Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2021 Kia Niro

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-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 CR-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 CR-V offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The CR-V SE/EX/EX-L/Touring has standard HondaLink Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Niro doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CR-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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Kia Niro:

	CR-V	Niro
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	27%
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	291 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	65/19 lbs.	74/269 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	37%	80%
Neck Stress	160 lbs.	207 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 CR-V is safer than the Kia Niro:

	CR-V	Niro
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	138
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	142 G’s	196 G’s
Hip Force	310 lbs.	342 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	170
Spine Acceleration	50 G’s	77 G’s
Hip Force	567 lbs.	993 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	543 lbs.	712 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The CR-V’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CR-V’s reliability 19 points higher than the Niro.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (190 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V is faster than the Kia Niro:

	CR-V	Niro
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	80.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the CR-V and the Niro have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All CR-Vs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CR-V has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (14 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Niro doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The CR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Niro doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro:

	CR-V	Niro
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the Niro (235/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The CR-V LX/SE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro (235/65R17 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V LX/SE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro LX/LXS/EX Premium. The CR-V Touring’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring.

The CR-V has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Niro; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro.

The CR-V EX-L AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Niro LXS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Niro LXS (27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Niro doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Niro doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The CR-V has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Niro (105.9 vs. 100.9).

The CR-V has 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CR-V’s rear seats recline. The Niro’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Niro’s liftover is 29 inches.

The CR-V’s cargo area is larger than the Niro’s in every dimension:

	CR-V	Niro
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/71”	31.8”/64”
Max Width	54”	48.2”
Min Width	41.5”	41”
Height	41”	36”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Niro doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V. The Niro doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CR-V EX-L/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Niro doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The CR-V has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Touring, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Niro doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Niro doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-V’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Niro’s parking brake has to released manually.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Niro can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Niro’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CR-V Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Niro’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the CR-V and the Niro offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CR-V has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Niro doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Recommendations

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	CR-V	Niro
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Niro has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Niro has never been chosen.