Introduced to the market as an all-new model for the 2017 model year, the 2018 Kia Niro is a fresh and fuel efficient hybrid crossover. The 2018 Kia Niro has a number of safety and convenience features, and it's modern look sets it apart from other crossovers on the market.
UVO
Standard Infotainment System
Engine + Fuel Economy
The 2018 Kia Niro is available in four trims, the FE, LX, EX and Touring. All four trims are equipped with the same hybrid powertrain and front-wheel-drive. The hybrid powertrain is made up of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired to an electric motor that's powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery. The engine and motor transfer their power to the vehicle's wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The 1.6L engine produces 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque, and when the engine and motor work together the vehicle produces 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.
Thanks to the Niro's efficient powertrain, it has an excellent fuel economy. When the Kia Niro is equipped with 16-inch wheels it has a fuel economy of 52 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway and when equipped with 18-inch wheels it averages 46 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. According to fueleconomy.gov, the annual fuel cost of the 2018 Kia Niro (16-inch wheels) is $850 and fueleconomy.gov estimates that after five years drivers will save $3,250 driving the Kia Niro in comparison to the average vehicle.
The Kia Niro has two rows of seats and comfortably seats five adults. The Kia Niro offers front seat passengers 41.7 inches of legroom and rear seat passengers have 37.4 inches of legroom. The second-row seat is a 60/40 split-folding seat and it is really easy for users to fold the seats down when extra room is needed for cargo. When the second-row seat is up the trunk has 19.4 cubic-feet of space and when the second-row seat is folded flat, there is 54.5 cubic-feet of space.
The Kia Niro FE and LX trims come standard with cloth seats, the Niro EX is equipped with a combination of cloth and leather seats, and the Niro Touring has leather seats. The Niro EX and Niro Touring have heated front seats, and the Niro Touring comes standard with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel, and both of those features are available upgrades on the Niro EX.
Since the 2018 Kia Niro is a very new model, it has excellent tech features, including a standard rearview camera and Bluetooth wireless handsfree connectivity. UVO, Kia's brand name infotainment system, is standard on all Niro trims and it provides access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2018 Kia Niro FE, LX and EX are equipped with a 7-inch color touchscreen, UVO and SiriusXM and a six-speaker audio system. The Niro Touring features an 8-inch touchscreen display, UVO, SiriusXM Traffic, HD Radio, voice-command navigation system, and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium surround sound audio system (available upgrades on the Niro EX).
Exterior + Safety
The Kia Niro comes standard with a lot of excellent exterior features like solar control glass, a sound-absorbing front windshield and heated rear glass. The Niro's standard and optional lighting options are above average. All Niro trims are equipped with auto light control, projector beam headlights, and LED positioning lights and fog lights are standard on the Niro EX and Touring trims.
Kia is one of the few brands that equips all trims with the same standard safety features, meaning buyers don't need to spend more to get a safer vehicle. The Niro's standard safety features include dual front advanced airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, dual front-seat mounted side airbags and a driver's knee airbag. In case of an collision that occurs on the side of the vehicle, passengers are protected by the side-impact door beams, and the vehicle's crumple zones help absorb the energy from an impact.
The Kia Niro has a starting MSRP of $23,340 (plus destination fees), and that includes Kia's industry-leading warranty. The warranty includes a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty and a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.