Kia Kills Niro Plug-in Hybrid for 2026
Although many automakers are bolstering their hybrid model offerings as electric vehicle (EV) sales decline, some plug-in hybrids aren’t making the cut. The latest to go? The 2026 Kia Niro PHEV.
“Due to changing market conditions, the 2026 Niro PHEV will no longer be available in the U.S. market,” Kia spokespeople told KBB.com in a statement. The Niro comes in three forms: hybrid, battery-electric, and PHEV.
The Niro was Kia’s lowest-selling model outside of its EV models, the EV6 and EV9. Overall, Kia sold 31,182 Niros last year, which was an increase year over year, but not enough to save the PHEV variant. Kia doesn’t break out Niro sales by model, but the company did note sales of its electrified models — hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs — were up 24 percent in 2025.
Life without the Niro PHEV appears to be just fine as the hybrid/EV lineup sold 3,170 units in January compared to the year-ago period when it moved just 1,202 vehicles — including the no-longer-available PHEV — for a nearly three-fold increase.
If you’re looking for a plug-in hybrid from Kia, you still have options, including Sorento and Sportage, which also offer more interior space than the now-dead Niro.
Other automakers are looking hard at PHEV models, and Stellantis pulled its entire lineup of plug-in hybrid offerings, including Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, and Chrysler Pacifica PHEV.
[Images Kia, Stellants]
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Michael Strong has spent more than 25 years writing about the automotive industry. A Detroit-area native, he’s written about everything from local car shows to product reviews to financial news. Currently he writes and edits for a variety of national and local publications. He’s also a longtime member of the Automotive Press Association and the International Motor Press Association, and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Hail Southern! Despite a love for ’70s land yachts and BMWs from the late ’80s and early ’90s, his personal vehicle is neither of those.
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PHEVs have a similar pricing premium issue as BEVs, where they don't make sense for the vast majority of buyers.
Plus, the powertrain in the Niro is no longer competitive with HMG soon launching their new PHEV system for the updated Santa Fe.
I briefly considered one of these. The PHEV offered a substantial performance boost over the regular HEV, which alone made me take notice. But for my situation upcharge and lack of convenient charging killed the idea. Very happy with Civic Hybrid, coming up on 1 year in March.