2026 Kia Niro: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Kia Niro gets 48 to 53 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Niro FE at 53 mpg. The electric version is rated 113 MPGe, with a range of up to 253 miles.
The EPA figures for 2026 are the same as for 2025; the safety records below are for 2026.
How the Niro ranks in its class
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2026, the Niro ranks 1st of 31 for combined mileage (53 mpg), 1st of 31 for yearly fuel cost ($1,150 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 1st of 31 for tailpipe CO2 (71 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 30 mpg, costs $2,100 a year and puts out 297 grams per mile.
Among the electric and fuel-cell models in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2026, its electric version ranks 8th (tied with 1 other) of 19 for combined mileage (113 MPGe) and 9th (tied with 6 others) of 18 for yearly fuel cost ($700 for its cheapest version, cheapest first). The middle model of the class gets 110 MPGe and costs $700 a year.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 2 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Niro's best version, no other model gets the same and 232 get less. The 2026 Niro's cheapest version costs $1,150 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 1 costs less, 1 the same and 223 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 1 to 4 of 31)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Kia NiroThis car | 2026 Niro FE | 53 | $1,150 | 71 |
| 2 | 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 2026 RAV4 | 43 | $1,450 | 205 |
| 3 | 2026 Kia Sportage | 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD | 42 | $1,500 | 209 |
| 4 | 2026 Ford Escape | 2026 Escape FWD PHEV | 40 | $2,100 | 222 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Niro Electric, Electric: 126 MPGe city, 101 highway, 113 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Niro version is $700 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Niro costs $724 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Niro costs $3,620 less to fuel than the RAV4 (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
The Niro against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Niro (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Niro | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 2026 RAV4 | 43 mpg | $1,450 | 10 lower | $300 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Kia Sportage | 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD | 42 mpg | $1,500 | 11 lower | $350 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Ford Escape | 2026 Escape FWD PHEV | 40 mpg | - | 13 lower | - | Compare |
Every version of the 2026 Kia Niro
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version. For plug-in hybrids the miles per gallon and the yearly figure are for driving on gasoline only; the file gives no blended cost, because it depends on how often the car is charged (range is gasoline plus electric; the electric-only range has its own column).
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Range mi | Electric range mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Niro ElectricElectric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | Front-wheel | 126 | 101 | 113 MPGe | $700 | - | 253 | - | cheapest |
| 2026 Niro FEHybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-wheel | 53 | 54 | 53 | $1,150 | 167 | - | - | +$450 |
| 2026 NiroHybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-wheel | 53 | 45 | 49 | $1,250 | 181 | - | - | +$550 |
| 2026 Niro Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-wheel | 49 | 47 | 48 | $1,300 on gasoline only | 71 | 510 | 33 | - |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Niro; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Niro FE puts out 167 grams per mile; across the 4 tested versions the figure runs from 0 to 181.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Niro FE: fuel economy score 8 (8 to 9 across versions), greenhouse gas score 8 (8 to 10 across versions).
Electric range and charging
Cost per 100 miles uses electricity at $0.15 per kWh (as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA). Plug-in hybrid range counts gasoline too.
| Version | Range mi | Charge at 240 V | MPGe | kWh per 100 mi | Cost per 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Niro ElectricElectric | 253 | 7.5 h | 113 | 30 | $4.50 |
| 2026 Niro Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid | 510 | 2.8 h | 108 | 31 | $4.65 |
2026 Niro Plug-in Hybrid: on gasoline alone the agency's file gives $1,300 a year (15,000 miles); on electricity, 31 kWh per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh comes to about $698 a year if all 15,000 miles were driven that way. The real cost depends on how often the car is charged, so no single yearly cost is shown for it.
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Niro hybrid and electric version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best hybrid | Best electric (MPGe) | Versions tested | Against 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 50 mpg | none | 3 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 |
| 2018 | 50 mpg | none | 4 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 |
| 2019 | 50 mpg | 112 MPGe | 5 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 |
| 2020 | 50 mpg | 112 MPGe | 5 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 |
| 2021 | 50 mpg | 112 MPGe | 5 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 |
| 2022 | 50 mpg | 112 MPGe | 5 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 |
| 2023 | 53 mpg | 113 MPGe | 4 | same as 2026 |
| 2024 | 53 mpg | 113 MPGe | 3 | same as 2026 |
| 2025 | 53 mpg | 113 MPGe | 4 | same as 2026 |
| 2026This page | 53 mpg | 113 MPGe | 4 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 4 versions were tested then and 4 now; the best figure went from 53 to 53 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Niro Electric, Electric | 113 MPGe | 113 MPGe | no change |
| 2026 Niro FE, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 53 mpg | 53 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Niro, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Niro Plug-in Hybrid, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 48 mpg | 48 mpg | no change |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 KIA NIRO SUV HEV FWD | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 KIA NIRO ELECTRIC SUV BEV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 2 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: NIRO, NIRO ELECTRIC, NIRO PHEV.
Owner complaints, 2026
2 complaints for the 2026 Kia Niro are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 1 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
1 of the 2 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: NIRO, NIRO ELECTRIC, NIRO PHEV.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Kia Niro (as NIRO, NIRO ELECTRIC, NIRO PHEV). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Kia Niro on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Includes agency records filed under: NIRO, NIRO ELECTRIC, NIRO PHEV.
More Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Niro itself is at 53 mpg.
Other Kia models of 2026
More Kia models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Kia Niro gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Niro FE with 53 mpg combined (53 city, 54 highway).
How much does a 2026 Kia Niro cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Kia Niro costs between $700 and $1,250 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Niro Electric at $700; the dearest is the 2026 Niro at $1,250. For the plug-in hybrid versions the table and the calculator above give the cost of driving on gasoline only ($1,300 a year at 15,000 miles); no blended yearly cost is shown, because it depends on how often the car is charged. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2026 Kia Niro rank among 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD models?
The 2026 Kia Niro is 1st of 31 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Kia Niro at 53 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 30 mpg. In the list, the next one behind is the 2026 Toyota RAV4 at 43 mpg.
Did the Niro change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 4 tested versions and the 2026 model has 4. The best figure went from 53 to 53 mpg (no change).
How far can the electric Niro go on a full charge?
2026 Niro Electric: 253 miles, by the agency's tests.
How long does the 2026 Kia Niro take to charge, and what does it cost?
The 2026 Niro Electric takes 7.5 hours for a full charge at 240 volts and uses 30 kWh per 100 miles, about $4.50 per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh.
How did the 2026 Kia Niro do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 KIA NIRO SUV HEV FWD: overall 4 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 KIA NIRO ELECTRIC SUV BEV FWD: not rated. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Kia Niro?
2 complaints for the 2026 Kia Niro are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Air Bags (1 report). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2026 Kia Niro have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Kia Niro on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Kia Niro: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Kia Niro: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Kia Niro: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Kia Niro: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Kia Niro: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.