carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | EV |
| Base Price | $42,101–$51,983 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2025 Kia Niro EV at 8.0/10 overall, which translates to a Recommended rating for this ev. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 9.0/10, while Performance at 6.5/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. We score reliability at 8.1/10 — better than most direct rivals, if short of the segment's best. The 9.0/10 safety score puts it near the top of the class on this dimension; the official trim-level results at nhtsa.gov are worth a final check.
Performance at 6.5/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. The cabin tech earns 8.2/10 — infotainment, smartphone integration, and driver-assistance are all close to the best this class offers.
Priced from $42,101–$51,983, 113 MPG, seating 5, the Kia Niro EV sits in the mid-market bracket of the ev segment. Value is where it presses its advantage — 8.4/10, meaning the feature set and quality outrun the asking price. At 1 year old, it's recent enough that the core feature set holds up well against current competition.
Our take: The 2025 Kia Niro EV is a solid, well-rounded ev that covers the essentials without obvious deal-breakers. The main caveat is performance — worth checking if those dimensions are priorities for you. For most buyers in this segment, it's a safe, dependable choice.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2025 Kia Niro EV ranks #35 of 268 evs in the Carivo database — better than 87% of the segment. Its 8.0/10 overall score is 0.4 points above the segment average of 7.6/10. Its $42,101 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $52,750 by about 20%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full EV ranking →
Smart-money pick: the 2022 Kia Niro EV scores 7.9/10 — within striking distance of the 2025's 8.0 — and starts roughly $3,500 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (this review) | 8.0/10 | $42,101 | |
| 2024 | 7.9/10 | $40,875 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.8/10 | $39,648 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.9/10 | $38,422 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.8/10 | $37,196 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.7/10 | $35,970 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.7/10 | $34,743 | Read review → |
The following recall campaign has been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Seats 17/01/2025 · 25V024000 | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying… |
|---|
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Explore the full lineup of Kia models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.