The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid is completely redesigned for 2023.

At the heart of the Niro is a compact 1.6L 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 104 horsepower. This engine alone would make the Niro a poor performer, but luckily there is an electric motor as well helping to motivate the vehicle. Combined with the electric motor, the Niro produces 180 horsepower and a very robust 195 foot-pounds of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Unlike most other hybrids, which use a continuously variable transmission, the Kia's dual clutch unit helps provide strong acceleration at the cost of a slight penalty to fuel economy. The tradeoff is worth it; the Niro doesn't feel anchored to the ground like some other hybrids, while still returning up to 105 mpge in combined city and highway driving and up to 30-miles of pure electric drive. The Kia Niro comes in two trims, EX, and SX Touring.

The base EX trim has fewer amenities than its siblings but still comes with all the notable features one would expect in a compact car or SUV these days. Standard features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, auto high-beam, satellite radio, steering wheel mounted controls for the sound system and adaptive cruise control, 5 USB ports, power windows and door locks, Smart Key with push button start, remote start, dual-zone automatic temperature control, power external mirrors, heated front seats, and 16-inch wheels.

The SX Touring adds a power liftgate, power sunroof, power folding mirrors, LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, ventilated front seats, sport pedals, driver seat memory, and an 8-speaker sound system.

Standard safety items on the Niro includes anti-lock brakes, front seat belts pretensioners, stability control, brake assist system, 7 airbags, and hill start control system. Other notable safety features across the lineup include parking sensors, active blind spot and lane departure, forward and rear collision mitigation, a driver attention alert and a traffic sign warning system.

The Niro competes with other small SUVs and crossover vehicles such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The Niro won't break the bank, while still offering far better mileage than any of its competitors. Like all Kia's, the Niro comes standard with all the basics one would expect from a compact car and at the other end of the spectrum, the Niro is positively loaded with the kind of items that were only sold in luxury cars a few years ago.

Compact but roomy; fantastic fuel economy; sleek styling