Starts at $34,490
Rank
What's New for 2025?
Essentially unchanged this year, the Niro PHEV gets the Cold Weather package as standard on the SX Touring trim. That package includes heated rear seats and a special heater that's said to help preserve all-electric range.
2025 Niro Selector
2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
FAST FACTS
"The technically subcompact Niro lives here because it has nowhere else to go — the Dodge Hornet R/T is the only other subcompact plug-in-hybrid SUV. So if you're looking for a small PHEV SUV and thinking that the standard fare, e.g. the 10-inches-longer Kia Sportage PHEV, is needlessly large, the Niro PHEV could be just the ticket. It's worth noting that the added juice from the plug-in powertrain fixes the regular Niro hybrid's acceleration problem — the Niro PHEV is about a second and a half quicker to 60 mph."—Ranked #7 out of 9 Compact Plug-In-Hybrid SUVs
"The Niro PHEV would probably be having a grand time if it weren't for that pesky Prius. You get plenty of EV range here for most around-town tasks, and unlike the standard Niro hybrid, which struggles when acceleration is needed, the Niro PHEV can zip around just fine. It's not that there's anything particularly wrong with this Kia; it's just up against a juggernaut. But that means you might be able to score a favorable deal on one, and the Niro PHEV will reward you with a higher seating position than the Toyota, as well as a more generous cargo bay."—Ranked #2 out of 2 Small Plug-In Hybrids
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. There's only one standalone version of the 2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid, and here it is, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
The Niro PHEV makes a good case for itself given its modest starting price. You get more than 30 miles of electric range, more than 500 miles of total range, and pretty decent acceleration that's a huge improvement over the regular, non-plug-in Niro hybrid.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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