Kia has revealed the refreshed Niro electrified crossover, which has received a number of design and technology upgrades ahead of a March arrival in the domestic market – but don’t expect it to launch in Australia.
Dubbed the ‘New Niro’, the facelifted version of the second-generation crossover now gets Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design language – debuting a new face and lighting signatures reminiscent of the smaller Stonic – plus new alloy wheel designs and the latest tech the Korean brand has to offer.
And that means the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (c.NC) infotainment suite – with dual 12 – is what it’s called. 3-inch displays display the brand’s new software and user interface, which sits in a revamped dashboard.
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2026 Kia Niro
The 2026 Kia Niro will be ‘completely described’ for the Korean domestic market in March, with its full details being offered once again as an electric vehicle (EV) plug-in hybrid. if it’s going to be sent from there, and will also reach other big markets such as Europe and the UK where it has been very popular.
Nevertheless, Kia’s local division has confirmed that the Niro is no longer available in our market for Australia as the brand shifts its focus to other nameplates which compete with small SUV segment.
The Niro Hybrid will be replaced by the new Seltos Hybrid in the latter stages of 2026, while the Niro EV has already passed the baton to the similarly-sized EV3. Kia Australia never offered the current-generation Niro PHEV here, but it’s understood it won’t get a go Down Under, either.
The Korean crossover registered in Australia last year was just 454 new units of the Korean cross, down from 1455 units the year before.
2026 Kia Niro
The Niro has long struggled to emulate the success of Toyota’s hybrids and its cousin in the Hyundai Kona, as it is a premium-priced model for its high-end competition against mainstream-branded rivalry.
It is a top-seller in overseas markets such as South Korea and the UK, where its long term success has probably earned it that facelift you see here rather than retired now that the EV3 exists; Seltos Hybrid is on the road.
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