Compare the2024 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridVS 2023 Tesla Model 3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Niro Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model 3 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the Model 3 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Model 3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro Plug-In Hybrid 2 years longer than Tesla covers the Model 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Model 3 ends after only 8 years or 100,000 miles.

There are over 5 times as many Kia dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 10 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 513 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Model 3’s range is only 272 to 358 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 15 minutes for only a 50% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 10 hours and 24 minutes.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Niro Plug-In Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Model 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 700 pounds less than the Tesla Model 3.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid is 10.8 inches shorter than the Model 3, making the Niro Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has 8.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model 3 (105.1 vs. 97).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 4.6 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.