of silly. It's a compact hybrid wagon, 2wd. As a compact hybrid wagon I would say it should be at the top of your list if that's what you are in the market for. I think the Niro will give the Prius some serious competition. I kept my 2003 Subaru for times when I do need an SUV such as the snow storm we recently had.
my 2nd Niro, this 2023 EX hybrid is great
5 out of 5 stars
Chris, 05/02/2023
2023 Kia Niro EX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
I had the 2018 Niro LX and drove that to 100K miles and decided to trade it in on a new one when it came out. I liked the old one and it never had any problems besides oil changes. I drive for those rideshare companies so I put on about 1,000 miles per week. Overall I give it 5 stars because all of my complaints are little things. Most are the same for the new one. Even if this sounds … like a lot of negatives they are all small things. I will probably buy another one when this one gets old.
Here are the good parts for anyone interested in buying one:
I just have mine in eco mode with the regenerative braking at normal and I am getting usually 60mpg, but sometimes it goes between 58-64 depending on where I'm driving. My old one was always getting 60 also until I changed the tires then it dropped to 54. So I assume the same will happen to this because I'm pretty sure they are running with low rolling resistance tires and I will want something quieter and softer when it comes time to change.
It comes with all the safety features that the old one didn't. It has blind spot monitoring which has saved me already, adaptive cruise control which I don't use, auto steering on the freeways which I turned off because I don't like my wheel moving on its own. It has a better backup camera than the old one, especially at night. It has lane departure warning which I turned off because it beeps so much. It has an upgraded suspension so it rides a little smoother, I noticed that right away. It also has more sound deadening which I noticed right away, but it it still noisy.
The back area is bigger than the old one so it can hold more suitcases and the floor can drop down a little which helps. The dash looks amazing and I get lots of compliments when people get in the car. It has charging port on the sides of the front seats too, so people in the back can charge up without me having the run a cable back there like I used to.
Now for the stuff that bugs me:
1. The dealers and their ridiculous markups. This was being advertised for $35K which was $5K over MSRP. Every dealer in my area was doing this. Then trying to say it's because of inflation and costs of labor, which is total BS. I was able to eventually get this EX for $28K which is the LX MSRP. I went in wanting the LX but since the dealers were just ordering the higher trims at the time, they didn't have one. When they asked why I wanted that one I said I didn't need the fake leather seats the EX comes with, nor the metal wheels I will just scrape up. I also didn't need the navigation screen since my phones do that when I am working. So in order to get the sale they gave me the EX for the LX price, but then tried to lowball me on my trade in, so I gave it to Carmax for $4K more. Then he asks me to send some referrals but don't say what I paid because he won't do this deal for other people. So why would I send friends to go pay more than they should? I hate dealers.
2. The intermittent wipers dial is useless. The car has a sensor that detects rain and adjusts the speed of the wipers accordingly...in theory. But just like my BMW that had this feature it doesn't work properly. Sometimes it doesn't go when the glass is covered in rain and I can't see and other times it is going full speed like crazy when there is barely a drop on the window. Please just make the dial like a timer so I can control the speed.
3. The little knob that controls the volume/temperature is so small every time I try to touch it my knuckle touches the auto-climate button next to it which then goes and changes all of the heater and vent controls. Either make the knob stick out more so we can grab it, or just make a separate area for the different controls instead of trying to be cute and having 1 touch panel handle the temps and radio.
4. The radio power on the stock unit is awful. I don't know how the fancy upgraded one sounds but the stock needs a big upgrade. I added an underseat sub just to give it some lows that it didn't have before, but the unit has to be turned up so loud to hear music over the road noise that it needs it's own amp. And don't forget, I drive rideshare so I don't play it loud anyway since there are always people in the backseat. Having even a 50watt per channel boost will help a lot.
5. The sideblade thing is just a design choice that they tried to justify adding by saying it helps wind resistance. But the air just goes to the same place it would go if it wasn't there, and the mpg is the same. Most I have seen for sale have the panel the body color already, and I think it only comes in gray or black anyway. But it will really just be a place for pine needles to get stuck in and you'll have to blow it out when washing the car. Just say it is Audi R8 inspired design and leave it at that.
6. The EX comes with everything inside being gloss black which shows dust and fingerprints like crazy. The LX has a matte surface. But it also has a bigger screen which looks better than the small one in a square cut out like the LX has. It also comes with fake leather seats which I'm not sure how long they will last. We will see. I prefer cloth.
7. Finally my biggest complaint, power. This thing is slow. Our other car is a Camry hybrid which blows this thing away. I get 10+mpg more in this than we do in the Camry, but the Camry is much quieter and goes up hills easily. The engine in this car sounds like a semi truck when you are trying to go up a hill. Especially if you stopped on a hill to drop someone off and then try to go. It does not want to get out of second gear and when it gets close to 3,000 RPM it is so incredibly loud I can't believe it. I try to force it into 3rd by going into manual mode but I shouldn't have to. I think the redline must be 3200 judging by the noise it makes. It sounds like I am revving the heck out of it when I'm not. It just has no power. Getting onto the freeway you need lots of room.
I know this sounds like a lot of complaining, but believe me, it is a good car and I am going to consider getting a 3rd one when the time comes. Unless the Seltos becomes hybrid by then since it has AWD or some other AWD hybrid comes down in price. The Sorento and Rav4 AWD hybrids cost too much. So we will see what is available in 2 years.
1st Kia after a Hyundai customer for 15 yrs
5 out of 5 stars
TJ from N.J., 12/13/2022
2023 Kia Niro EX Touring 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
After being a customer with Hyundai for 15 yrs I’ve decided to switch to Kia. Kia brand appears to be much more futuristic, both exterior and interior
. So far I’ve enjoyed this EX touring Niro hybrid. May not look that big but it does have plenty interior space.Nice modern looking dash
Ride is pretty good just remember this vehicle only cost 33 grand but has quite a few options
Wish I … stepped up to the SX version but a few more options I would like to have, but on the lot models were kinda limited.One thing I miss is the upgrade sound system. Again for 33 grand delivers enough power as far as I’m concerned
Nice Navigation system and delivers what’s on the sticker as far as MPG . Lowest reading was 47 and highest was 52 mpg. Will keep you up to date as time goes on in my Kia
UPDATE: My four month update w 2,500 miles on it.
Still enjoy my E X touring . If driving aggressively and what I mean is keeping up with traffic on the highway in Jersey your mileage drops to about
37-39 MPG , otherwise around town 45-49 MPG.
Climate and audio controls at first I thought it was pretty cool but now find it annoying taking your eyes off the road to toggle between radio and climate controls
Update 17 months 15,000 miles
As of May 2024 car still running fine
No issues other than the GPS half of the streets
Does not display on the screen had a reset of the GPS from the dealership but still the same
Car gets usually 54 MPG city driving, Highway 42
Goldilocks Perfect
5 out of 5 stars
S.Deemer, 02/18/2023
2023 Kia Niro SX 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
Update: August 26, 2024: 21,600 miles. Calculated cumulative fuel consumption between 8,000 and 20,000 miles: 53.7 mpg. OEM (Nexen) tires wore quickly. Replaced on July 8 with Goodyear Assurance MaxLife. Much quieter. No significant issues in first 20,000 miles. Still the best car I have ever owned.
Update: August 22, 2023: 8,000 mile service on August 4, 2023. No significant issues … since purchase. However, hydraulic fluid reservoir for engine actuator clutch appears to have been grossly overfilled at the factory, and was badly contaminated at 2,900 miles. I sucked out the contaminated fluid and replaced it with fresh DOT-4. Repeated at 6,000 miles. Service manager looked at my photo of contaminated vs fresh fluid, and agreed to replace and flush as part of 8,000 mile service. Calculated cumulative fuel consumption between 3,000 and 8,000 miles was 51.8 mpg.
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I was looking for something with more cargo room than my 2018 Buick Encore, and originally thought I wanted a Kia Sportage HEV. After a test drive of both a Niro and a Sportage, I decided that the Niro SX was a better fit for my needs. The Niro has significantly more cargo space than the Encore, better handling and performance and gas mileage, far better ergonomics, and about the same ride and seat comfort.
My Niro is approaching 2,000 miles and even after 7 weeks of ownership, it seems like I discover new features every week. On a 900 mile road trip, with a passenger and about 300 pounds of cargo, it averaged 46 MPG; for mixed urban/suburban driving it is averaging 54 MPG. Power has not been an issue; it climbed to steep grades across the Appalachians without running out of breath.
In 58 years of owning cars, the Niro is the first car I have ever fallen in love with.
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