Compare the2022 Kia NiroVS 2022 Lexus NX

Both the Niro and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Niro the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 214 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The NX has not been tested, yet.

The Niro comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The NX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the NX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the NX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Niro’s warranty.

The Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 184) than the NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Niro gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Niro uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Niro offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The NX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Niro stops shorter than the NX:

The Niro Touring SE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Niro Touring SE handles at .82 G’s, while the NX 450h AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Niro Touring SE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Niro’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the NX’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Kia Niro may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 1250 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

The Niro is 12 inches shorter than the NX, making the Niro easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Kia Niro amounts to more than styling. The Niro has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the NX (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Niro get better fuel mileage.

The Niro has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The front step up height for the Niro is 2.3 inches lower than the NX (15.5” vs. 17.8”). The Niro’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the NX’s (16.2” vs. 18.2”).

The Niro has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (54.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Niro easier. The Niro’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The power windows standard on both the Niro and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Niro is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Niro, based on reliability, safety and performance.