Compare the2024 Toyota PriusVS 2024 Kia Niro

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Prius have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Niro doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Prius has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Niro doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

The Prius Limited offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro 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 Prius and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Toyota Prius has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Niro has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Prius’ 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Prius for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro.

There are over 56 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Prius’ warranty.

The battery on the Prius is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Prius’ battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Niro’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Prius’ reliability 19 points higher than the Niro.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 10th.

The Prius’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (194 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Prius’ optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 57 more horsepower (196 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Prius is faster than the Kia Niro:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius gets better mileage than the Niro:

The Prius has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Niro doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Prius AWD-e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro:

The Prius stops shorter than the Niro:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prius LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro. The Prius XLE/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Prius’ wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Niro (108.3 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

The Prius Limited AWD-e handles at .86 G’s, while the Niro SX pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The design of the Toyota Prius amounts to more than styling. The Prius has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the Niro (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Prius get better fuel mileage.

The Prius has 1.7 inches more front legroom and 1.4 inches more front hip room than the Niro.

The Prius has a larger cargo volume than the Niro with its rear seat up (23.8 vs. 22.8 cubic feet).

The Prius’ front and rear power windows all 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’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Niro SX’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Prius the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Niro can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Prius has standard Pushbutton Start that allows you to unlock the doors from the driver’s outside door handle and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Niro EX/SX offers a Smart Key.

The Prius LE’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Niro’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Both the Prius and the Niro offer available heated front seats. The Prius Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Niro.

The Prius will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Prius will retain 56.31% to 58.47% of its original price after five years, while the Niro only retains 53.95% to 55.7%.

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

The Prius/Prius Prime was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 1 more times in the last 21 years. The Niro has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Prius as their 2024 Car of the Year. The Niro has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Prius as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The Niro has never been chosen.

The Toyota Prius outsold the Kia Niro by 1752 units during 2023.