Kia
Niro
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 2017 to 2027
Includes Niro, Niro Plug-in Hybrid and Niro Touring as listed by the EPA.
The verdict
Best year: 2027. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 21; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.
Worst year: 2017. complaints: 101, about 2.4x this model's typical 42; recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2.
Year by year
| Year | Trims | MPG | Fuel cost | Recalls | Complaints | Investigations | TSBs | Top complaints | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2Hybrid | 46 | $1,350 | 5 | 101 | 0 | 87 | ENGINE 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, POWER TRAIN 15% | |
Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2018 | 3Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 46 | $1,350 | 3 | 73 | 1 | 98 | POWER TRAIN 23%, ENGINE 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18% | |
Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2019 | 3Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 46 | $1,350 | 1 | 99 | 1 | 97 | POWER TRAIN 27%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE 11% | |
Score: 35 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2020 | 3Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 46 | $1,350 | 3 | 63 | 1 | 85 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, POWER TRAIN 14% | |
Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2021 | 3Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 46 | $1,350 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 68 | POWER TRAIN 27%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, ENGINE 13% | |
Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2022 | 3Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 46 | $1,350 | 3 | 74 | 1 | 55 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, POWER TRAIN 15% | |
Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2023 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 48.5 | $1,275 | 4 | 65 | 0 | 85 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9% | |
Score: 24 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2024 | 1Hybrid | 49 | $1,250 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 41 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11% | |
Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2025 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 48.5 | $1,375 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 12 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER 30%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, SUSPENSION 10% | |
Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2026 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 48.5 | $1,375 | 0 | 2 | 0 | no data | AIR BAGS 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 25% | |
Score: 93 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2027 | 1Hybrid | 50 | $1,350 | 0 | 0 | 0 | no data | no data | |
Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
How the numbers moved
How we score each year
We compare each year of the Kia Niro to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.
A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.
Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.
Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.