2023 Kia Niro SX Touring test drive review

Several months ago, a friend of mine was looking for a new car. His 2002 Hyundai Elantra was literally being held together by chicken wire and he, a successful manager at a well-known Utah technology company, asked me what I thought about Kia Niro. I regret what I said. “Eh, it’s cheap and you probably could find better options for your money.” Boy, was I wrong.

Now, to be fair, the Niro hasn’t always been what it is now. But after a week with one, specifically the new generation 2023 SX Touring model, I have been recommending this car left and right. It’s so good! If you’ve been looking for a new car that’s affordable, comfortable, loaded with features and uber-efficient, the 2023 Kia Niro deserves a hard look. It’s not the most exciting thing to drive, but the rest of it is so well executed and practical, you won’t really care. Shop 2023 Kia Niro models.

Photo credit: Kia Media

Price and value

One of the best selling points of the Kia Niro is its affordability. It starts at $27,915 for the LX trim and tops out at $36,215 for the SX Touring trim. Even fully loaded, the Niro is still $12,000 under the average new car price of $48,000. 

While we really enjoyed our SX Touring tester’s features, the EX Touring offers many of the same features and costs a few thousand dollars less, so budget-conscious buyers may want to consider that trim first. Regardless, the EX through SX trims seem to represent the best value given their features, technology and materials. See Kia Niro listings.

Photo credit: Kia Media

Kia’s warranty is one of the best around. With the Niro, you get:

• 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance

• 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty

• 10-year/100,000-mile battery warranty

• 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty 

In other words, this is a car you can hold on to.

Fuel efficiency

Electric vehicles may be getting all the attention these days, but this little hybrid is so efficient, it may be the better option for most people. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the Niro at 53 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, making for a combined rating of 49 mpg. That’s pretty fantastic.

With an 11.1-gallon fuel tank, you’ll have plenty of range between stops. The best part? It’s surprisingly fun to drive. The small size and 195 pound-feet of torque make the Niro feel more lively than the specs suggest, and its smooth and intuitive 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission only contributes to its charming character. Shop 2023 Kia Niro models.

Photo credit: Kia Media

Interior comfort and convenience 

The interior of the refreshed Kia Niro is downright impressive for the price. From the design to the materials used, it all feels very contemporary. It’s also interesting to look at with all its lines, angles, arcs and ambient lighting.

Photo credit: Kia Media

It’s also open and has a roomy feeling inside. The overall boxy shape of the Niro lends itself well to a cabin that is spacious, comfortable and well packaged, even for four adults. 

The displays are nice and crisp, the buttons are easy to use and the rotary-style shift knob is a classy, unique touch. Throw in the added practicality of the hatch, and you’ve got yourself a highly versatile, comfortable and practical car. For $36,000 and some change, the Niro SX Touring’s interior is one of the better bangs for your buck in the segment. See listings.

As far as tech goes, it has all the stuff you’d expect from Kia. Some of these goodies include:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• Head-up display

• Seven-speaker Harman Kardon stereo

• Heated and ventilated front seats

• Heated steering wheel

• Rear vents

• Sunroof

• LED projector headlights

Photo credit: Kia Media

Unique exterior styling

Kia went bold for the Niro’s 2023 styling refresh, and we love it. Painted in Cityscape Green, our Niro looked modern — futuristic, even — especially with its black C-pillar exterior trim. It’s a huge step forward from the previous generation, and we think its styling will appeal to a lot of buyers wanting something a little more modern without breaking the bank.

Its size is compact and doesn’t sit as low as a regular hatchback, but it’s also not as high as its larger sibling, the Sportage. We liked the size and the elevated seating position, which contributed to our comfort in commuting to work and back each day.

Kia has several other eye-catching colors for the Niro, including Runway Red, Mineral Blue, Graphite Grey and Steel Grey. Shop 2023 Kia Niro models.

Photo credit: Kia Media

Safety features

Some of our favorite cars are smaller models that offer a lot of safety features and protection. Such is the case for the 2023 Niro, which has earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some of its features include: 

• Full-length curtain airbags

• Blind spot collision warning

• Forward collision avoidance assist

• Highway driving assist

• Safe exit warning

Photo credit: Kia Media

Final impression

If there’s a downside to the new Niro, it’s the lack of all-wheel drive. We’re sure this is for fuel efficiency and the assumption that it would be driven primarily in urban environments. Still, all-wheel drive would be nice to have, especially in Utah winters.

That glaring omission aside, the 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring is a great entry-level car. It’s affordable, stylish, comfortable, practical, loaded with tech and gets amazing fuel economy. It’s nice to drive — even a bit of fun. For the price, the Niro is a compelling option. Just get some winter tires.

Find a Kia Niro on KSL Cars today.

FAQs

Who is the Kia Niro for? 

The new Kia Niro is for buyers wanting a subcompact SUV with excellent fuel economy and is stylish, modern, practical, comfortable and easy to drive. Given its materials and features, it's an excellent value for the money.

Is it fun to drive?

Not especially, but it does have just enough torque to make it feel competent around town and in high-speed merging. Its compact size lends to a feeling of maneuverability, as well.

Is it good for families?

For families with one or two kids, sure, although you may find the backseat to be tight with child seats installed. The same goes for the cargo area. If it's loaded with a stroller and other child gear, you probably won’t have too much room left over for a grocery run.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com.