The plug-in version is dead. The EV version is dead too.
For the 2027 model, Kia’s subcompact SUV has slimmed down to a single option. You buy the hybrid, or you buy nothing at all.
It’s a stark pivot for the brand. Since January, when we saw this refresh in South Korea, we’ve had to wait for the U.S. specifics. Now they are here, and the message is clear. Kia wants you to look at the Niro as a simple, clean package. Not a technology showcase.
Under the hood? Same old same. A 1.6-liter engine mated to an electric motor. That gives you 139 hp through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. No surprises. No drama.
The EV died, likely because the Niro EV is being replaced by the larger, upcoming EV3. It’s a logical shuffle. One step back, two steps forward in a different category. But for Niro fans, the choices are gone.
The exterior looks cleaner than the outgoing 2026, sharper around the edges but softer in attitude.
Kia cleaned up the face. The headlights now sit taller, featuring that inverted L-shaped LED signature that’s become common on their recent models. It connects to a thin chrome strip running under the badge. The grille? It’s tucked away now, blending into the black plastic trim that wraps around the wheel wells and side panels. Less aggressive. More modern.
At the back, the taillights got detailed, intricate cuts. The bumper is simpler. They also added two colors. Ivory Silver. Sunset Beige. Because why not?
Inside, the biggest change is the screen. The old 10.3-inch panel is history. Now you get a 12.3-inch touchscreen standard. If you pay extra, that same rectangular housing holds a 12.3-inch gauge cluster behind the wheel. Stick with base trims? You keep the tiny 4.0-inch display. A weird split in philosophy, honestly.
But the steering wheel looks new. So do the air vents. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, wireless, as they should by now.
They did work on the drive dynamics, sort of.
A 360-degree camera arrives on the SX Touring. The forward collision system is sharper. And there is a new Highway Drive Assist 2, which claims to center the car in the lane while holding distance and speed. Kia also retuned the suspension for comfort. Quieter cabin. Softer ride.
We will know if it works once it hits the roads.
The lineup gets a new trim called S, slotting in somewhere among the LX, EX, andSX. Prices? Coming later. But sales start this summer.
Expect the base price to tick up from the current $28,885 starting point for the 2026 Hybrid.
Is less actually more for the Niro? Maybe.
The design is definitely nicer. The interior tech feels less dated. But strip away the electric options and you have a car that does exactly one thing very well, instead of offering you a choice of how to do it.
Kia bet on simplicity. We will have to drive it to see if they were right.
