Compare the2023 Hyundai NexoVS 2022 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 rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Nexo has 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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 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 540 to 725 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 fully 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 22 more horsepower (161 vs. 139) and 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 with zero emissions on a full tank of hydrogen for 354 to 380 miles. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Nexo higher (10 out of 10) than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid (7). This means the Nexo produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

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. 205/60R16).

The Nexo Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nexo has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid. The Nexo Limited has standard 19-inch wheels.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Nexo’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (109.8 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Nexo is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

The Nexo has .3 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, 5.2 inches more rear hip room and .3 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. 54.5 cubic feet).

The Nexo’s cargo area is larger than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

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

The Nexo uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Nexo’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Nexo’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 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Nexo Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The Nexo’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX/EX Premium.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Nexo has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX/EX Premium offers wireless charging.

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