The Niro has long stood out as Kia’s smallest crossover, offered with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric drivetrain options. For 2027, the model keeps its role as a frugal daily driver, but its lineup becomes narrower at a time when hybrid competition has grown.
The refreshed Niro enters a market that now includes the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. The Subaru and Toyota alternatives both offer standard all-wheel drive, while the Niro remains front-wheel drive only.
Kia Gives The Niro A Sharper Exterior Without Changing Its Core Layout
The 2027 Kia Niro receives a visual update led by the brand’s Star Map lighting signature at the front. Kia has removed the older winged trim piece from the top of the nose and replaced it with a cleaner front-end design that includes a reworked bumper and grille.
The rear has also been revised with a new liftgate, a redesigned bumper, and more angular taillights. One distinctive detail remains in place: the aero pass-through channels hidden behind the C-pillar, a design feature that helped separate the Niro visually from more conventional small crossovers.
The changes are relatively limited, but they keep the Niro aligned with Kia’s newer design language. The model still presents itself as a practical hybrid crossover rather than a dramatic redesign, and that may be exactly the point here.
The Hybrid Powertrain Stays, But The EV And Plug-In Hybrid Are Gone
The 2027 Niro keeps the same hybrid powertrain as before. It combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 139 horsepower.
Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is still not part of the package, even as some competitors in the segment offer it as standard.
The bigger lineup change is the removal of the plug-in hybrid and fully electric Niro versions. Kia is no longer offering those drivetrains for the refreshed 2027 model, making the standard hybrid the remaining option in the lineup.
That decision comes as Kia’s hybrid business is growing. The brand recorded record-breaking sales in the first half of 2026, with hybrid sales alone up 115 percent. The Niro has also been on an upswing, according to Jalopnik.
A Larger Touchscreen And More Safety Tech Reshape The Cabin
Inside, the 2027 Niro receives a new screen layout with a more squared-off design. The awkwardly shaped bezels from the outgoing model are gone, and every trim now comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen.
That screen includes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It replaces the outgoing model’s standard 8-inch display, giving even the base version a larger central interface.
The standard digital instrument cluster now measures 4 inches, which is 0.3 inch smaller than the current car’s base screen. A new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is also available. Kia has redesigned the steering wheel, adjusted the dashboard and center console, and replaced the previous rotary dial with a traditional shifter.
Driver-assistance features have also been expanded. The standard forward collision avoidance system now adds junction turning, cyclist detection, and direct-oncoming functionality. Blind-spot monitoring warning, rear cross-traffic braking, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering are standard as well.
The top SX Touring trim adds a 360-degree camera system and Kia’s Blind-Spot View Monitor, which shows a live camera feed from the vehicle’s blind spots on the instrument cluster screen.
Kia has not yet released pricing or EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2027 Niro. The current Niro Hybrid starts at $28,885 including destination, and Kia says sales of the 2027 model are expected to begin this summer.
