Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid MPG by year — every rating on record
The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 8 model years, from 2018 to 2026. Across those years its best rated version returned 48 mpg (2023) and its thirstiest returned 46 mpg (2018). The EPA record holds 8 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #5 of 23 (82th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Station Wagons |
| 2019 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #6 of 23 (77th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Station Wagons |
| 2020 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #6 of 20 (74th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Station Wagons |
| 2021 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #10 of 22 (57th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Station Wagons |
| 2022 | 1 | 46 mpg | 46 mpg | #8 of 21 (65th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Station Wagons |
| 2023 | 1 | 48 mpg | 48 mpg | #18 of 29 (39th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Station Wagons |
| 2025 | 1 | 48 mpg | 48 mpg | #36 of 82 (57th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2026 | 1 | 48 mpg | 48 mpg | #34 of 71 (53th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid placed highest in 2018 at #5 of 23, and lowest in 2025 at #36 of 82. It spent 7 of its 8 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 8 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | Range | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 49 | 47 | 48 | 239.6 | 2.4 | $1,300 | 510 mi | 71 | 10/10 |
| 2025 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 49 | 47 | 48 | 239.6 | 2.4 | $1,300 | 510 mi | 71 | 10/10 |
| 2023 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 49 | 47 | 48 | 239.6 | 2.4 | $1,300 | 510 mi | 71 | 10/10 |
| 2022 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 44 | 46 | 250.0 | 3.0 | $1,350 | 560 mi | 90 | 10/10 |
| 2021 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 44 | 46 | 250.0 | 3.0 | $1,350 | 560 mi | 90 | 10/10 |
| 2020 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 44 | 46 | 250.0 | 3.0 | $1,350 | 560 mi | 90 | 10/10 |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 44 | 46 | 250.0 | 3.0 | $1,350 | 560 mi | 90 | 10/10 |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular Gas and Electricity | SIDI; PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 48 | 44 | 46 | 250.0 | 3.0 | $1,350 | 560 mi | 90 | 10/10 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 → 2023 | 46 → 48 mpg | +2 mpg | 240 gal |
What Niro Plug-in Hybrid fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2026 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid burns 240 to 240 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $719 | $719 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $839 | $839 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $958 | $958 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2026 model year is $1,300 to $1,300 a year in fuel, or $6,500 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Station Wagons
Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 48 mpg the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid is 21 mpg better the median, which is worth about $652 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Station Wagons rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Kia nameplates
Every Kia model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.