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2017 Kia Niro

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Make
Kia
Model
Niro
Year
2017
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Kia Niro OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior
OEM Exterior
OEM Interior
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Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2017 FE 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sport Utility
most popular
Price:   -  From $22,890
2017 LX 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sport Utility Price:   -  From $23,200
2017 EX 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sport Utility Price:   -  From $25,700
2017 Touring 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sport Utility Price:   -  From $29,650

Overview

Kia's newest crossover, the compact Niro offers abundant features and mature styling in an affordable package. While that might be enough for some buyers, its most compelling attribute is a hybrid powertrain that delivers exceptional efficiency.

What's New for 2017

The Niro is an all-new model.

Kia Niro

Choosing Your Kia Niro

The Niro achieves a stellar 50 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, according to the EPA. The credit goes to a hybrid setup consisting of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor which together produce 139 horsepower. Every example gets selectable driving modes (Normal, Sport, Eco, Snow). A six-speed automatic transmission delivers power to the front wheels, but despite the crossover body, Kia isn't offering an all-wheel-drive model.

With the rear seat folded, the Niro can hold 54.5 cubic feet of stuff. That's more than the smallest crossovers, but trails the leading compacts by a significant margin. We consider the Niro comparable to a hatchback or small wagon in terms of versatility.

For its debut season, the Niro comes in five trim levels

Kia Niro

FE

Priced at $23,785, the FE comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, and a four-speaker infotainment system with smartphone integration and built-in apps. The FE rolls in 16-inch alloy wheels.

Kia Niro

LX

Builds on the FE with LED taillights, keyless ignition, roof rails, and a storage tray under the cargo floor, all for $24,095. The LX is eligible for an Advanced Technology Package ($1,450) with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and front collision mitigation with automatic braking.

Kia Niro

EX

Gets an upgraded interior with leather seats (heated in front), plus power-folding heated side mirrors and standard blind spot monitoring. The EX starts at $26,595. The optional Sunroof and Advanced Technology Package ($2,300) tacks on adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, a power driver seat, and a sunroof.

Kia Niro

Touring Launch

Equipped like the EX, but with 18-inch wheels, a unique grille, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a standard power driver seat. Priced at $28,895, the Touring Launch comes in two exclusive paint colors only: Snow Pearl White and Aurora Black Pearl. Curiously, the EX's optional safety features are not available.

Kia Niro

Touring

For $30,545, furnishes almost everything available in the lesser models, plus navigation, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats with driver memory, and front and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation remain optional as part of the $1,900 Touring Advanced Technology Package, which also includes HID headlights and wireless device charging.

CarsDirect Tip

The LX comes with the features most buyers want in a small crossover, along with access to advanced safety technology at a reasonable price. It's our pick for best overall value. That said, the EX or Touring might be a better fit for buyers downsizing from a larger crossover or SUV.

Get your price on a Kia Niro »

author image
Automotive Editor
Read Less

Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Contributing Writer

An all-new model for Kia, the 2017 Nero, based on a dedicated hybrid platform that will ultimately spawn plug-in hybrid and all-electric variants, strikes a balance between compact hatchback and crossovers body styles.

Pricing and Equipment

Prices for the Kia Niro start with the entry-level FE, with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail price (MSRP) of $23,785 (including $875 in destination charges) and top out at around $34,000 for a fully optioned-and-accessorized Touring model. Most buyers will likely choose the mid-level EX, its starting price of $26,595, and standard features that include:

  • LED positioning lamps, taillights, and daytime running lights
  • Seven-inch color infotainment touchscreen
  • Roof rails, rear spoiler
  • Power folding heated outside mirrors
  • Leather-trimmed cloth seats
  • Bluetooth technology
  • Heated front seats
  • Smart key with push-button start
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob

All trim levels come with dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a USB port, and a touchscreen infotainment system. A rearview camera with dynamic guidelines is also standard, while EX models and above receive blind spot detection, lane change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert systems. A navigation system is only available on the range-topping Touring model, but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all trims, this feature shouldn't be missed.

Radar-based cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning are part of an optional technology package available on all but the base FE trim. On the EX trim, it's priced at $2,300 and also includes a power sunroof.

The 2017 Kia Niro comes equipped with a 104 horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and 43 horsepower electric motor generating 139 system horsepower. Unlike most hybrids that use a continuously-variable transmission (CVT), the Niro features a more conventional six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Power to the electric motor is supplied by a 1.56-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery pack.

Performance Pros

Kia Niro
  • The hybrid drivetrain features fuel-saving tricks like idle stop and go, which shuts off the engine when the car is idling. The transition is nearly seamless, without the annoying abruptness inherent in many of these systems. The transition between normal and regenerative braking is also smooth – a characteristic not common in many hybrids.
  • The Niro gets an EPA-estimated 51/46/49 city/highway/combined miles per gallon, while our own observed fuel economy was a vehicle-measured 50.1 miles per gallon in a mix of suburban and highway driving.
  • The Niro delivers a very un-hybrid-like smooth, controlled ride, and exhibits very little body lean during cornering.

Performance Cons

  • Not unexpectedly, in normal "eco" driving mode, acceleration off the line feels sluggish. "Sport" mode increases steering effort and throttle response, but the result still falls short of what we would call "sporty."
  • A fair amount of impact noise enters the cabin when traveling over rough and bumpy roads.
  • When pushed, the engine sounds coarse and unrefined.

Interior Pros

Kia Niro
  • The infotainment system features distraction-reducing hard buttons for many of the major functions.
  • Front seat occupants will find plenty of leg, hip, shoulder and headroom, even with the optional sunroof.
  • A wide rear hatch makes loading and unloading easy.

Interior Cons

  • Rear seat leg room is tight with the front seats in their rearmost setting.
  • With a lower ride height, the view of the road ahead is more like that of a tall wagon, rather than the more expansive view of a conventional crossover.
  • Interior sound levels are very good for a vehicle of this size, although a fair amount of engine noise enters the cabin under hard acceleration.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

Although its suspension tuning is skewed for comfort, the Niro feels surprisingly agile and steering feedback is very good. Feedback through the brake pedal is also very good, while the regenerative feature can hardly be detected. These are rare traits for a hybrid or a crossover, let alone a hybrid crossover.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

The biggest issue that mars an otherwise pleasant driving experience is the overall coarseness of the engine under hard acceleration.

The Bottom Line

With a suite of advanced active safety features available on all but the base model, an overall pleasant ride, and excellent EPA mileage numbers, the all-new Kia Niro is a serious competitor for the Toyota Prius in the compact hybrid segment.

Read Less

Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Available
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
1.6L I-4 / 104 HP / 109 ft.lbs.
Transmission
6-spd Sportmatic auto-shift man w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
52 / 49 / 51 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
1.6L I-4 / 104 HP / 109 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
52 / 49 / 51 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Fuel Tank
11.9 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$45
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
54.5 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
97 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
171.5 "
Exterior Width
71.1 "
Exterior Height
60.4 "
Front Headroom
40.1 "
Rear Headroom
39.1 "
Front Legroom
41.7 "
Rear Legroom
37.4 "
Front Shoulder Room
56.0 "
Rear Shoulder Room
55.2 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,106 Lbs.
Wheel Base
106 "
Turning Radius
17.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
16.0 " Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Pearlcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote
Bumpers
Body-colored With Metal-look Insert
Grille Moldings
Black W/chrome Accents
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Clock, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver
Tinted Windows
Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
2
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Major Components Months
120 Months / 100,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / 100,000 Miles
Accessories Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles

Used 2017 Kia Niro for Sale

6 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
Kia
LX
Color: Blue
Mileage

108,448 mi

Map location icon

Simi Valley Toyota (33 mi)

Phone: (805) 426-6600
Kia
LX
Color: Silky Silver
Price

$13,751

Mileage

67,184 mi

Map location icon

Garden Grove KIA (29 mi)

Phone: (888) 992-1820
Kia
Touring
Color: Black
Price

$14,299

Mileage

92,574 mi

Map location icon

Royal Auto Dealer Los Angeles (32 mi)

Phone: (424) 444-6030
Kia
FE
Color: Gray
Price

$14,697

Mileage

46,637 mi

Map location icon

Mission Viejo Kia (50 mi)

Phone: (949) 359-4074
See All Used Car Listings

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