2027 Kia Niro Hybrid Gets a Smarter Look and Better Tech, But Loses Its Plug-In and EV Options

Kia’s smallest crossover, the Niro, has long been a favorite for its mix of efficiency and style, offering buyers their choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full electric power. That lineup is about to shrink. For the 2027 model year, Kia is giving the Niro a mid-cycle refresh with sharper styling, updated tech, and a more refined cabin.

But the automaker is also dropping the plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions, leaving only the standard hybrid on the menu. The changes elsewhere are modest, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The updated Niro keeps its familiar silhouette but gains Kia’s new Star Map lighting signature up front, replacing the old winged trim piece. Out back, a redesigned liftgate and bumper pair with angular taillights, while the clever aero channels hidden behind the C-pillar remain.

Inside, the dashboard is cleaner and more modern. 3-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, up from the standard 8-inch screen. 3-inch digital gauge cluster is optional, replacing the smaller base unit. Kia also swapped the old rotary dial shifter for a traditional lever and redesigned the steering wheel.

6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing 139 horsepower to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

On the safety front, the 2027 Niro adds junction turning assist, cyclist detection, and direct oncoming vehicle detection to its forward collision avoidance system. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic braking, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering are all standard.

The top SX Touring trim adds a 360-degree camera and a Blind-Spot View Monitor that projects a live camera feed onto the instrument cluster. Pricing and fuel economy numbers haven’t been released yet, but Kia says sales will begin this summer. Expect a slight price bump from the current hybrid’s $28,885 starting point.

With Kia’s hybrid sales up 115% in the first half of 2026, the Niro refresh arrives at a moment when competition from the Honda Civic Hybrid, Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, and Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is fiercer than ever.