The Kia Niro is one of the few vehicles on the market that offers buyers the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric powertrains. It’s the kind of flexibility that, on paper at least, should appeal to customers. However, the Niro hasn’t proven especially popular, and Kia has now cut back on one of its powertrain options.
Base Trim Engine
1.6L I4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
6-speed auto-shift manual
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
103.5 HP @5700 RPM
Base Trim Torque
106.3 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
53/54/53 MPG
Base Trim Battery Type
Lithium polymer (LiPo)
Infotainment & Features
8 /10
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Kelley Blue Book learned this week that the Niro’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option has been dropped for the 2026 model year in the US. That leaves the 2026 Niro lineup consisting of just the regular hybrid and the EV. A Kia spokesperson told KBB the decision was due to changing market conditions.
PHEVs Least Favored Among Electrified Options
2025 Kia Niro LineupKia
The Niro has never been a big seller for Kia, with 2025’s total coming in at just 31,182 units – and the PHEV likely represented the smallest slice. Kia doesn’t provide a breakdown for the different powertrains, but PHEVs in the US tend to be the least favored when compared with regular hybrid and EV powertrains. Part of the reason is that to maximize efficiency in a PHEV, you need to charge the battery, which many early adopters didn’t do.
Plug-in hybrids can also be expensive. In the case of the Niro, the 2025 Niro PHEV had an MSRP of $34,490, which was roughly $7,000 more than the regular hybrid and $5,000 less than the EV (which for a period benefitted from tax credits). For 2026, the regular hybrid starts at $27,390 and the EV at $39,700. Those prices are up only $400 and $100, respectively, over the 2025 models, which isn’t bad considering the Niro is affected by tariffs due to being imported from South Korea.
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Facelifted Niro Arrives Soon
Kia posted some photos of a refreshed Niro on its global website in January and will show the US version in March. Styling has been revised, particularly at the front end, where the lights adopt a simpler daytime running light design that mimics the look of the EV9. The cabin is mostly unchanged, although buyers can look forward to a fresh steering wheel featuring revised controls. The most notable update, though, is a new rectangular floating display that integrates dual 12.3-inch digital screens for the gauge cluster and infotainment hub.
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Despite Everything, Kia’s Affordable Crossover Is Still A Bargain For 2026
The 2026 Kia Niro Hybrid is just $100 more than last year.
The facelifted Niro is expected to go on sale locally later this year as a 2027 model, and should provide some fresh impetus for the often-overlooked crossover. And with Kia also dropping the Soul subcompact crossover after 2025, the Niro now becomes the brand’s entry-level crossover in the US – a shift that could help put it in front of more buyers and give sales a welcome boost.
Sources: Kelley Blue Book
