2023 Kia Niro Gets New Look, Fresh Tech

The Kia Niro has become a popular option for people wanting efficiency, tech, and value, but it’s far from the only contender offering those qualities. Kia is keeping it fresh by rolling out a brand-new Niro for 2023 that makes a giant leap in styling and technology. No pricing or release date details for the 2023 Kia Niro are available yet, but the automaker will display the car at the Seoul Mobility Show from November 25 to December 5.

Kia completely updated the Niro for 2023, though the outgoing model didn’t feel all that long in the tooth. The funky crossover debuted for the 2017 model year and had plenty of updates under its belt before Kia rewrote the script. The six-year lifecycle isn’t abnormal by any means, but the Niro’s continued relevance after that long demonstrates its strength in the market.

Kia shared that the 2023 Niro will come with three powertrain options: Hybrid, electric (EV), and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The 2022 Niro came in gas, PHEV, and EV formats, so the move to hybrid or electric-only is notable. The current Niro EV provides up to 239 miles of range at a reasonable price, and the PHEV delivers up to 53 mpg in the city. We expect to see slight improvements on those numbers for 2023, along with solid figures for the hybrid.

Kia says a new “Greenzone Drive Mode” system for the 2023 Niro PHEV powertrain automatically switches between gas and electric propulsion during various driving scenarios. Kia gives the example of approaching a school zone or residential area, where the car uses its navigation system to recognize its location and switch to electric power. The driver can also set favorite places in the system to use as green zones.

The Niro’s front end gets a massage for 2023 with a more refined Kia “tiger nose” grille shape and sharp headlight designs. Two-tone paint and strong lines highlight the crossover’s new body shape, while the rear is more upright with large vertical taillights.

Kia says the new Niro’s interior is a showcase of recycled and sustainable materials. The headliner is made from recycled wallpaper and the upholstery from Bio PU with Tencel from eucalyptus leaves. Kia designed the Niro’s new seats with weight reduction in mind; they feature a slim design and integrated coat hangers. A slightly off-center dash curves gently around the driver, which brings the digital displays into better view for the driver, and Kia says it integrated the screens into the dash for a seamless look.

Kia is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on November 29, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.