Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2024 Kia Niro

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus NX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Kia Niro doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus NX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Niro doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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

The NX 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 NX and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 Lexus NX weighs 413 to 1404 pounds more than the Kia Niro. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Lexus NX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Niro has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The NX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Niro’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

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

The NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 64 more horsepower (203 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (240 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 136 more horsepower (275 vs. 139) and 122 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 195) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 450h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 165 more horsepower (304 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Niro:

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Niro (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Niro:

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Niro can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the NX and Niro have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The NX (except NX 350h/450h+) has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The NX has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (14.5 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the Lexus NX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Niro.

The NX offers an available 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 NX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro:

The NX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Niro are solid, not vented.

The NX stops shorter than the Niro:

For better traction, the NX has larger tires than the Niro (235/60R18 vs. 205/60R16). The NX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro (235/60R18 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro. The NX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Niro doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The NX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Niro’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the NX is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro.

The NX 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Niro SX (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the NX has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro (7.7 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the NX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the NX’s rear seats recline. The Niro’s rear seats don’t recline.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the NX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Niro doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the NX. The Niro doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The NX offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the NX uses the Vehicle 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 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 63% lower rating, Kia is ranked 26th.

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Niro does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The NX’s 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.

The NX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key is only offered on the Niro EX/SX, and doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The NX’s 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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Niro doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the NX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Niro doesn’t offer cornering lights. The NX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The NX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Niro offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The NX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Niro EX/SX. The NX 350/350h 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 NX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the NX will retain 57.75% to 60.19% of its original price after five years, while the Niro only retains 53.95% to 55.7%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus NX and the Kia Niro, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus NX outsold the Kia Niro by over two to one during 2023.