What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- The 2027 Kia Niro gets freshened styling as well as more standard and available technology.
- The Niro EV is discontinued for 2027, leaving the hybrid as the only powertrain choice.
- Pricing starts at $31,385 (including destination fee).
The Kia Niro is both one of the cheapest SUVs available and one of the most efficient. For 2027, it’s also one of the freshest designs in the subcompact class, now having been updated with a refined and more cohesive look, as well as more standard and available technology. In other words, it appears the 2027 Niro will continue to offer the combination of qualities that led us to name it the Best Car of 2023 when the current generation debuted.
Related: Refreshed 2027 Kia Niro Gains New Tech Features, Loses EV Version
Pricing
The 2027 Kia Niro will go on sale later in the summer. Full pricing (including the $1,495 destination charge) is as follows:
- LX: $31,385
- S: $32,085
- EX: $32,885
- SX: $36,935
- SX Touring: $40,485
What’s Changed for 2027?
The Niro EV is no more, joining the plug-in hybrid in the history books. But the Niro hybrid that remains looks better than ever. Kia reshaped the Niro’s nose and tail, with fresh bumpers and lighting as well as a new grille. Inside, a redesigned dash incorporates a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen in place of the 8- and 10.25-inch units in previous years. Base Niros get a 4-inch display in the instrument cluster, while a 12.3-inch digital cluster is included in the range-topping SX Touring.
The 2027 Niro also gets an updated safety suite. The standard forward collision warning system now watches for cyclists and oncoming traffic, and the SX Touring features Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 lane-centering adaptive cruise control, as well as a 360-degree camera system.
Powertrain and Fuel Economy
The Niro’s sole remaining powertrain is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with hybrid assist. Combined output is 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, which is routed through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the front wheels. Despite its SUV-ish profile, the Niro is not available with all-wheel drive. All trim levels are EPA-rated at 53/46/50 mpg city/highway/combined.
Standard or Optional Features
The 2027 Niro features a generous suite of safety tech for its price. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-following assist, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor and automatic high beams.
The entry-level Niro LX rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and features LED-signature daytime running lights, LED taillights, and keyless entry and start. Inside are cloth seats, manually adjustable front seats, a manually tilt/telescoping steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. Cabin tech consists of a 4-inch display in the instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system.
One step up, the S trim level gains rain-sensing windshield wipers, a blend of cloth and leather upholstery, and heated front seats (power-adjustable for the driver). To that, the EX adds paddle shifters and front and rear parking sensors.
There’s a much bigger jump in price from EX to SX, but the SX also adds far more features. It gets LED headlights, a moonroof, power liftgate and satin-chrome exterior trim. The SX’s cabin is upgraded with perforated synthetic leather, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound. The SX also adds digital key capability, which allows the owner to use a paired smartphone as a vehicle key and for remote monitoring.
At the top of the Niro lineup, the SX Touring rides on 18-inch wheels and features Highway Driving Assist 2, emergency steering assist, front cross-traffic alert and a 360-degree camera system with turn-signal-activated blind spot cameras. It also includes a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Versus the Competition
As a class, affordable subcompact SUVs are in the midst of a population explosion. But if you’re looking for a combination of affordability and efficiency, the Japanese and South Korean automakers have the market cornered on subcompact hybrid SUVs, as the table below indicates. (All prices in the table below include destination fees.)
| Model | Price | City/Highway/Combined mpg | Drivetrain |
| 2027 Kia Niro | $31,385 | 53/46/50 | FWD |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid | $31,390 | 46/39/42 | AWD |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | $33,495 | 47/40/43 | FWD |
| 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid | $35,415 | 36/36/36 | AWD |
Read More About the Kia Niro on Cars.com:
- How Much Is the 2026 Kia Niro?
- How Much Is the 2026 Kia Niro EV?
- Breaking Down the 2025 Kia Niro EV’s Crazy $159 Lease Deal
- Affordably Electrified: 2025 Kia Niro Starts at $28,365, PHEV at $35,865
- Research the Kia Niro
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