The 2021 Toyota C-HR needs to be seen to be believed; the driving’s forgettable.
Pros Grabby looks Standard safety tech Rides well Decent value
Cons It’s courageous, for sure Rear seat’s dark, cramped Power’s low Meh mpg
Toyota's smallest SUV receives a boost to its safety cred for 2021 with an updated suite of driver-assistance features. Standard across the lineup is Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 active safety system, which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist with road-edge detection, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high-beam headlamps, and adaptive cruise control with lane-trace assist—which keeps it centered in the lane..
Pros Funk-tastic styling, nicely outfitted cabin, standard safety tech.
Cons Slothful acceleration, tight rear seat space, limited cargo room.
New Nightshade Edition available.Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite of safety features and driver aids now standard on all trims.
Pros Sporty handling makes it fun to zip around turns Comes standard with plenty of features, including safety tech Swoopy styling helps it stand out
Cons Unlike most rivals, it doesn't offer all-wheel drive Even in this slow class, acceleration is lethargic Pervasive road and engine noise in the cabin Minimal cargo space, even for its small segment
The Niro isn't our favorite car to drive, but it's perfect for drivers who care as much about fuel efficiency as they do about their budget.
Pros Efficiently rated up to 52 mpg, affordable, practicality of a crossover.
Cons Some trims lack basic amenities, uninspiring performance, plug-in hybrid has limited EV range.
The 2020 Kia Niro's #5 ranking is based on its score within the Hybrid and Electric SUVs category. It was a finalist for our 2020 Best Hybrid or Electric SUV for the Money award. Currently the Kia Niro has a score of 7.7 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 16 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Excellent fuel economy Spacious interior when compared with subcompact SUVs Intuitive infotainment system
Cons Not available with all-wheel drive Interior not as upscale as rivals’ Unimpressive acceleration
The 2020 Kia Niro is a compelling eco-friendly car for those opposed to Prius-like looks.
Pros Oh so frugal Comfortable, roomy interior Excellent value SUV-ish looks
Cons No AWD option Light on thrills High-trim version uses more fuel Automatic emergency braking should be standard
