The 2027 Kia Niro Dons a More Modern Design, but Now It Only Comes with This One Trendy Powertrain
Kia has revealed details on the 2027 Niro for the U.S. market, after initially showing the refreshed model in South Korea earlier this year.The Niro now comes exclusively with a 139-hp hybrid powertrain, with t...
- Kia has revealed details on the 2027 Niro for the U.S. market, after initially showing the refreshed model in South Korea earlier this year.
- The Niro now comes exclusively with a 139-hp hybrid powertrain, with the plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants now dead.
- The exterior styling looks cleaner than before; inside, there's a new standard 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Back in January, Kia showed off a refreshed version of its subcompact Niro SUV for the Korean market. Now, Kia has released full details for the U.S. market, where the Niro will wear a fresh look that brings it in line with other recent Kias while reducing its powertrain options to a standard hybrid setup.
The Niro was previously offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full EV, but Kia dropped the PHEV version after the 2025 model year, and reports emerged earlier this year that the Niro EV was also on its deathbed. With the reveal of the U.S.-spec 2027 Niro, Kia has now confirmed that the SUV will be sold solely with the 139-hp hybrid powertrain, which continues to pair a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with a single electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The EV's disappearance is likely due to the imminent arrival of the similarly sized similarly sized EV3.
While the hybrid system is unchanged, the Niro's look is far cleaner and more modern than the 2026 model. The headlights are more vertically oriented, with an upside-down L-shaped LED element that connects to a thin trim piece that spans the front fascia just below the Kia badge. The grille openings are now integrated into the black bumper trim, which wraps around the wheel arches and down the side of the car.
At the rear, the taillights look sharper and more detailed, while the rear bumper has been redesigned with a smoother, simpler appearance. Kia has also added two new colors for 2027: Ivory Silver and Sunset Beige (seen here).
The cabin has also been overhauled, with a new layout that pairs a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen (a 10.3-inch unit was previously available) with an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster in one rectangular housing. The standard instrument panel continues with a 4.0-inch digital display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, and the steering wheel and air vents have also been redesigned.
Other changes for the 2027 Niro include a more capable forward-collision-avoidance system and a 360-degree monitor for the SX Touring trim. There's also a new Highway Drive Assist 2 mode that can maintain a set speed and distance from a vehicle ahead while also keeping the car centered in the lane on highways. Kia says it retuned the suspension for more comfort and focused on making the cabin more hushed too.
The 2027 model year also marks the introduction of a new S trim, joining the LX, EX, and SX. Pricing details will come later, Kia says, but we won't have to wait long, as sales are set to kick off this summer. We expect the base price to rise slightly from the 2026 Niro Hybrid's $28,885 starting point.
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Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.