Skip advert
Advertisement

Kia Niro (2016-2022) review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

The Niro is a practical crossover, although the plug-in hybrid version offers a smaller boot

Practicality, comfort and boot space rating

4.1

How we review cars
RRP
£30,085 £35,085
Avg. savings
£2,564 off RRP*
Find your Kia Niro
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

By designing the Niro around a compact crossover template, Kia has delivered decent practicality. In terms of size, it sits somewhere between the Kia Ceed hatchback and Kia Sportage crossover, so it fills a niche of its own in some ways. However, if you want the plug-in PHEV variant, you'll have to make do with the smaller boot, as the batteries take up some luggage space. 

Size

The Niro is 4,355mm long and has a wheelbase of 2,700mm. That's the same wheelbase as a Toyota Prius, but the Prius is around 200mm longer overall. As you would expect, that crossover shape means the Niro is taller and wider than the Prius, at 1,545mm and 1,805mm respectively. The Niro PHEV is exactly the same length, height and width as the standard car.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

Occupants sitting in the rear of the Niro benefit from decent headroom thanks to the car's squarer crossover shape. Up front, the driver gets a wide range of seat and wheel adjustment. The only real ergonomic niggle is the foot-operated parking brake, which sits uncomfortably high and near your left shin when it's disengaged.

Boot space

The upright tailgate opening isn’t as large as the hatchback Toyota Prius’s, but the Niro's 382-litre boot capacity is competitive alongside rivals like the Volkswagen Golf. A Prius is bigger, however, claiming 445 litres with the rear seats in place. Folded down, however, the 1,380-litre load bay is 10 litres bigger than its main rival. Go for the PHEV plug-in and you'll lose around 80 litres of boot space - both seats up and seats down.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Elsewhere there’s decent storage, including a spacious glovebox, but it can’t quite match the neatly packaged Prius for cubby space. Like its rival, there's no spare wheel, just a bottle of sealant for minor punctures.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

KIA Niro

KIA Niro

RRP £29,170Avg. savings £2,564 off RRP*Used from £17,990
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £15,940Avg. savings £2,827 off RRP*Used from £9,000
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £27,795Avg. savings £2,400 off RRP*Used from £18,203
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,075Avg. savings £1,664 off RRP*Used from £14,990
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027
Fiat Panda Cross - front static

The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027

Fiat will build a new city-sized Pandina based on the new 500 platform, bringing a proper, petrol powered A-segment city car to market as early as 202…
News
12 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: retro Renault 5 for £232 per month, plus four years to enjoy it
Renault 5 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: retro Renault 5 for £232 per month, plus four years to enjoy it

The reborn Renault 5 is one of the most feverishly anticipated cars in a long time, and at such a low price, our Deal of the Day for 8 February is a p…
News
8 Feb 2025