With top-notch fuel efficiency and a low-cost price tag, the 2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid is an awesome choice for folks who want a reliable crossover.

Written by Samuel Todd

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Nov 14, 2022

Table of Contents

2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid
2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid vs. 2022 Ford Escape PHEV
2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid vs. 2021 Toyota Prius Prime
How to save money on car insurance

With a starting price tag of $29,590, the 2022

Kia Niro

Plug-in Hybrid is a sleek, comfortable, and cutting-edge crossover that won’t break the bank.

When the engineers at

Kia

were building the Niro, they hit the ball out of the park. Excellent fuel economy, a handful of high-tech features, and a gorgeous design combine to make the 2022 Kia Niro a grand slam in the world of crossovers. But is it

really

worth a thirty thousand dollar investment?

Jerry

is here to guide you through the highs and lows of the Kia Niro PHEV, from its incredible fuel rating to its less-than-exceptional engine strength. Plus, if you stick around, we’ll show you how to use our

super app

to quickly find the

cheapest car insurance

on the market!

2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid

Sure, it isn’t

quite

as cheap as hybrids like the

Hyundai Ioniq

or the

Toyota Prius Prime

—but we think you’ll be satisfied with the tech upgrades that the Niro has to offer. But which of the Niro hybrid’s three trim levels should you go for?

Without further ado, let’s dive into the specs of the 2022 Kia Niro PHEV.

Pricing

The 2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid comes in three trim levels:

LXS

, and

EX Premium

. The entry-level LXS model starts at

$29,590,

the EX trim adds about

$4,000

to the MSRP, and the top-notch EX Premium trim lands at

$36,490

. When all’s said and done, adding a few options to the Niro EX Premium could buoy the price to about

$38,000

If those numbers sound a bit high to you, we’ve got good news: the Sorento PHEV is eligible for a

$4,543

federal tax credit

! Combine that with up to $1,500 in state tax incentives and you’ve got an ultra-affordable hybrid chariot.

MORE

How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit

Performance and fuel economy

The Kia Niro PHEV features a

1.6L four-cylinder gas engine

paired to an

electric motor

and

six-speed transmission

. The whole unit falls short in the power department, producing only

139 horsepower

and

195 lb-ft of torque.

That definitely won’t win you any drag races, but it’s plenty of strength to get you to work on time.

The Niro’s weak engine comes with a silver lining (a pretty spectacular silver lining, if we do say so ourselves!):

astonishing fuel economy

. Running as a regular hybrid, the Niro PHEV gets a stellar

46 mpg

. When you take into account its electric-only distance, that number sky-rockets to

105 MPGe

Speaking of electric-only distance, how far can the Niro travel on battery power alone? The Niro can go

26 miles

without dipping into the gas tank! With a full tank and a full battery, the Niro is capable of traveling a whopping

560 miles

without stopping.

The bottom line:

if you want world-class power, you’ll have to look elsewhere—but the Niro is remarkably fuel-efficient for its low price tag.

Exterior styling

In terms of size, the Kia Niro PHEV lands somewhere between a crossover and a hatchback. Its angles are subtle but beautifully integrated with the rest of the vehicle.

Unassuming

and

aerodynamic

, the Niro checks all the boxes in the style department. It won’t knock your socks off like the crossovers from

Lexus

and

Porsche

, but it isn’t meant to!

The 2022 Niro is available in standard colors like

Steel Gray, Solar Orange,

and

Deep Cerulean

. If you’re willing to drop some extra dough on a premium paint job, you’ll unlock the following colors:

Aurora Black Pearl

Snow White Pearl

Runaway Red

Interior and comfort

On the inside of the car, the Niro isn’t anything special, which is to be expected from an affordable, mainstream crossover. It has

plenty of room for five people

, with

cloth upholstery

and a good amount of

storage space

(if you fold the rear seats, you get

54.5 feet

of cargo space!).

In addition to the ample room in the Niro’s cabin, there are a few interior features designed to give you maximum comfort:

LED daytime running lights

Dual-zone climate control

Keyless entry

A leather-wrapped steering wheel

MORE

Should you buy a Kia crossover?

Technology

Comfort features are great and all—but what about

tech

and

safety upgrades

? Thankfully, the Niro PHEV has plenty of that too! The 2022 Kia Niro comes standard with

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration

, an

8-inch touchscreen

, a

120-volt charging cable

, and

remote start

Better yet, you’ll have peace of mind on the highway, knowing that your Niro is equipped with a bunch of

safety features

Forward-collision warning

Blind-spot monitoring

Rear cross-traffic alert

Automatic high beams

Stability control, traction control, and emergency braking assist

Warranty coverage

What’s one of the best things about owning

any

Kia vehicle? Their

industry-leading warranty program

! When you bring home a Kia Niro, you’ll get a fantastic standard warranty:

A 10-year/100,000-mile limited

powertrain warranty

(including a

battery warranty

)

A 5-year/60,000-mile limited

basic warranty

A 5-year/100,000-mile limited

anti-perforation warranty

A 5-year/60,000-mile

roadside assistance plan

If you want to take your coverage to the next level, you could always boost it with an

extended warranty

—but we think Kia’s best-in-class warranty should be more than enough!

Trim levels and options

In a nutshell,

higher trim levels add more luxury to the car

. If you just need to get from point A to point B, the LXS trim should do just fine. If you’re hoping to cruise in a deluxe chariot, you’ll want to splurge for the EX or EX Premium trim. Here’s a quick run-through of their differences:

: 8-inch touchscreen, standard safety features, cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel

: fog lights, heated side mirrors, heated seats, wireless charging, a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat

EX Premium

: powered sunroof, simulated leather, self-dimming mirrors, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a Harman Kardon surround-sound system

The bottom line

Simply put,

if you need a reliable, fuel-efficient, low-cost crossover, the Kia Niro PHEV is one of the best on the market.

Still, there are a number of worthy alternatives to consider! Let’s take a look at two of the best ones.

MORE

Everything you need to know about Kia electric cars

2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid vs. 2022 Ford Escape PHEV

The 2022 Niro is great and all—but what if you need a longer all-electric driving range? Or extra premium features? Look no further than the 2022 Ford Escape PHEV:

Model	Starting price	Fuel economy (gas only)	Fuel economy (gas + electric)	Driving range	Charging time (Level 2)	Hybrid battery warranty
2022 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid	$29,590	46 mpg	105 MPGe	26 miles	2.25 hours	10 years or 100,000 miles
2022 Ford Escape PHEV	$35,455	40 mpg	105 MPGe	38 miles	3.3 hours	8 years or 100,000 miles

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2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid vs. 2021 Toyota Prius Prime

Believe it or not, the Niro isn’t the heavyweight champion of fuel efficiency! It’s one of the most efficient hybrids in the world, but it still pales in comparison to the Toyota Prius Prime. Here’s how they compare to each other:

Model	Starting price	Fuel economy (gas only)	Fuel economy (gas + electric)	Driving range	Charging time (Level 2)	Hybrid battery warranty
2022 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid	$29,590	46 mpg	105 MPGe	26 miles	2.25 hours	10 years or 100,000 miles
2021 Toyota Prius Prime	$29,245	54 mpg	133 MPGe	25 miles	2 hours	10 years or 150,000 miles

How to save money on car insurance

What’s the best way to

cut down on car expenses

? Driving a fuel-efficient hybrid is one awesome way—but we’ve got a better idea that will take your savings up a notch!

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