What makes the 2027 Kia Niro a hybrid? A 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder works with a permanent-magnet electric motor, and together they produce 139 hp of combined output and 195 lb-ft of total system torque. Shifting is handled by a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, and braking returns energy to the 1.32-kWh battery.

In plain terms, the Niro's strongest EPA-estimated figure is its 53 mpg city rating, which suits stop-and-go Gainesville traffic. Standard equipment includes Idle Stop and Go plus ECO and Sport drive modes, regenerative braking paddles join at the EX, and Kia estimates a 555-mile total driving range from an 11.1-gallon tank. Actual mileage and range will vary.

• Combined 139 hp, 195 lb-ft of total system torque
• Front-wheel drive through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic
• One EPA-estimated rating, 53/46/50 mpg, on every trim
• Kia's Limited Powertrain Warranty, 10 years/100,000 miles, covers the hybrid battery
• Regular unleaded fuel, 87 octane or higher
• 1.32-kWh, 240-volt lithium-ion polymer battery

Talk to the 2027 Kia Niro and it listens: natural-language voice recognition is standard, and with a Kia Connect subscription the available Kia AI Assistant responds to "Hey, Kia." Every trim also carries the 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four USB-C ports and remote start.

Technology steps up at the EX, which adds a wireless phone charger and offers Harman Kardon audio through the EX Premium Package. The SX makes that eight-speaker system standard along with navigation and Digital Key 2.0, and the SX Touring brings a 12.3-inch instrument display for a panoramic curved layout.

• Bluetooth multi-device connectivity throughout the lineup
• Push-button start through the Smart Key
• Six-speaker audio on LX, S and EX
• Wireless phone charger on EX and above
• Navigation and Digital Key 2.0 beginning with the SX
• 12.3-inch instrument display exclusive to SX Touring

Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist on the 2027 Kia Niro includes pedestrian, cyclist, junction-turning and direct-oncoming detection. Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist comes on all five trims too, as does Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, while Lane Following Assist 2 helps keep the car centered in its lane in certain circumstances.

Highway Driving Assist comes on the SX and Highway Driving Assist 2 on the SX Touring, each limited to certain federal highways. On the parking side, the EX adds front and rear sensors, and the SX Touring layers on side sensors, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse and a 360-degree Surround View Monitor.

• Stop and Go capability in Smart Cruise Control 2
• Tire-Pressure Monitoring System on all five trims
• Electronic Stability Control and four-wheel ABS disc brakes
• Signal-activated lane-change help with Highway Driving Assist 2
• SX Touring collision avoidance adds Evasive Steering Assist
• Blind-Spot View Monitor video in the SX Touring cluster

Each trim of the 2027 Kia Niro wears LED daytime running lights, LED combination taillights, automatic headlight control and heated side mirrors with LED turn signals. Up close, the design adds Star Map lighting elements to the front fascia, 3D-style taillamps to the liftgate and wheel-arch cladding along a 174.0-inch body.

Roof rails arrive with the S, crossbars sold separately. EX shoppers can add a power sunroof and power liftgate through the EX Premium Package, while the SX and SX Touring include both, plus LED fog lights and power-folding mirrors. The SX Touring alone rolls on black and machined 18-inch alloys.

• 16-inch aero alloy wheels from LX through SX
• Gloss-black exterior accents on SX and SX Touring
• Body-colored C-pillars and a smooth rear bumper
• Heated rear defroster and rear window washer and wiper
• Rear privacy glass on all five trims
• 71.9 inches wide and 60.8 inches tall

Open the liftgate of the 2027 Kia Niro and you find 21.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat, or 61.4 with the 60/40 rear seat folded. Legroom measures 41.5 inches up front and 39.8 in the reclining rear seat, and the five-seat cabin offers a passenger volume of 105.1 cubic feet.

The driver's seat tells the trim story: 6-way manual adjustment on the LX, 10-way power with power lumbar from the S, and memory for the SX and SX Touring, which also heat the steering wheel and ventilate both front seats. The S adds heated front seats, and the EX and above wear Charcoal or Sky Gray SynTex.

• Automatic climate control with separate driver and passenger zones
• SynTex-wrapped steering wheel on all five trims
• Charcoal woven cloth upholstery on the LX
• Gloss-black interior accents in all five trims
• One-touch front passenger window on SX and SX Touring
• SX and SX Touring add an auto-dimming rearview mirror