Compare the2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In HybridVS 2023 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

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

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited has a standard Around 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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, 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid weighs 756 to 855 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 106 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Plug-In 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 Plug-In Hybrid.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 81 more horsepower (261 vs. 180) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 195) than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

For better traction, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has larger tires than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (235/55R19 vs. 205/60R16). The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (235/55R19 vs. 225/45R18).

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (108.5 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has 9.1 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear hip room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

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

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (31.9 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (66.3 vs. 54.6 cubic feet).

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

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

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson Plug-In 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Kia Niro by over six to one during the 2022 model year.