Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2022 Kia Niro

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Niro doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Crosstrek has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Crosstrek offers optional parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Niro doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited has standard STARLINK Safety and Security, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or 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 Crosstrek and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Crosstrek	Niro
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	121	139
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	122	224
Neck Injury Risk	44.6%	80%
Neck Stress	195 lbs.	207 lbs.
Neck Compression	52 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Kia Niro:

	Crosstrek	Niro
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	196 lbs.	196 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	58 G’s	77 G’s
Hip Force	428 lbs.	993 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	214

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, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 141 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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

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 Crosstrek’s reliability 18 points higher than the Niro.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 7 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (152 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (182 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Crosstrek is faster than the Kia Niro (automatics tested):

	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited	Niro
Zero to 60 MPH	8.8 sec	7.8 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	16 sec	17.4 sec

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Niro doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The Crosstrek has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (16.6 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Crosstrek offers an optional 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 Crosstrek’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro:

	Crosstrek	Niro
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.8 inches	10.3 inches

The Crosstrek stops much shorter than the Niro:

	Crosstrek	Niro
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	152 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the Niro (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro LX/LXS/EX Premium.

The Crosstrek 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

The Crosstrek Premium handles at .81 G’s, while the Niro LXS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Niro LXS (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 6.9 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro.

Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro with its rear seat up (20.8 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Crosstrek has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

The Crosstrek’s cargo area is larger than the Niro’s in almost every dimension:

	Crosstrek	Niro
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.3”/64.2”	31.8”/64”
Max Width	53”	48.2”
Min Width	43”	41”
Height	30”	36”

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

Towing

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Niro. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Niro’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The Niro doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Niro doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Niro offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Kia Niro by over six to one during the 2021 model year.

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