How safe is the Kia Niro hybrid?
Drivers of the 2017–2020 Kia Niro hybrid died at a rate of 43 per million registered vehicle years, 11% higher than the average of 38 for all vehicles. That makes it riskier than most vehicles for its driver: it ranks 84th of 127 vehicles, safer than 34% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
This is the most recent IIHS data for this model, covering 2017–2020 models. It doesn't appear in the newer 2023 study, often because it was redesigned or discontinued.
Where the Kia Niro hybrid sits among all 127 vehicles
Kia Niro hybrid (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 38
The rate is based on limited data, so its exact rank could move several places with more data.
Vehicles ranked near the Kia Niro hybrid
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Chevrolet EquinoxSUV · Small | 40 | 37 |
| 82 | Mitsubishi OutlanderSUV · Small | 41 | 35 |
| 83 | Buick EnvisionLuxury SUV · Midsize | 41 | 35 |
| 84 | Kia Niro hybridWagon / minivan · Mini | 43 | 34 |
| 85 | Toyota RAV4SUV · Small | 43 | 33 |
| 86 | Toyota PriusCar · Small | 45 | 33 |
| 87 | Subaru Impreza sedanCar · Small | 46 | 32 |
How it compares with other wagons and minivans
Among the 10 wagons and minivans ranked, the Kia Niro hybrid is 7th. The safest wagons and minivans are below. See all wagons and minivans.
| Wagons and minivans rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Sienna 2WDWagon / minivan · Very large | 5 | 98 |
| 2 | Subaru OutbackWagon / minivan · Midsize | 5 | 96 |
| 3 | Honda OdysseyWagon / minivan · Very large | 6 | 92 |
| 4 | Chrysler Pacifica 2WDWagon / minivan · Very large | 20 | 68 |
| 5 | Subaru Impreza wagonWagon / minivan · Small | 23 | 62 |
| 7 | Kia Niro hybridWagon / minivan · Mini | 43 | 34 |
Common questions
Is the Kia Niro hybrid a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Kia Niro hybrid is riskier than most vehicles for its driver. Its driver death rate of 43 per million registered vehicle years is 11% higher than the average, and it ranks 84th of 127 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Kia Niro hybrid compare with other wagons and minivans?
It ranks 7th of 10 wagons and minivans. The safest is the Toyota Sienna 2WD, with a rate of 5.
Why is this different from the Kia Niro hybrid's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.