Compare the2023 Hyundai NexoVS 2023 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

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

Both the Nexo and the Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Hyundai Nexo weighs 654 to 780 pounds more than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid. 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 Nexo its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

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

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.

The Nexo’s electric motor produces 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 195) than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Nexo can travel longer on a full tank of hydrogen than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid on electricity, only, on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Nexo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction, the Nexo has larger standard tires than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Nexo Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (245/45R19 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nexo has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX. The Nexo Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Nexo’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (109.8 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Nexo is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

The Nexo has 8.6 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Nexo’s rear seats recline. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Nexo has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Nexo has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (56.5 vs. 54.6 cubic feet).

The Nexo’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

The Nexo’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Nexo has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.