COMMUTING, school runs, shopping trips, and the occasional motorway dash — for most of us, that’s the real-world test of a car. And it’s exactly what the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid has been built for.
While everyone else shouts about either fully electric futures or big engines from the past, Kia offers something in between: a compact crossover with just enough electric range to cover the day-to-day, backed up by a petrol engine for longer journeys.
It’s not flashy, it’s not trying to break lap records, but it might just be perfect for people who want to lower their fuel bills without re-planning their lives around charging stations.
Overview
The Niro has become one of Kia’s most important cars in the UK, second only to the Sportage in sales. Now in its second generation, it’s offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full EV.
The one on test here is the PHEV ‘3’ 1.6 GDi, which sits neatly in the middle of the line-up — not the entry-level spec, not the bells-and-whistles top trim, but a sensible, well-equipped sweet spot. At £37,685 on the road, it brings a healthy mix of kit, efficiency, and practicality.
Under the bonnet is Kia’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with an 11.1kWh battery and an electric motor for a combined output of 168bhp. That’s good for 0–60mph in 9.8 seconds and a top speed of 100mph — not headline-grabbing numbers, but perfectly suited to its family crossover brief.
More importantly, the battery gives an official EV-only range of up to 38 miles, enough to handle the average commute or school run without ever waking the engine.
Design
The second-generation Niro borrows heavily from the futuristic HabaNiro concept car first shown in New York back in 2019, and it’s all the better for it. The look is sharper, more angular, and more interesting than the slightly anonymous first-gen model.
At the front, Kia’s evolving “Tiger Face” stretches across the wings, flanked by distinctive “heartbeat” daytime running lights. The profile is defined by a bold aero-focused C-pillar, which isn’t just there for drama — it actually channels airflow to boost efficiency.
In ‘3’ trim, you get 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, a smattering of gloss black trim, and privacy glass at the rear. It’s modern without being overdone, the sort of styling that looks good in a Waitrose car park but won’t embarrass you in five years’ time.
Interior
Inside, the Niro makes a strong first impression. The twin-screen setup stretches across the dash, combining a 4.2-inch digital cluster with a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. It’s slick, bright, and intuitive enough not to have you fuming at ‘hidden functions’.
There’s a couple of physical rotary dials below the infotainment screen, along with a bank of dual-use touch buttons – so switching between climate and sat nav functions is easy peasy.
Sustainability is a big theme here, but thankfully it doesn’t feel like a marketing gimmick. The headliner is made from recycled wallpaper, the seats blend cloth with artificial leather, and the door panels are painted with eco-friendly, BTX-free paint. In practice, it feels modern, well-made, and cleanly designed, rather than preachy.
Space is solid for a compact SUV. There’s room for five, with good rear legroom and USB-C ports built into the front seatbacks for back-seat passengers. The boot does lose a little capacity to the underfloor battery, leaving 348 litres with the seats up and 1,342 litres with them folded flat. That’s a bit smaller than the hybrid version, but still practical enough for family life.
Driving Impressions
On the move, the Niro PHEV feels exactly how you’d hope: smooth, easy-going, and refined. In electric mode it glides quietly around town, with the petrol engine only chiming in when you need a burst of power or you’ve drained the battery. That transition is impressively seamless; there’s no clunky shunt when the engine wakes up.
Performance is more than adequate. The 168bhp combined output isn’t going to set pulses racing, but it’s punchy enough for overtakes and motorway slip roads. The six-speed dual-clutch gearbox helps here, feeling more natural than the droning CVTs you find in some rivals.
The ride is tuned for comfort, dealing with potholes and speed bumps without fuss. Steering is light around town but accurate enough on twistier roads, making the Niro easy to place without feeling like a barge. Refinement is good too — Kia has worked hard on insulation, so wind and road noise are kept in check. For most drivers, it’s a car that just gets on with the job with minimum drama, which is exactly what many drivers are looking for.
Technology & Safety
Kia hasn’t skimped on kit. The Niro ‘3’ comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and a decent six-speaker audio system. Navigation is standard, and Kia Connect brings live traffic and remote app features.
Safety is another strong point. The PHEV ‘3’ gets a wide spread of driver assists, including forward collision avoidance, lane keeping and following, smart cruise control with stop/go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, and Highway Driving Assist. That’s a lot of acronyms, but what it means is that the car gently helps out without constantly nagging you. It feels like tech designed to reduce stress rather than add to it.
Ownership & Warranty
As with every Kia, the Niro comes with the brand’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, which is still one of the best deals in the industry. Servicing for the PHEV is every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first, and you get 12 months’ roadside assistance as part of the package.
Running costs should be low if you use it as intended — keep the battery topped up at home, and those short trips could be effectively petrol-free. And when you do head further afield, the 1.6 petrol engine and 37-litre fuel tank make long-distance driving fuss-free.
Rivals
The Niro PHEV swims in a busy pool. The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is bigger, faster, and has more EV range, but it’s also significantly pricier. The Hyundai Tucson PHEV is essentially a sibling car, with similar underpinnings but a slightly larger boot. Then there’s the Ford Kuga PHEV, which has been a UK favourite for its blend of price and practicality, though its cabin doesn’t feel as modern as the Kia’s.
Against all of these, the Niro feels like the rational choice. It’s a bit smaller, yes, but easier to live with day-to-day, packed with kit, and backed up by that warranty. For many buyers, it’ll feel like less of a compromise than the competition.
Verdict
The Kia Niro PHEV ‘3’ isn’t the flashiest crossover you can buy, nor is it the most powerful. But that’s not the point. What it offers instead is a thoroughly usable blend of electric commuting and petrol-powered flexibility, wrapped up in a smartly styled, well-equipped package. It’s easy to drive, easy to live with, and reassuringly backed by Kia’s seven-year warranty.
The best thing about it is how effortlessly it slips into daily life — charge it at home, glide around town on electric power, then head off for a weekend away without a second thought. The weakest point? The boot is a bit smaller than you might like, thanks to the battery placement, but it’s hardly a deal-breaker.
In the end, the Niro PHEV is sensible without being boring, efficient without being sanctimonious, and practical without being plain. It’s the kind of car that makes you wonder why you’d need anything else.
- AT A GLANCE:
- Kia Niro PHEV ‘3’ 1.6 GDi
- OTR Price: £37,685
- Engine: 1.6 petrol, electric Hybrid
- Power: 168 bhp
- Transmission: 6-speed Automatic
- 0-62mph: 9.8 secs
- Top Speed: 100 mph
- Weighted Combined Economy: 313.9 mpg
- C02: 21 g/km