Kia Niro

Kia Niro: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Kia Niro, the catalogue numbers split the field into four groups: a 141 hp 1.6 DCT Hybrid or Plug-in from 1 generation (February 2016–August 2019) and its restyling (August 2019–January 2022); a 204 hp AT Electro from the restyling; five 2 generation versions from February 2022 (three named 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT at 141, 129 and 138 hp, one 1.6 PHEV DCT at 183 hp, one 64…

If you are choosing a Kia Niro, the catalogue numbers split the field into four groups: a 141 hp 1.6 DCT Hybrid or Plug-in from 1 generation (February 2016–August 2019) and its restyling (August 2019–January 2022); a 204 hp AT Electro from the restyling; five 2 generation versions from February 2022 (three named 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT at 141, 129 and 138 hp, one 1.6 PHEV DCT at 183 hp, one 64.8 kWh Electro at 204 hp); and a 2 generation, restyling 1.6 DCT Hybrid from June 2026 whose power is not measured. Every body is SUV 5-doors and every drivetrain is FWD. Buy the 1 generation 1.6 DCT Hybrid if you want the lowest measured mixed consumption (3.8 L/100 km) and 265 Nm at 4000 rpm; buy 2 generation 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 141 hp if you want the same 141 hp with 10.4 s to 100 km/h instead of 11.5 s and 20 kg less kerb weight (1405 kg vs 1425 kg); buy 1.6 PHEV DCT if 183 hp at 1580 cc is the point; buy AT or 64.8 kWh if 7.8 s and 167 km/h matter more than a petrol tank.

Generations: what actually changed between cycles

1 generation (February 2016–August 2019) sold two versions, both named 1.6 DCT, both 141 hp, both 1591 cc, both Robotic 6-speed FWD. The Hybrid lists 103 kW; the Plug-in lists 77 kW. Torque, 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, CO2, kerb and gross weight are identical in the data: 265 Nm at 4000 rpm, 11.5 s, 162 km/h, 3.8 / 3.9 / 3.8 L/100 km, 45 L, 88 g/km, 1425 kg / 1930 kg, 160 mm clearance. Choosing Plug-in over Hybrid on this generation does not buy a different 0–100, a different tank, or a different kerb weight in this catalogue.

1 generation, restyling (August 2019–January 2022) is still 1 generation, not a new one. Displacement on both 1.6 DCT lines drops from 1591 to 1580 cc (−11 cc). Torque on both 1.6 DCT lines drops from 265 Nm to 150 Nm (−115 Nm) at the same 4000 rpm. The restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT kerb weight is 1490 kg, 65 kg above the 1425 kg of the pre-restyle pair. CO2 on that Plug-in is 86 g/km versus 88 g/km. The restyling Hybrid 1.6 DCT leaves city / highway / mixed consumption, CO2, kerb and gross weight not measured. The new AT Electro is the first Niro with 204 hp, 150 kW, 403 Nm at 0–3600 rpm, Automatic 1-speed, 7.8 s, 167 km/h and 0 g/km CO2; its kerb weight, tank and consumption are not measured.

2 generation (from February 2022) keeps SUV 5-doors and FWD and adds named splits. Hybrid power is no longer one number: 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT exists at 141 hp (103 kW), 129 hp (94 kW) and 138 hp (101 kW). The 141 and 129 hp rows share 144 Nm at 4000 rpm, 10.4 s, 165 km/h, 4.6 / 5.1 / 4.8 L/100 km, 42 L tank, 1405 kg / 1940 kg. The 138 hp row is the only 2 generation Hybrid that returns 265 Nm (now at 1000–2400 rpm), but it is slower to 100 km/h (11.1 s vs 10.4 s, +0.7 s), has a higher top speed (170 vs 165 km/h, +5 km/h), mixed consumption 4.9 vs 4.8 L/100 km, and kerb 1490 kg vs 1405 kg (+85 kg). 1.6 PHEV DCT (from April 2022) is 183 hp / 134 kW on the same 1580 cc and 144 Nm; 0–100 and top speed are not measured; tank is not measured; kerb is 1405 kg. 64.8 kWh matches the restyling AT on 204 hp, 150 kW, 7.8 s and 167 km/h; torque is not measured; kerb is 1682 kg.

2 generation, restyling (from June 2026) lists one 1.6 DCT Hybrid: 1580 cc, power and torque not measured, 10.7 s, 175 km/h, 5.2 / 5.5 / 5.3 L/100 km, 42 L, 83 g/km CO2, 1525 kg / 1930 kg. Wheels are measured here only: 205/60 R16 and 225/45 R18. Suspension and brakes on this row are not measured.

Engine specs: same name, different hp

Power per litre on measured petrol rows: 1 generation 1.6 DCT 141 hp / 1591 cc = 88.6 hp/L. Restyling 1.6 DCT 141 hp / 1580 cc = 89.2 hp/L. 2 generation 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 141 hp / 1580 cc = 89.2 hp/L; 129 hp / 1580 cc = 81.6 hp/L; 138 hp / 1580 cc = 87.3 hp/L. 1.6 PHEV DCT 183 hp / 1580 cc = 115.8 hp/L — 26.6 hp/L above the 141 hp Smartstream on the same displacement. Compression is 13 on all 1 generation 1.6 DCT rows and 14 on the three 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT rows; it is not measured on 1.6 PHEV DCT and on the 2026 1.6 DCT. Direct injection (direct) is listed on every petrol row. Bore × stroke is 72 × 97 or 72 x 97 where measured. Peak power rpm is 5700 on every measured petrol row; AT uses 3800–8000; 64.8 kWh lists 255.

Do not treat the three 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT rows as one engine: 141 vs 129 is 12 hp; 141 vs 138 is 3 hp; 138 vs 129 is 9 hp. Torque is not the same story as horsepower: 144 Nm on the 141 and 129 hp Smartstream rows versus 265 Nm on the 138 hp Smartstream row (+121 Nm) and versus 265 Nm on both 1 generation 1.6 DCT rows.

Performance and economy (mpg in L/100 km)

0–100 km/h: AT and 64.8 kWh share 7.8 s. 2 generation 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 141 hp and 129 hp share 10.4 s — 1.1 s quicker than the 11.5 s of every 1 generation 1.6 DCT. The 138 hp Smartstream is 11.1 s (0.7 s slower than its 141 hp namesake, 0.4 s quicker than gen-1). The 2026 1.6 DCT is 10.7 s (0.3 s slower than 10.4 s, 0.8 s quicker than 11.5 s). 1.6 PHEV DCT 0–100 is not measured.

Top speed: 162 km/h on every 1 generation 1.6 DCT; 165 km/h on the 141 and 129 hp Smartstream; 167 km/h on AT and 64.8 kWh (+5 km/h vs 162); 170 km/h on the 138 hp Smartstream; 175 km/h on the 2026 1.6 DCT (+13 km/h vs 162, +10 vs 165). 1.6 PHEV DCT top speed is not measured.

Mixed consumption: 1 generation 1.6 DCT Hybrid and Plug-in and the restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT are 3.8 L/100 km (city 3.8, highway 3.9). 2 generation 141 and 129 hp Smartstream and 1.6 PHEV DCT are 4.8 mixed (city 4.6, highway 5.1) — +1.0 L/100 km versus 3.8. The 138 hp Smartstream is 4.9 mixed. The 2026 1.6 DCT is 5.3 mixed (city 5.2, highway 5.5) — +1.5 versus gen-1 3.8, +0.5 versus gen-2 4.8. Restyling Hybrid 1.6 DCT, AT and 64.8 kWh consumption is not measured.

CO2: 88 g/km on both 1 generation 1.6 DCT rows; 86 g/km on restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT (−2 g/km); 0 g/km on AT; 83 g/km on 2026 1.6 DCT. All other CO2 figures are not measured. Euro 6 is listed on both 1 generation 1.6 DCT rows and on the restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT; it is not measured later.

Dimensions and weight

Kerb weight: lightest measured Hybrid is 2 generation 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 141 hp and 129 hp at 1405 kg. 1 generation 1.6 DCT (both) is 1425 kg (+20 kg). Restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT and the 138 hp Smartstream are 1490 kg. 2026 1.6 DCT is 1525 kg (+120 kg vs 1405, +100 vs 1425). 64.8 kWh is 1682 kg — 277 kg above the 1405 kg Smartstream pair, 257 kg above gen-1 1425 kg. Restyling Hybrid 1.6 DCT and AT kerb weight is not measured. 1.6 PHEV DCT is 1405 kg, the same as the 141 hp Hybrid, not the 1490 kg restyling Plug-in.

Weight per horsepower (kerb / hp, where both exist): gen-1 1.6 DCT 1425 / 141 = 10.11 kg/hp. Restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT 1490 / 141 = 10.57 kg/hp. Smartstream 141 hp: 1405 / 141 = 9.96 kg/hp. Smartstream 129 hp: 1405 / 129 = 10.89 kg/hp. Smartstream 138 hp: 1490 / 138 = 10.80 kg/hp. 1.6 PHEV DCT: 1405 / 183 = 7.68 kg/hp. 64.8 kWh: 1682 / 204 = 8.25 kg/hp. The 2026 1.6 DCT cannot be scored this way because power is not measured.

Gross weight: 1930 kg on both 1 generation 1.6 DCT rows and on the 2026 1.6 DCT; 1940 kg on the three Smartstream rows that list it (+10 kg). Payload arithmetic: gen-1 1930 − 1425 = 505 kg; Smartstream 141/129 hp 1940 − 1405 = 535 kg; 138 hp Smartstream 1940 − 1490 = 450 kg; 2026 1930 − 1525 = 405 kg. Gross is not measured on restyling Plug-in 1.6 DCT, restyling Hybrid 1.6 DCT, AT, 1.6 PHEV DCT and 64.8 kWh.

Ground clearance is 160 mm on every 1 generation row including restyling AT; it is not measured on any 2 generation row. Tank is 45 L through 1 generation (Hybrid and Plug-in, including restyling Plug-in and restyling Hybrid) and 42 L on the three Smartstream rows and the 2026 1.6 DCT (−3 L). Tank is not measured on AT, 1.6 PHEV DCT and 64.8 kWh. Wheel sizes are not measured except on the 2026 1.6 DCT (205/60 R16, 225/45 R18). Front brakes are Ventilated disc and rear Disc where measured; both are not measured on the 2026 1.6 DCT. Front and rear suspension is Independent, spring where measured; both are not measured on the 2026 1.6 DCT.

Which version to choose

Daily Hybrid, lowest measured fuel: 1 generation 1.6 DCT Hybrid (141 hp, 103 kW). Mixed 3.8 L/100 km is the floor in this catalogue; 265 Nm is the Hybrid torque peak until the 138 hp Smartstream; 1425 kg kerb; 45 L tank; 160 mm clearance. The matching Plug-in 1.6 DCT on the same generation does not change 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank or kerb; it only changes listed kW (77 vs 103). If the goal is numbers rather than Plug-in hardware, the Hybrid row is the same arithmetic.

Same 141 hp, quicker and lighter: 2 generation 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 141 hp. Versus gen-1 Hybrid: 0–100 10.4 vs 11.5 s (−1.1 s), top 165 vs 162 km/h (+3), kerb 1405 vs 1425 kg (−20), payload 535 vs 505 kg, but mixed 4.8 vs 3.8 L/100 km (+1.0) and tank 42 vs 45 L. Torque is 144 Nm versus 265 Nm (−121 Nm). Compression 14 versus 13. Ground clearance is not measured. This is the lowest kg/hp among 141 hp Hybrids (9.96).

Do not buy the 129 hp Smartstream for performance. 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 129 hp shares 10.4 s, 165 km/h, 4.8 mixed, 42 L and 1405 kg with the 141 hp row, so you give up 12 hp and move from 9.96 to 10.89 kg/hp for no measured gain in acceleration or economy.

Torque over horsepower: 2 generation 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 138 hp. It is the only post-2019 Hybrid that lists 265 Nm, and it lists that torque from 1000–2400 rpm rather than 4000 rpm. Cost in the numbers: +0.7 s to 100 km/h versus the 141 hp Smartstream, +85 kg kerb, 4.9 vs 4.8 mixed, 10.80 kg/hp. Top speed 170 km/h is the Hybrid peak until 2026.

Plug-in for horsepower density: skip 1 generation Plug-in 1.6 DCT if you expected more hp than the Hybrid — both are 141 hp. On restyling, Plug-in 1.6 DCT is still 141 hp, with 150 Nm and 1490 kg. The row that actually moves is 2 generation 1.6 PHEV DCT: 183 hp, 115.8 hp/L, 7.68 kg/hp, 1405 kg. 0–100, top speed, tank, CO2 and Euro class are not measured; treat those as unknown, not as equal to the Hybrid.

Electric, measured sprint: 1 generation, restyling AT and 2 generation 64.8 kWh both 204 hp / 150 kW, 7.8 s, 167 km/h, FWD, Automatic 1. AT adds 403 Nm and 0 g/km CO2; kerb is not measured. 64.8 kWh adds a measured 1682 kg kerb and leaves torque and CO2 not measured. Versus a 141 hp Hybrid at 11.5 s, both Electros are 3.7 s quicker; versus 10.4 s they are 2.6 s quicker. There is no AWD Electro in the data.

2026 Hybrid: 2 generation, restyling 1.6 DCT. Highest measured Hybrid top speed (175 km/h), mixed 5.3 L/100 km (the highest Hybrid mixed figure here), CO2 83 g/km (5 g/km below gen-1 88), kerb 1525 kg, payload 405 kg, 10.7 s. Power, torque, cylinders, clearance, suspension and brakes are not measured. Wheels are the only Niro sizes in the file. Choose it for 175 km/h and a dated 2026 row, not for economy versus 3.8 L/100 km in 2016–2019.

Engine, horsepower, specs by year (anchors only): 2016–2019 = two 1.6 DCT at 141 hp. 2019–2022 restyling = two 1.6 DCT at 141 hp plus AT at 204 hp. 2022+ = Smartstream 141 / 129 / 138 hp, 1.6 PHEV DCT 183 hp, 64.8 kWh 204 hp. 2026 = 1.6 DCT with hp not measured. Kia Niro EV range is not measured in this dataset. Problems, reliability, overheating, clutch actuator fluid, coolant and air-filter service are not measured; they are not inferred from the spec table.

Short rule: 3.8 L/100 km and 265 Nm → 1 generation 1.6 DCT Hybrid. 10.4 s at 141 hp and 1405 kg → 1.6 Smartstream GDI HEV DCT 141 hp. 183 hp at 1580 cc → 1.6 PHEV DCT. 7.8 s → AT or 64.8 kWh. 175 km/h Hybrid → 2026 1.6 DCT. The 129 hp Smartstream is the same measured pace as 141 hp with less power; the restyling 1.6 DCT Plug-in is the same 141 hp as gen-1 with 115 Nm less torque and 65 kg more kerb.