Kia Niro PHEV (2018-2022) reliability & safety rating
The Kia Niro PHEV has a confidence-inspiring seven-year warranty and lots of safety technology as standard
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2016) | 83% | 80% | 59% |
Kia’s renowned seven-year/100,000-mile warranty is one of the biggest advantages the Niro PHEV holds over its plug-in MINI Countryman rival, which comes with a three-year guarantee. While the Niro’s clever hybrid powertrain is relatively new, plenty of other components in the car are found elsewhere in the Kia range and so have been well proven. The Niro also comes with plenty of safety equipment as standard, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.
Kia Niro PHEV reliability & problems
The Kia Niro has been a very strong contender in the Driver Power owner survey for several years, coming in 15th out of 75 on the list of the best new cars to own. Meanwhile, the Kia brand itself finished in 2nd out of 29 manufacturers. Owners praised the car’s infotainment system, interior, seats, comfortable ride and safety features. Only the boot – which some owners thought a bit small – and performance didn’t quite come up to some owners’ expectations.
Safety
The Kia Niro received a 'dual rating' from Euro NCAP: four stars with standard equipment and five stars when some optional safety features are added. The good news is that both the Connect and 3 specifications offered on the PHEV have all the features that earned the car a maximum five-star rating.
They include autonomous emergency braking (which can automatically apply the brakes to avoid a collision), adaptive cruise control (which maintains a safe distance from the car in front), lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance (which automatically steers you back into your lane if the car starts to wander).
A 2019 upgrade added stop-and-go functionality to the Niro PHEV's adaptive cruise control; it can now bring the Niro to a stop if traffic slows to a halt, and then get the car back up to speed when the car in front moves off. Lane-following assistance has also been added. This tracks vehicles in front of you in traffic and detects road markings to keep the Niro in its lane on the motorway, operating between zero and 81mph.
