Until electric vehicles replace internal combustion and become mainstream world over, hybrid technology represents the present and the near future of the automotive industry. The 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid, is the Korean automaker’s compact crossover SUV, which is all set in its latest avatar to hit the market in 2021. It’s a practical compact crossover with no compromise in comfort and cabin space. For the 2021 model year, it gets some noticeable upgrades in performance and features chief among which is the introduction of a new hybrid variant. The 2021 Niro Hybrid could be expected to stand at a base price of around $25,000.
Fuel Economy of 2021 Kia Vehicles. EPA MPG Owner MPG Estimates 2021 Kia. 2021 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (AM-S6) Elec+Gas. With a fuel consumption of 1.3 litres/100km - 217 mpg UK - 181 mpg US (Average), 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 10.8 seconds, a maximum top speed of 107 mph (172 km/h), a curb weight of 3349 lbs (1519 kgs), the Niro 1.6 GDi PHEV has a naturally-aspirated Inline 4 cylinder engine, Hybrid / Petrol motor. View detailed gas mileage data for the 2019 Kia Niro. Use our handy tool to get estimated annual fuel costs based on your driving habits.
Thinking ahead of its time, Kia has invested a lot in the automation and electrification of their cars. And the category that the 2021 Kia Niro hybrid drops in has some really good competition. Special mention should be made of the Toyota Prius that has been setting standards in the hybrid vehicle segment for years now. The Kia Niro on the contrary is a compact SUV car with the peppy feedback of a hybrid vehicle. Let’s look at the detailed review of this compact crossover SUV.
What’s New with the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid?
- Safety and Infotainment upgrades.
- Slight Exterior touch-ups
- Aesthetically uplifted interior
- Updated Hybrid technology
Expected Price and Release Date of the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid
The 2021 Kia Niro is expected to come with a price tag around $24,000 which hits the right spot in terms of affordability. And provided the tech-packed interiors, the price seems all the more apt. The 2021 Niro is expected to release at the end of 2020 and if the pandemic situation continues then an early 2021 release should be in the cards.
What to expect in the engine department of the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid?
Kia Niro Awd Mpg
Coming to the highlight of this compact SUV, the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine along with an AC Synchronous Permanent Magnet Motor. This hybrid combination delivers 139 hp and 195 lb-ft torque to the front wheels. The 6-speed automatic transmission would remain the same as the previous model with a dual-clutch system.
It won't be a super-fast crossover by any means, but it manages to hold its ground fairly well in this segment, and the 139 hp engine takes this car from 0-60 in 9.3 seconds. Talking about the hybrid system, a 240V outlet would charge the battery in about 2.5 hours. Some improvements in the performance and transmission department can be expected.
Models | 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid (expected) | 2020 Hyundai loniq Hybrid | 2020 Toyota Prius Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
Base MSRP | $25,000 (Est) | $23,200 | $24,325 |
Engine | 1.6L I4 full parallel hybrid system | 1.6L GDI I-4 Gas/Electric | 1.8L I-4 Gas/Electric |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD |
Transmission | 6-speed DCT | 6-speed DCT | EVCT |
Power | 139hp @5700rpm | 139hp @5700rpm | 121hp @5200rpm |
Torque | 195 lb-ft @ N/A | N/A | N/A |
*2020 figures used for reference.
The Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq produce the same power with the same transmission setup, while the Toyota Prius lacks outright power. The FWD setup should be upgraded to AWD for a more all-round package but the addition of AWD seems to be off the table at least for this update. The acceleration of the 2021 Niro Hybrid seems to be one of the best in this segment.
How many miles to the gallon will the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid deliver?
This is where the Kia wants you to focus on this car. The hybrid and fuel engine setup promises exceptional fuel economy and surely justify the upcoming model’s price compared to the non-hybrid versions. The Kia Niro delivers 52/49/50 mpg figures on city/highway/combined, and the 11.9-gallon fuel tank along with the hybrid system would be just sufficient, as the engine is capable of charging the batteries on the move.
Models | 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid (expected) | 2020 Hyundai loniq Hybrid | 2020 Toyota Prius Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) | 52 | 57 | 58 |
MPG (Highway) | 49 | 59 | 53 |
MPG (Combined) | 50 | 58 | 56 |
Fuel tank Capacity (Gallons) | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.3 |
Range(City/Highway) (miles) | 609.9/547.4 | 678.3/702.1 | 655.4/598.9 |
*2020 figures used for reference.
The Toyota Prius and Hyundai loniq definitely win the mpg race, but the Kia Niro has acceptable mpg figures, and no means is it bad in terms of fuel economy. The 2021 Niro is expected to maintain the same figures, so there’s nothing new in this section.
What to expect from the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid interior?
The interior of the Kia Niro Hybrid is definitely a nice place to be in, because of its spacious cabin, comfortable seats, and standard features along with good upholstery. Talking about the seats, they are quite comfortable, and the driver’s side seat features power adjustment. The passenger seats are good too, with 4-way manual adjustment, and the front pair gets seat heating and ventilation. The rear seats are 40/60 split-foldable, to provide more space for cargo. The quality of materials used is good, and most importantly durable.
The low dashboard and big windshield ensure great visibility for the driver and the front passenger, but the rear sloping roofline could hinder the view out, that is compensated with the standard rear-view camera. The ingress and egress from the car are easy due to the large doors and low sills. The 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space is acceptable. Thanks to the cleverly packaged battery pack which is housed under the rear seats, it can be further expanded up to 54.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This should be sufficient for a small family vacation.
Model | 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid (expected) | 2020 Hyundai loniq Hybrid | 2020 Toyota Prius Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Front row(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) | 38.0/55.5/41.5 | 39.1/56.1/42.2 | 39.4/55.0/42.3 |
Second row(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) | 39.1/55.2/37.4 | 37.4/55.0/35.7 | 37.4/53.0/33.4 |
Cargo Capacity (cubic feet) | 19.4 | 26.5 | 24.6 |
*2020 figures used for reference.
The cabin space of the Niro Hybrid is comparable to both its rivals and has minute differences. The Kia Niro offers the least space in this segment, and the Hyundai loniq and Toyota Prius have an impressive cargo capacity of 26.5 and 24.6 cubic feet respectively. The Kia Niro has ample interior cargo space for storing knick-knacks such as a large center armrest, passenger glove box, door pockets for bottle storage, a small concealed bin upfront, overhead sunglasses, and two cup holders in the center console.
2021 Kia Niro Hybrid: Infotainment and Connectivity
The 2020 Kia Niro had some standard features which should be largely unchanged for the 2021 model as well such as keyless entry, drive mode select, tilt and telescoping column, automatic climate control, and cruise control, hill-start assist. Opting for the higher variants would give you access to push-button start, leather-wrapped steering, and safety features like blind-spot detection, forward-collision avoidance, lane-assist with the Kia’s DriveWise suite. Other optional features available are heated steering wheel, leather seats, rear park assist.
Talking about the infotainment system, there’s an 8-inch touchscreen to control all your activity. Connectivity features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB, FM, Sirius XM. The 6-speaker Harman Kardon system won’t fail to impress you, while the higher trims would have an 8-speaker system with surround sound, 10.25-inch LCD display, HD satellite radio, and navigation. The 2020 model shows that it was sufficiently equipped with all the features for safety, infotainment, and comfort. Thus, the new variant wouldn’t require many upgrades, and would mostly carry forward the features from its predecessor.
Will there be any changes to the exterior of the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid?
The Kia Niro Hybrid has a sharp design and modern aesthetics that were majorly upgraded in the 2020 model. The diamond-pattern grille, spoilers, and well-designed LED headlights and taillights wouldn’t fail to catch your eye, while features like power-adjustable mirrors, power sunroof, auto control headlights, fog-lights give this car a Premium feel.
The 2021 model would bring about some changes to its front fascia which should include the likes of the slightly revised bumper, while some features could be made standard for the base variants.
Models | 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid (expected) | 2020 Hyundai loniq Hybrid | 2020 Toyota Prius Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lb) | 3100 | 2996 | 3010 |
Length (in.) | 171.5 | 176 | 180 |
Width (in.) | 71.1 | 71.7 | 69.3 |
Height (in.) | 60.8 | 56.9 | 57.9 |
Ground Clearance (in.) | 6.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 |
Wheelbase (in.) | 106.3 | 106.3 | 106.3 |
Track Width (F/R) (in) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*2020 figures used for reference.
The Kia Niro seems to be the heaviest in this segment and could be the reason for its comparatively lower mileage. The Hyundai loniq and Toyota Prius are significantly longer but fall short in the height and ground clearance department. The same numbers would be expected from the 2021 model, and no major changes are expected in the exterior other than the front fascia.
Will the 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid be worth my money and time?
The 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid definitely has some impressive features, cabin space, performance, and handling, and ride quality. But compared with its rivals, it does fall short in terms of mileage, and cargo space and comes at a higher cost. But the performance it delivers along with the standard features surely justifies its worth and undoubtedly proves its motto of giving the world a more conventional hybrid SUV.
Below is a list of KIA Niro Hybrid models available to buy new in 2021 ordered by MPG. Selecting a KIA Niro Hybrid with high fuel economy will lead to lower running costs: lower fuel costs, and most likely lower car tax and company car tax.
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KIA Niro Hybrid fuel economy
Kia Niro Mpg 2018
The 'Official MPG' figures for the KIA Niro Hybrid are derived from the NEDC test. There are two parts to the test: an 'urban' cycle designed to reflect driving in a city environment with many stops and starts and an 'extra-urban' cycle designed to mirror more steady state motorway and country routes. The 'combined' figure, which is the most often quoted, is an average of 'urban' and 'extra-urban' weighted by the distances covered in each test.
Often drivers find that it is difficult to achieve the official MPG figures, and it is well understood that these rates should be used as a comparison rather than a target to achieve. Next Green Car has estimated a 'Real MPG' figure for the KIA Niro Hybrid, which reflects real-world conditions more closely. See the real MPG page for more info.
Even within a model range like the KIA Niro Hybrid, it is worth considering which model to select carefully as the MPG for different models can vary substantially. Fuel economy is directly linked to the tail-pipe CO2 emissions of a vehicle, thus a higher MPG KIA Niro Hybrid model, will not only result in lower fuel costs but potentially a lower tax rate and less impact on the environment.
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