2020 Kia Niro Review, Pictures, Pricing and Specs

2020 Kia Niro Review: A Contemporary-Hybrid Crossover

The 2020 Kia Niro is a compact-crossover SUV offering car-like drivability & also SUV-like usefulness synonymous with the course, but with the added advantage of hybrid-level fuel-efficiency. Under the hood of the Kia Niro is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder intermixed engine that’s paired to 1.56 kWh lithium-ion battery for consolidated results of 139 horse power and 195 lb-ft of torque. This is directed to the Niro’s front-wheel-drive by means of a six-speed dual-clutch-automatic-transmission.

With this powertrain, the Kia Niro is one of one of the most fuel-efficient crossbreeds available. With EPA gas mileage price quotes of 50 mpg returned in blended driving problems, just the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius resemble that magic mark. The Kia Niro isn’t just an easy-to-drive, practical, and also highly fuel-efficient crossover hybrid SUV, however it is also a relatively stylish one that’s packed with contemporary-features and also safety modern technology, which altogether make it a suitable family traveler.

2020 Kia Niro Changes: What’s the difference vs 2019 Niro?

For its mid-cycle refresh, the Kia Niro gets a myriad of enhancements and also alterations in addition to a reshuffling of trims. Aesthetic updates include a new diamond-patterned grille, new fronts lights with brand-new LED daytime running lights in a double-chevron arrangement, a wider, a lot more pronounced back faux skid plate, redesigned taillights, and brand-new 16- as well as 18-inch wheel layouts.

There’s also a brand-new instrument panel including a seven-inch electronic scale collection that has actually been upgraded with boosted drive-mode graphics, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system has been made common as well as a 10.25-inch device optional.

Additionally newly optional are steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that use a sportier driving experience and also boosted energetic regenerative braking control, there’s an electronic parking brake available, also, as well as in-cabin state of mind illumination with 6 various colors. Some trim-specific modifications consist of ahead accident evasion, blind-spot warning as well as lane maintain help on the brand-new LXS trim a common sunroof on the Touring, and also synthetic natural leather seats with the bigger infotainment display screen on the top-end EX Premium.

2020 Kia Niro Exterior 

The Kia Niro lugs the common modern crossover SUV design values, yet this year features a new diamond-patterned grille upfront with upgraded headlights, and LED daytime running lights in a double-chevron arrangement for an even more contemporary visual. There are upgraded taillights as well as an extra noticable synthetic skid plate at the back, as well. From the Visiting model onward, front fog lights, LED rear mix lights, as well as a power tilt/sliding sunroof are basic.

Bi-function projection fronts lights with automobile light control are conventional in all yet the Touring Special Edition, which features LEDs rather, all designs feature a black beltline, wheel arch cladding, as well as a rear looter with an LED high installed quit lamp. The LX, LXS, and EX Premium all trip atop 16-inch alloy wheels all fresh made, while the Touring and also Touring Special Edition both ride on recently designed 18-inch alloy wheels.

2020 Kia Niro Dimensions

Because of its intermixed elements, the Niro flaunts slightly larger dimensions than the ordinary compact crossover SUV. At a general size of 171.5-inches, it’s 7.5 inches much longer than the Hyundai-Kona, its height of 60.8 inches-makes it a tad little bit much shorter, yet its width of 71.1 inches makes it a little-wider.

Its 106.3-inch-wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than the Hyundai Kona’s though the Kona trips 0.4-inches higher than the Kia Niro’s 6.3-inch running ground clearance. Suppress weights differ by trim, as well as without any main numbers released for 2020, it’s safe to think resemblances to 2019 models varying between 3,100 extra pounds and also 3,300 lbs.

2020 Kia Niro Exterior Colors

There are an overall of 7 exterior paint colors readily available for the 2020 Kia Niro schedule. Available for all designs at no added expense are Silky Silver and also Deep Cerulean, Aurora Black and Snow White Pearl are additionally available for all versions but at an additional cost of $395. From the Touring version forward, there’s Perspective Blue readily available as well at no cost as well as Runway Red an added expense of $295. The Touring Special Edition, however, is readily available only in Horizon Blue and another exclusive paint shade, Solar Orange, which needs the addition of the Orange Inside Package.

Kia Niro Hybrid Performance

The Kia Niro crossbreed’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine partner with an electric motor as well as a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, providing power to the front wheels fairly effectively, specifically within the boundaries of the city streets. With its 0 to 60 miles per hour time of around 8.6 secs, however, the Niro will not be amazing to even one of the most reserved of drivers, yet it does still take care of to really feel rather vivacious around town.

Its combined 139 hp & 195 lb-ft of torque is sufficient to do the institution run without a hassle. Sadly, Kia doesn’t supply the Niro with the choice of all-wheel-drive or with the ability to tow at all. Though especially costlier, both the Toyota RAV4 and also the Honda CR-V crossbreeds are equipped with a lot more powerful engines and also are supplied with irreversible all-wheel-drive systems as common, offering the Niro a run for its money.

Engine and Transmission

The Kia Niro’s 1.6-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine is simply fine for regular trips around town. While the engine itself creates 104 hp and also 109 lb-ft, the A/C synchronous motor it’s incorporated with contributes an additional 43 hp as well as 125 lb-ft for mixed results of 139 horse power and 195 lb-ft of torque. All results are directed through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission to the front-wheel-drive of every version.

The Niro is fairly vivacious with this setup, specifically around community, nevertheless, the engine’s constraints are quickly gotten to, especially when increasing up high slopes or on longer journeys, and when needing to travel at higher rates – top speed is estimated at around 120 miles per hour.

While the majority of contemporary crossbreeds take advantage of a CVT, the Niro’s DCT is a nice break from the norm. Its actions are much more exact and also it tangibly provides power more readily; there is, nonetheless, an obvious feeling of doubt in the shift shows, particularly with difficult velocity from a quit. Engaging the Sport drive mode helps to reduce this a bit by boosting the powertrain’s throttle action and also change times.

Handling and Driving Impressions

It takes a little-time for the Kia Niro to collect itself up originally, and also the sluggish pick-up can be irritating, yet it can be mainly reduced via use the Sport setting. As a result of the Kia Niro’s portable crossover SUV arrangement, it flights more like a typical cars and truck than an SUV. It’s easy to steer around tight city streets as well as it displays very little-body roll in the corners, thanks to its-low center of gravity.

The Niro isn’t one of the most comfortable lorry on the road, but its ride quality appropriates however. Its 6.3-inch ground-clearance still leaves enough room for the suspension to soak up some larger bumps, while much more common road imperfections and wavinesses are effectively avoided reverberating with to the cabin. The cabin continues to be considerably peaceful also, also at greater rates.

When it comes to the steering, actions are exact as well as the weighting neither as well significant or as well light. Engaging the Sport mode, nevertheless, weights up the feeling dramatically. There is some ambiguity on the facility feel of the steering, yet it otherwise always tracks straight without tip of dead spots. While the brakes work great in day-to-day driving scenarios, they can occasionally feel instead squishy, specifically with heavy braking as a result of the changeover to regenerative braking.

Niro Gas Mileage

The Kia Niro carries out incredibly as a hybrid, in a class where gas mileage is the name of the game – just the Hyundai Ioniq and also Toyota Prius come close to what the Niro supplies. The base-spec Niro, the LX, is one of the most thrifty model on 16-inch alloy wheels, with EPA-derived price quotes of 52/49/50 mpg city/highway/combined. The mid-spec LXS as well as top-spec EX Premium are a little heavier and are consequently a little much less frugal with EPA estimates of 51/46/49 mpg on those exact same cycles.

The Touring and also Touring Scandal Sheet are both furnished with larger 18-inch alloy wheels resulting in also lower gas mileage price quotes of 46/40/43 mpg. Every model of kia niro is equipped with a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion battery and an 11.9-gallon gas storage tank, with the storage tank filled up, the Niro LX should have the ability to cruise on for around 595-miles on a single tank.

Kia Niro Crossover Interior

Kia did a terrific task with the Niro’s interior, the construct high quality is spot on and the mix of both tough and also soft-touch products have actually been used in a way that has the cabin feel and look masterfully worked with and well created. The layout is very simplified and also easy to understand, and also the 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen in the Touring Special Edition as well as EX Premium is definitely a crowd-pleaser, in addition to the eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.

Guest room is good throughout the cabin, while any kind of adult will quickly discover a suitable seating position in advance. Room in the rear seats can be instead restricted, especially with taller adults occupying the front seats, nonetheless.

Seating and Interior Space

General cabin space in the Niro is respectable for the sector, while there is seating for approximately five passengers, only four will actually be comfortable, as the shoulder area in the rear seats lessens promptly with two grownups in the outboard seats. There’s a lot of space in the front seats even for six-foot-tall adults, as well as the seats feature decent degrees of adjustability, making it simple for many guests to discover an optimal seating setting.

Outside visibility is excellent out front, though the sloping rearward roofline does prevent the sight out the back a little, luckily the standard-fit rearview electronic camera assists make rearward maneuvers much easier. Access and egress are uncomplicated to as well as from any one of the seats, thanks to the Niro’s huge door openings.

Interior Colors and Materials

The interior of the Niro is cosmetically pleasing, in spite of its famous use hard-touch plastics. Soft-touch materials have been made use of on key-touch factors and also a leather-wrapped steering wheel assists keep the perception of respectable quality. Woven as well as weaved towel seating upholstery is standard in the LX as well as LXS in Gray or Charcoal, while the Visiting functions a cloth/leatherette combination in Charcoal.

The Touring Special Edition functions leatherette furniture with orange accented sewing as well as orange dashboard trim depending on the exterior shade chosen. The seats in the Kia Nero EX Premium are upholstered totally in artificial leather upholstery. A lot of the offered color choices are linked to certain exterior paint shades, and also this needs to be remembered when selecting your overall appearance.

Niro Trunk and Cargo Space

With the Niro’s battery pack stored listed below the rear seats rather than in the cargo bay, practicality is maintained to a fairly suitable standard in contrast with the competitors. The Niro provides 19.4 cubic feet of functional room in its cargo bay, that’s sufficient room for a couple of treking rucksacks and a cooler box for treats. Cargo area increases to 54.5 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats launched. While the Kia Niro’s cargo bay is a little larger than the Kona’s, which uses 19.2 dices, the Honda CR-V Crossbreed’s 33.2 dices exceeds both, though.

In-cabin storage space solutions consist of a small-items container in the forward facility stack, 2 cupholders behind that, and also a reasonably huge facility armrest cubby better back. There’s a passenger-side handwear cover box, door side pockets capable of holding containers in all doors, seatback map pockets from mid-level trims, and 2 cupholders in the facility back armrest.

Niro Infotainment and Features
Features

While the base trims of the Kia Niro may be fairly simplistic, specification levels do raise favorably with the jump to every consecutive trim. In the LX, there’s keyless access and also remote engine start, there’s a drive setting pick system, tilt-and-telescoping guiding column, four-way manually-adjustable pole position, dual-zone automatic climate control, an integrated rearview cam, cruise control, as well as hill-start help.

Moving up to the LXS sees keyless entrance with push-button start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, as well as Kia’s Drive Wise suite of sophisticated vehicle driver help modern technologies including blind-spot detection with back cross-traffic alert, onward accident evasion with pedestrian discovery, and also lane-keep assist with vehicle driver interest warning.

The Touring is the very first model to feature Kia’s brand-new steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and also obtains a ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a digital parking brake, lane adhering to aid, and wise cruise-control with quit as well as go.

The Touring Special Edition obtains seatback pockets as well as leather seats.

The top-spec Kia Niro EX Premium features a heated steering wheel, heated as well as ventilated pole positions, and also rear park assist.

Infotainment

For the 2020 model year, infomercial is covered by a brand-new eight-inch touchscreen as standard, the pictures it presents are crisp and it comes connected to an AM/FM/MP3-compatible stereo and also supply six-speaker stereo, with complete smart device assimilation in Android Car and also Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free procedure, as well as voice recognition.

In the Kia Niro Touring, the system is updated with an embedded modem that permits 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot abilities. The Touring Scandal Sheet and EX Premium both include a 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen with a system comprehensive of SiriusXM and HD satellite radio connection as well as navigating, it likewise comes connected to a premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound stereo as criterion. A solitary front USB battery charger and 12V power electrical outlet are provided and a wireless phone battery charger is offered in the EX Premium.

Niro Problems and Reliability

The current generation Kia Niro has gone through only four major recalls since its beginning in 2017 with 3 of those remembers referring to that certain year’s model. Neither the 2019 nor the 2020 year versions have gone through any kind of recalls, a good sign that Kia has actually ironed out the concerns. J.D. Power also saw it fit to give the 2019 Kia Niro a Great Quality as well as Dependability score of 76/100, which must rollover. Nevertheless, Kia still covers the Niro with a remarkable ten-year/100,000- mile hybrid system as well as powertrain service warranty as well as with a five-year/60,000- mile bumper-to-bumper service warranty.

Kia Niro Hybrid Safety

The 2020 rendition of the Niro has not yet ungone evaluation by either of the USA’s major authorities, although the pedestrian monitoring as well as front collision prevention systems in the Niro range racked up Advanced and also Superior from the IIHS in testing. The 2019 Kia Niro’s testimonials caused a four-star general safety and security ranking from the NHTSA, but the authority added a caution that frontal collision examinations suggested the possibility for higher probability of breast injuries. The 2019 Kia Niro Crossbreed was voted a Top Security Select + from the IIHS for ratings that our team believe can be rollovered for the upgraded 2020 year version.

Key Safety Features

A consignment of 7 air bags, consisting of a vehicle driver’s side knee air bag, is typical throughout the Niro schedule. At the base-level, aiding the vehicle driver in the method of safety is an incorporated rearview cam, cruise ship control, as well as hill-start assist. The LXS is additionally set up with Kia’s Drive Wise collection of driver aids which makes up blind-spot detection with back cross-traffic alert, ahead collision evasion with pedestrian discovery, as well as lane-keep help with driver interest caution. In addition to those, the Touring additionally gets lane adhering to help as well as clever cruise control with stop as well as go. Finally, the Kia Nero EX Premium comes featuring a rear park help system as standard.

Verdict: Is the 2020 Kia Niro a good SUV?As a portable crossover hybrid SUV, the Kia Niro is a rather straight-forward package and also its advantages lie clearly in what it supplies as a hybridized crossover SUV – extraordinary gas mileage approximates as a hybrid FWD vehicle, in addition to the simple drivability and also decent level of usefulness identified keeping that of its crossover SUV body. It likewise boasts a great infotainment system, which is one of the a lot more straightforward, comprehensive, as well as high-quality devices around.

The larger 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen is just one of the biggest displays within the compact course, too. Regrettably, there are also many drawbacks to the Kia Niro. First of all, it’s not offered in all-wheel-drive, it supplies no towing capability, as well as its straight-line efficiency as well as taking care of dynamics are typical at finest. In general, the Kia Niro provides a reasonable equilibrium, yet most of its competitors beat it in crucial areas and are absolutely worth consideration.

What’s the Price of the 2020 Kia Niro?

The most cost effective version from the 2020 Niro schedule is the LX, which, in the US, is available in at a beginning MSRP of $24,590, omitting any tax, enrollment, as well as licensing costs along with Kia’s $1,120 location and taking care of fee. For a few extra driver-assist procedures, the LXS follows closely at a price of $25,990. The Touring substances mainly on creature-comforts and is valued at $28,290. Next up is the Kia Niro Touring Special Edition, which includes a special aesthetic for a base rate of $30,790. For every little thing the Niro schedule has to supply, the top-of-the-line EX Premium is provided at a price tag of $32,790.

New 2020 Kia Niro Models

There are 5 models that make up the Kia Niro schedule, the LX, LXS, Touring, Touring Special Edition, and EX Premium. Under the hood of every version is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine that’s incorporated with a 1.56 kWh battery and also an electric motor. The engine’s results are directed to the Niro’s front-wheel-drive using a six-speed dual-clutch automatic-transmission.

Riding atop 16-inch alloy wheels is the Kia Niro LX, featuring bi-function forecast fronts lights with car light control, a black beltline, wheel arch cladding, as well as a rear spoiler with an LED high placed quit light. In regards to cabin specifications, there’s keyless entrance as well as remote ignition, four-way manually-adjustable pole position, and dual-zone automatic climate control. For safety and security, there’s an integrated rearview camera, cruise ship control, as well as hill-start assist. Treatment infomercial is an eight-inch LCD touchscreen and six-speaker sound system. Seats are draped in woven cloth furniture.

In the LXS there’s keyless entrance with push-button start, a leather-wrapped wheel and also shifter, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, ahead crash avoidance with pedestrian discovery, and also lane-keep assist with motorist interest caution.

With 18-inch alloy wheels within the-wheel arches, both the Touring as well as Touring Scandal sheet also come with front haze lights, LED back mix lights, and also a power tilt/sliding sunroof. Both get Kia’s brand-new steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an electronic hand brake, lane adhering to help, and smart cruise control with stop and also go. The Scandal sheet features color-keyed natural leather seats furniture.

The top-spec EX Premium includes a heated steering wheel, heated as well as ventilated front seats, and rear park aid and obtains synthetic leather seating furniture.

2020 Kia Niro vs Hyundai Kona

Though the Kona is not a hybridized car (although there is an EV variant in the variety), it is quite a bit much more affordable than the Kia Niro. It’s in this instance where the gasoline-powered or even the Plug-in Crossbreed versions might be the much better choices comparatively. What has the Kona stand apart, nevertheless, is its much more powerful base engine, which has it drive much more enjoyably than the Niro currently, considering the a lot more powerful turbocharged option which increases the Kona from 0 – 60 miles per hour in a fraction over 6 seconds, according to independent test drives.

The Kona takes care of much better too as well as is offered with AWD. Neither of the Hyundai Kona’s engine’s are as fuel-efficient as the Kia Niro’s hybrid engine is, undoubtedly, yet it’s still near the 40 mpg mark in mixed driving scenarios. The Kona additionally arguably looks method much better, it carries a bit even more of a rugged visual that far better suits the crossover SUV ethos. The Niro makes factors for having its better infotainment system as well as far better choice of attributes at standard, yet the Kona, considering just how much it sets you back, supplies much more worth on the whole.

2020 Kia Niro vs Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is supplied at around the same price as the Kia Niro. It’s no crossbreed automobile, nonetheless, and uses up a position within the bigger midsize compact crossover SUV sector. The Sportage is bigger and extra roomy with far better on-road feeling. It comes furnished with an extra powerful base engine as well as has a turbocharged engine offered as well, with which it, according to the producer, accelerates from 0-60 mph within seven-seconds level, leading its very own course, let alone the Niro’s.

Naturally, the Niro is far more affordable on fuel than what the Sportage is, with its finest estimates being 23/30/26 mpg, but that has to do with all it has over the Sportage. Unlike the Niro, the Sportage is readily available in AWD and also offers a 2,000-pound optimum lugging capacity while the Niro isn’t ranked for pulling in any way. The Sportage’s cabin is much more premium and is, in addition to the exterior, a bit a lot more modern as the Sportage is the newer vehicle. Inevitably, if fuel-efficient as well as green living is your concern, then the Niro is your pick, yet the Sportage otherwise supplies even more worth on nearly every other front.