Kia has expanded the Niro lineup to include an electric vehicle EV and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), but the overall formula remains the same: An affordable, utility-forward small crossover with attractive tech and styling.

What’s New for the 2024 Kia Niro Hybrid Plug-In

The Kia Niro enters 2024 with no major changes.

Design

Kia fully redesigned the Niro in 2023, giving it far more futuristic styling than in previous generations. It features unique LED daytime running lights and a funky “blade” styling element above the rear wheel arch. Kia’s new logo is featured prominently, though some have been confused about its appearance, believing that it says “KN” instead of the automaker’s name.

Powertrain

Kia offers one powertrain in the Niro PHEV for 2024. It’s a 1.6-liter gas engine paired with an electric motor that make a combined 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the only option. Those modest specs translate to a somewhat mundane driving experience, but fuel economy is the real draw here. The hybrid plug-in Niro delivers 33 miles of all-electric range and 108 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent) combined.

Interior

The Niro PHEV’s cabin is nice, but it's focused more on comfort and sustainability than luxury. The SUV seats five people on standard cloth and synthetic leather, and a power driver’s seat is standard. Higher trims add perforated vegan leather, memory seating, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. Cargo space measures 19.4 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats upright, which are subpar numbers for its segment.

Technology

Kia equips a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 4.3-inch display in the gauge cluster of the 2024 Niro PHEV. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with wireless charging, navigation, multiple USB inputs, and more. Kia’s infotainment system is one of the easier-to-use interfaces on the market, offering responsive menus and quick navigation. While it’s less colorful and not as fancy as others, such as Ford’s Sync and Stellantis’s Uconnect, that simplicity translates to a less distracting experience while driving.

Safety

The 2024 Niro hybrid plug-in gets a load of standard safety equipment that other automakers charge extra for. It brings blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-tracing assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, forward collision warnings, adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, automatic high beams, and more. The last Niro PHEV to receive full Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash testing was the previous-generation 2022 model.

Pricing

As of this writing, there are two available configurations of the 2024 Kia Niro PHEV. The base EX trim starts at $34,290, and the range-topping SX Touring at $40,040. Kia doesn’t have many added-cost options, and both trims are well-equipped, making the Niro PHEV an excellent value and an easy shopping experience.