Which Years Of Used Kia Niros Are Most Reliable?
As you may know, the electrification of vehicles is currently in full swing as more manufacturers produce a wide range of EVs and hybrids for consumers. Of course, this is great for car shoppers because not only do you get more options, prices are rapidly becoming more accessible as well. With that said, Kia has long joined the EV movement, and one of its first models for its electrification strategy is the Kia Niro.
The Kia Niro was introduced as a brand-new nameplate in 2017 and was the South Korean brand’s first dedicated hybrid gasoline/EV sold in the U.S. market. Although the Kia Niro didn’t exactly light up the sales charts, it did decent enough for Kia to continue production. The Niro is worth checking out if you’re looking for a sensible, practical, and fuel-efficient small SUV.
But is the Kia Niro reliable?
If you’re shopping for a used hybrid SUV and considering the Niro, you must know the most reliable Kia Niro year. Today, let’s look at the currently available Kia Niro model years and find out which ones are reliable or not. Let’s get to it.
2017-Present Kia Niro (1st Generation)
As mentioned, the Kia Niro is a relatively new nameplate and is currently in its first generation. Let’s break down every available model and see which ones are best regarding reliability.
Buy: 2017 Kia Niro
Debut models from most vehicle lineups generally have a rough start, particularly with various reliability issues. However, the Kia Niro has avoided such a fate because the 2017 debut model is pretty good in reliability. Sure, it does have its fair share of reliability problems (which we’ll mention in a moment), but they’re not severe enough to be deal-breakers.
As per CarComplaints.com, the 2017 Kia Niro has 75 total number of complaints and four recalls under its belt. Although the Niro has the most complaints, having only 70+ complaints is pretty great for a more than half-a-decade-old model. According to owners, one of its top issues is the door handle that tends to break. Apparently, the component that holds the handle in place can break off. Another issue you may encounter with the 2017 Niro is that its soy-based fuel lines may attract rodents, which was a common issue among vehicles of that time.
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On the other hand, the 2017 Kia Niro also received positive ratings from Consumer Reports. The fresh new hybrid by Kia received a perfect reliability score of 5.0 out of 5.0 and an owner satisfaction rating of 3.0 out of 5.0. The 2017 Niro passed with flying colors with only two trouble spots to keep an eye out for engine major and fuel system/emissions.
Buy: 2018 Kia Niro
The next model, the 2018 Kia Niro, is also the most reliable Kia Niro year due to its stellar reliability scores and owner reviews. According to CarComplaints, the 2018 Niro has collected 39 complaints (so far) and two recalls. Again, it’s either the Niro has exceptional reliability or is not very popular, so it’s probably a little bit of both.
One of the top issues of the 2018 Niro is its electrical systems. One reviewer from Cars.com, wrote:
*“We bought a new Niro in June 2018. Since purchasing this car, we have had issues with the car’s computer system, shift lock malfunction, and door handle falling off the vehicle.”*
However, the reports about electrical problems were rare, so we can’t consider these issues to be prevalent.
THE KIA NIRO YEARS TO AVOID
We rounded up the Kia Niro years to avoid and help you find the most reliable model that fits your needs.
Meanwhile, Consumer Reports also gave the 2018 Niro a perfect reliability rating of 5.0 out of 5.0. The only two trouble spots of the 2018 Niro in their tests are body hardware and noises/leaks. Apparently, the door latch issue has persisted to the 2018 model year. Several reports claimed that the Niro’s door handle broke off, both on the driver and passenger side doors. Fortunately, many of these incidents were under warranty and free of charge.
Overall, the 2018 Kia Niro is an excellent used small SUV thanks to its exceptional reliability and value proposition.
Avoid: 2019 Kia Niro
Unfortunately, the 2019 Kia Niro has failed to maintain the reliability streak of this hybrid lineup. Although the 2019 Niro isn’t even close to being the least reliable in the segment, it’s easily the most unreliable model year of the Niro. For that reason, our verdict is to avoid the 2019 Niro.
For starters, the 2019 Kia Niro has 67 complaints and no recalls, as per CarComplaints.
According to the website, the number one issue of this hybrid SUV is the “Check Hybrid Engine System” error, which may or may not require a hybrid power relay assembly replacement. An owner from Winnipeg reported:
This is the first of 3 occasions this problem/error occurred. It happened 13 days after we picked up the car. It was -16 that time when the “check hybrid engine system” error popped up. Got it towed to the dealer and the fix they did was reset the car. But it was not the end of it.
In general, the 2019 Kia Niro received numerous reports of engine issues. About 16 of the 39 total complaints from the NHTSA were about powertrain issues. Several drivers reported that their vehicle jerked forward and made a loud clack sound. This issue occurs at low speeds and without rhyme or reason–increasing your chances of rear-ending someone in traffic.
Lastly, the 2019 Kia Niro received a dismal reliability score of 1.0 out of 5.0 from Consumer Reports.
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Buy: 2020 Kia Niro
Suppose you want a relatively new Niro with good reliability, top-tier fuel efficiency, and accessible pricing. In that case, the 2020 model is an excellent option and easily the most reliable Kia Niro year. For starters, it delivers a fuel economy of 52 mpg for hybrid and EPA-rated 239 miles for full-electric. It’s one of the most, if not the most fuel-efficient, hybrid in the segment.
Reliability-wise, the 2020 Kia Niro has collected primarily positive feedback on its predicted reliability.
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