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The redesigned 2023 Kia Niro is a hatchback marketed as a small crossover that seats five in a pinch. Sold as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or battery electric vehicle (EV), the Niro offers an efficient powertrain for customers all along the green spectrum. For instance, Toyota has hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Prius and RAV4, but not a full electric version.
Larger, roomier, edgier, and more efficient, the second-generation Kia Niro makes thrift cool. Pending crash-test results, the 2023 Kia Niro earns a TCC Rating of 6.8 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Just about everything improves in the next iteration of the Kia Niro, which first launched in the U.S. for the 2017 model year. Specifically, it’s better built and equipped to handle U.S. crash tests, it’s larger inside and out, it’s finished less like a budget car, all three models are available nationwide, the EV has a 253-mile range, and automatic emergency braking, as well as many other driver-assist features, finally come standard.
The most noticeable change arrives with its daring new design. The small hatchback grows into more crossover-like proportions, highlighted by a boomerang body panel in black or two-tone body color that covers the D-pillar descending from the roof to the rear wheels. The interior bows to crossover trends, with an arcing dash stretched horizontally and slapped with too much gloss-black plastic around an available 10.3-inch touchscreen.
The vibe remains efficient on the 2023 Niro and its three electrified powertrains, which all boast efficiency gains in their front-wheel-drive setups. The Niro hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter inline-4 with a 32-kw electric motor to produce 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It won’t go fast but it’ll go far with an EPA rating of 53 mpg combined, which is at least 3 mpg better than the outgoing model.
The Niro PHEV one-ups the hybrid with the same engine paired to a 62-kw motor that’s juiced by an 11.1-kwh lithium-ion polymer battery. Output increases to 180 hp and 195 lb-ft, and the electric range increases from 26 miles in the outgoing model to 33 miles when the 2023 Niro is fitted with 16-inch wheels. Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid use a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The 2023 Niro EV also improves, from a 239-mile EPA range to an estimated 253 miles, from a 64.8-kwh battery pack.
The efficiency gains appear more impressive with the 2023 Niro’s larger proportions. At 174 inches long, it’s 2.5 inches longer than its predecessor and its wheelbase is an inch longer. There’s more cargo room and rear passenger space, making it a great road tripper for the college bound, a weekend errand runner for the empty nester, and an efficient getaway car for the urban dweller. EVs give up a small amount of rear foot space but give usefulness back in the form of an extra cargo tray under the hood.
Crash-test results are pending, but Kia equips the 2023 Niro with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and other welcome driver-assist features.
How much does the 2023 Kia Niro cost?
The 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid starts under $28,000, including a $1,295 destination fee, for the base LX, and EX and SX grades barely crack $35,000. The Niro Plug-in Hybrid starts at about $35,000 for EX and SX models. Options include heated and cooled front seats, power-folding side mirrors, wireless phone charging, a head-up display, ambient lighting, Harman Kardon sound, and a digital key for remote access to the car through a smartphone. Niro EV versions start at $40,745 but include some of those extras as standard.
Where is the 2023 Kia Niro made?
In South Korea.
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