Kia Niro Ground Clearance: What To Know
2017 Kia Niro by Vauxford — CC BY-SA 4.0
There are many reasons you might be in the market for an SUV. They’re big, powerful people-carriers that can haul your entire family AND all of their belongings up the side of a mountain. Plus, you’ll look good doing it. Far from being the specialty vehicles they once were, sports utility vehicles can be rough-and-tumble trail blazers, or luxurious highway cruisers.
If you’re buying a Kia Niro, you’ll be getting a little bit of both! The Niro is available as a gas engine OR a fuel-efficient hybrid, and comes with a number of package options which emphasize either comfort, style, or function.
Some car critics argue that the Niro doesn’t “deserve to be called an SUV,” due to its small-ish size and streamlined body design. But make no mistake: the Niro is totally capable as an adventure car - just maybe not the mountain-climbing kind.
But if rock-hopping and off-roading capabilities ARE what you’re looking for in your next ride – or if you simply have a steeper-than-average driveway – you probably want to know more about the Kia Niro ground clearance. So let’s dive right in.
What is Ground Clearance?
In simplest terms, ground clearance (or ride height) is literally how much space there is between the lowest part of the undercarriage of your vehicle and the surface on which you are driving. Because different kinds of vehicles are designed for different styles of driving, ground clearance varies dramatically depending on the car you’re in.
Commuter sedans have the lowest ground clearance of most consumer vehicles, while SUVs and pickup trucks have the highest, as they are designed to take the road less traveled.
Ground clearance is determined by a number of factors including the size of your wheels, suspension height, and where the wheel is positioned on your vehicle. In general, SUVs should have big wheels that sit relatively low on the car, and heavy-duty suspension.
Bigger tires of course do the job of putting as much distance as possible between the bottom of your car and the road. And taller suspension helps to lift the chassis even higher off the ground, and prevents you from bottoming out or scraping the belly of your vehicle on rougher terrain.
If you are a serious off-roader, however, ground clearance is only half the battle. Most cars come equipped with skid-plates directly under the engine to keep it safe from possible impact. Purpose-built SUVs often have extended skid-plates which protect the entire underside of the vehicle. This is an easy upgrade to install if you’re looking to do more vehicular mountain-climbing.
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All About the Kia Niro Ground Clearance
At 171 inches long and 60.5 inches tall, the 2021 Kia Niro is a relatively small sports utility vehicle, with a carrying capacity of 5, and 54.5 cubic feet of cargo space in the back. With strut and multi-link
suspension and 16 inch wheels, it sits about 6.3 inches off the ground, and is perhaps better classified as a crossover vehicle. And even in this category, the Niro is relatively little. Other compact SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V, have a clearance of around 7.8 inches. Larger crossovers, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, feature closer to full-size ride height at 10.8.
The same people who criticised the Niro for its size and design felt that this vehicle better fit the description of a large hatchback. And this is a completely fair assessment – it’s subcompact-hatchback cousin, the 2021 Kia Rio, has just an inch less ground clearance than the Niro.
While it’s not the tallest kid on the playground, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid makes up for it by being one of the more affordable hybrid crossovers on the market. You can purchase the 2021 Niro Plug-In Hybrid for $24,690 MSRP, compared to $38,250 for the Toyota RAV Prime, or $35,145 for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.
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Kia Niro Ground Clearance Over the Years
First emerging onto the market in 2017, the Kia Niro ground clearance has remained exactly the same in all 5 iterations that have come out since. And that goes for most aspects of this vehicle. Everything about it, from design to engine specs, has changed very little with the exception of minor tweaks to the appearance of the vehicle, as well as updated safety and infotainment features. Fans of the Niro appreciate the car’s consistency and sensibility. The Plug-In Hybrid model has proven to be a particular fan-favorite.
In 2017, the Niro was named among the year’s top 10 most reliable cars. And in 2019, the plug-in hybrid version was given a spot on the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ list when equipped with optional HID headlights. The Niro has also earned the title of “Best Hybrid” in the UK, and was declared 2019’s “Car of the Year” at the first ever DrivingElectric awards show. So in spite of its short stature and questionable category, the Niro continues to deliver.
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Where You Can Drive in a Kia Niro
Earlier we said the Niro was a totally-capable adventure car. And we stand by that statement! Critics of this vehicle advise more rough-and-tumble explorers of the wilderness to avoid the Niro, as the only available drivetrain option is front wheel drive. But if your idea of a good time involves an interstate highway and a drive-up campsite, the Niro will get you there in style.
Small families with a suitcase or two each will find a perfect ride for long-range road trips and accessible outdoor excursions in the Niro. The gasoline version gets a combined MPG of 48, and the Hybrid the equivalent of 105. The 6.3 inches of ground clearance on either model – and any trim – is perfect for city driving, bumpy pavement, gravel, or maintained dirt roads.
But if your vacations involve bouldering, snowy track-driving, and racing through riverbeds (wet OR dry) you might want to go for something a little bit bigger. May we suggest the Toyota Landcruiser? To learn more check out our other article: The 10 Best Adventure Cars.
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