2020 Kia Niro review
Kia Niro highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Awesome fuel economy
- Intuitive infotainment controls
- Standard smartphone connectivity
Cons
- Base trim is stingy with driver-assist features
- Modest cargo space
- You still can’t get all-wheel drive
Mileage (EPA estimate)
46 city, 40 highway, 43 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
The Kia Niro has SUV style and hybrid fuel economy
For the 2020 model year, the Kia Niro hybrid exterior gets a refreshed front grille and headlights, plus new wheel designs. The 2020 Niro also gains an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen, along with a traffic-adaptive cruise control system. Also available as a plug-in hybrid and EV, the Niro hybrid features a 139-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive isn’t available despite its billing as an SUV.
At its most frugal, the Niro delivers an EPA highway estimate of more than 50 mpg. Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov. This puts it on par with the eco-themed Toyota Prius hatchback and notably better than most small SUVs. The 19 cubic feet of cargo space trails most small SUVs, but the cargo area is well shaped, and the low load floor makes it easy to load hefty items onboard.
The base Niro LX comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen and smartphone connectivity. Yet moving only one rung higher, to the LXS trim, adds many driver-assist features, such as rear cross-traffic warning, blind-spot warning, and lane keeping assistance.
All Kia Niro years
What is new for the 2020 Kia Niro?
- The Niro is available in a variety of new trims, including the EX Premium, LXS, and Touring SE.
- The EX, FE, and S Touring trims have been discontinued for 2020.
- Niro trims have been upgraded with Leatherette Seats as standard equipment this year.
- The Touring trim now comes with Leatherette & Cloth as standard equipment.
2020 Kia Niro trims
LX:
- 139-hp, 195-lb-ft of torque 1.6L
- Cloth Seats
- Power Mirrors
- Rear View Camera
- Traction Control
- Cruise Control
- Rear Defroster
- Side Airbags
- Overhead Airbags
LXS:
- Includes all features available on the LX
- Smart Key
- Lane Departure Warning
- Blind Spot Monitor
- View our Kia Niro LXS inventory
Touring:
- Includes all features available on the LXS
- Sunroofs
- Power Seats
- Automated Cruise Control
- Leatherette & Cloth
- View our Kia Niro Touring inventory
Touring SE:
- Includes all features available on the Touring
- Leather Seats
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Harman Kardon Sound
- Navigation System
- View our Kia Niro Touring SE inventory
EX Premium:
- Includes all features available on the Touring SE
- A/C Seats
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Front Seat Heaters
- Leatherette Seats
- Parking Sensors
- View our Kia Niro EX Premium inventory
Kia Niro photos
5 reasons to buy the 2020 Kia Niro
What We Like
Car-like driving manners: The Niro is more than just a small crossover with a meager appetite for fuel. Thanks to its car-like size and dynamics, the Niro is highly maneuverable and very adept at dicing with heavy traffic.
Impressive fuel economy: The design was updated for the 2020 model year, but the core values of the Niro remain in place. This means you get an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 52 mpg, a figure that makes it one of the top vehicles in terms of fuel mileage.
Solid value: The Niro isn’t just kind to your fuel budget—it’s also attractively priced across its range of trims. The LXS is the one to choose if you’re looking for the peace of mind offered by the driver-assist features included in this trim.
What Needs Improvement
SUV in name only: The Niro is definitely more of a high-riding hatchback than an SUV. Not having all-wheel drive doesn’t help matters, and the cargo area is on the snug side for anyone who routinely maxes out their vehicle’s storage capability.
Shop with your budget in mind
Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Kia Niro an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Kia Niro 3rd out of 6 among Alternative Fuel Vehicles.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Kia NiroKia Niro features and specs
LX 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
1.6L
Horsepower
139
Torque (ft-lbs)
195
Engine type
Hybrid
Fuel capacity
11.9
Wheelbase
106.3"
Overall length
171.5"
Width
71.1"
Height
60.4"
Leg room
F 41.7"/R 37.4"
Head room
F 40.1"/R 39.1"
Front tires
P205/60HR16
Rear tires
P205/60HR16
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2020 Kia Niro FAQ
The 2020 Kia Niro is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- LX : 51 MPG City and 46 MPG Highway
- Touring : 46 MPG City and 40 MPG Highway
- LXS : 51 MPG City and 46 MPG Highway
- Touring SE : 46 MPG City and 40 MPG Highway
- EX Premium : 51 MPG City and 46 MPG Highway
The Kia Niro received a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks the Kia Niro as 2 out of 6 among Alternative Fuel Vehicle
The 2020 Kia Niro has received an average 5.0 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2020 Kia Niro, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2020 Kia Niro Reviews.
Here is what's new for the 2020 Kia Niro:
- EX Premium
- LXS
- Touring SE
- Leatherette Seats
- Leatherette & Cloth
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We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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