Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Niro’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.
The HR-V offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
Both the HR-V and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Kia Niro:
|
HR-V |
Niro |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
Neck Injury Risk |
19% |
27% |
Neck Stress |
244 lbs. |
291 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
5 lbs. |
37 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
33/136 lbs. |
74/269 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
3 Stars |
HIC |
205 |
224 |
Chest Compression |
.5 inches |
.5 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
41% |
80% |
Neck Compression |
46 lbs. |
63 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Kia Niro:
|
HR-V |
Niro |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Movement |
.8 inches |
.9 inches |
Abdominal Force |
158 G’s |
196 G’s |
Hip Force |
321 lbs. |
342 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Spine Acceleration |
59 G’s |
77 G’s |
Hip Force |
385 lbs. |
993 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
203 |
214 |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.