2027 Kia Niro Adds New S Trim, Prices Start at $29,890

Kia has released pricing for the refreshed 2027 Niro, and the hybrid crossover now starts at $29,890 before destination. The lineup grows to five trims with the addition of a new S grade, and buyers get access to driver assistance tech that wasn’t available on the outgoing model.

The Niro drops any pretense of powertrain variety for 2027. Kia builds it exclusively as a hybrid now, pairing a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission for a combined 139 horsepower. That setup carries over from the current car, but Kia says it retuned the suspension and cabin insulation to smooth out the ride and cut down on road noise.

Full 2027 Niro Pricing

Five trims cover the range, and all prices exclude the $1,495 destination charge:

• Niro LX FWD: $29,890
• Niro S FWD: $30,590
• Niro EX FWD: $31,390
• Niro SX FWD: $35,440
• Niro SX Touring FWD: $38,990

The new S trim slots in $700 above the base LX and gives Kia a mid-range option it didn’t previously offer on this nameplate. Every version remains front-wheel drive only, and the automaker hasn’t published where the new S trim lands on standard equipment relative to the LX beyond confirming it exists as a distinct grade.

New Driver Tech Enters the Lineup

The bigger news for buyers who already like the Niro’s packaging is what Kia added underneath the redesigned nose and tail. Highway Driving Assist 2 now appears on the options list, giving the Niro lane-centering and adaptive speed control on limited-access highways. A 360-degree Surround View Monitor and a Blind-Spot View Monitor join it, both aimed at the tight parking lots and blind-spot guesswork that come with daily crossover duty.

Kia also fitted the Niro with its Connected Car Nav Cockpit, badged ccNC, which pushes over-the-air software updates to the infotainment screen. Owners who want that capability need a Kia Connect subscription, and the automaker has not published what that costs beyond the initial trial period that usually comes bundled with a new purchase.

None of these features are unique to Kia. Toyota and Honda have offered similar highway assist and surround-view systems on the Corolla Cross and CR-V for several years. What changes here is that Kia now bundles them into a hybrid crossover priced under $30,000 to start, rather than reserving them for a $35,000-plus trim.

Styling and Cabin Updates

Kia redesigned the front and rear fascias for 2027 and carried over its Star Map lighting signature, the pattern of small light elements first seen on the Niro’s headlights and taillights when the current generation launched. New exterior colors join the palette, and Kia refreshed the cabin materials and layout, though the automaker hasn’t detailed exactly what changed inside beyond the new ccNC screen.

The outgoing 2026 hybrid Niro carried an EPA rating of up to 53 mpg combined in mixed driving, among the better figures in the compact crossover class. Kia hasn’t published a fresh EPA number for the 2027 model, and the retuned suspension and added sound insulation could shift that figure slightly once testing wraps.

How the Niro Compares

Kia positions the Niro against a crowded field of compact hybrid crossovers, and the pricing puts it close to one rival while leaving real distance from another. The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid starts at $28,995 for its S trim, which undercuts the Niro LX by roughly $900, though that Toyota price includes standard all-wheel drive, a feature the Niro doesn’t offer at any trim level.

Honda’s CR-V Hybrid sits well above the Niro on price. The CR-V Sport Hybrid starts at $36,030, more than $6,000 above the Niro’s base LX and still ahead of the range-topping Niro SX Touring at $38,990. Buyers cross-shopping the two will find the CR-V larger inside, but the Niro undercuts it across nearly every comparable trim.

That price gap counts for the most for buyers who want driver assistance tech without stepping into a $35,000-plus vehicle. The Niro S and EX trims, priced at $30,590 and $31,390, sit in the range where shoppers compare a loaded compact hybrid against a base-trim CR-V Hybrid, and Kia’s newly available safety tech narrows the case for paying Honda’s premium.

When It Arrives

Kia hasn’t confirmed an exact on-sale date for the 2027 Niro beyond the pricing announcement, but the automaker typically brings updated Niro models to its nearly 800 US dealers within a few weeks of a pricing release. Buyers who want the new S trim or the Highway Driving Assist 2 package will need to confirm availability with a local dealer, as Kia hasn’t said whether every feature ships on every trim from launch.

The Niro stays among Kia’s most frugal non-electric models, and the 2027 update keeps its core formula intact: a hybrid powertrain, a compact footprint and now a wider spread of trims, while adding the kind of driver assistance features that have become standard expectations in the segment rather than premium add-ons. For shoppers cross-shopping the Corolla Cross and CR-V hybrids, the new S and EX trims give Kia a real answer in the $30,000 to $32,000 bracket where neither rival has much presence.