Compare the2023 Hyundai Tucson HybridVS 2022 Kia Niro

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Hybrid Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist 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 Tucson Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Tucson Hybrid Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Tucson Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Niro LXS/LXS SE/Touring SE/EX Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Niro LXS/LXS SE/Touring SE/EX Premium has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Tucson Hybrid has a standard Blue Link, 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 Tucson Hybrid and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 and rearview cameras.

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid weighs 410 to 635 pounds more than the Kia Niro. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tucson Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Tucson Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Niro’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro.

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 Tucson Hybrid’s reliability 20 points higher than the Niro.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Tucson Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 87 more horsepower (226 vs. 139) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 195) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is faster than the Kia Niro:

	Tucson Hybrid	Niro
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	9.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.4 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	17.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Tucson Hybrid has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (13.7 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tucson Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro:

	Tucson Hybrid	Niro
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	10.3 inches

The Tucson Hybrid stops much shorter than the Niro:

	Tucson Hybrid	Niro
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	152 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tucson Hybrid has larger tires than the Niro (235/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Tucson Hybrid Blue’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 Tucson Hybrid Blue has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro LX/LXS/EX Premium. The Tucson Hybrid SEL/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring SE.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Niro (108.5 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson Hybrid is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro.

The Tucson Hybrid Limited handles at .82 G’s, while the Niro LXS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tucson Hybrid Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Niro LXS (27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Tucson Hybrid 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.

Passenger Space

The Tucson Hybrid has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Niro (107.9 vs. 100.9).

The Tucson Hybrid has .8 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear legroom, 5.6 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Niro’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Tucson Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Tucson Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro with its rear seat folded (74.5 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Tucson Hybrid SEL Convenience/Limited’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Tucson Hybrid’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Niro doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Tucson Hybrid has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Niro doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Tucson Hybrid Limited, 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 Tucson Hybrid Limited’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 Tucson Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Niro’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Tucson Hybrid’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.

On a hot day the Tucson Hybrid’s driver can lower all the windows 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 Tucson Hybrid’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 Tucson Hybrid Limited’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.

The Tucson Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Niro Touring SE/EX Premium.

The Tucson Hybrid has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Niro EX Premium. The Tucson Hybrid Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Niro.

Both the Tucson Hybrid and the Niro offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tucson Hybrid 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.

The Tucson Hybrid Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Niro doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Tucson Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Tucson Hybrid will retain 48.97% to 49.88% of its original price after five years, while the Niro only retains 44.32% to 44.64%.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson Hybrid third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Niro isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Kia Niro by over six to one during the 2021 model year.

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