The Plug-in Hybrid SUV That Offers The Lowest Cost Per Mile – TopSpeed

Plug-in hybrid cars and crossovers are steadily increasing in popularity in the U.S. market. 2024 saw a dramatic shift in interest from fully electric vehicles to

gasoline-electric hybrid products
. PHEVs sit directly as a halfway point between these two drivetrain configurations, as they combine the best of both worlds. With a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, you get to enjoy the benefits of a fully electric drivetrain over short distances and eliminate the worry of range anxiety thanks to the added benefit of an efficient ICE. Despite a surge in interest from both consumers and manufacturers, PHEVs remain a niche proposition. They are typically substantially more expensive

than their standard HEV counterparts
because of the more technical electrical system and larger battery pack. This results in a very steep entry point, which is a turn-off for a lot of potential first-time buyers.

Naturally, the most important reason why you would consider PHEV ownership is to cut down on your monthly spending, particularly when it comes to fuel costs. Plug-in hybrid vehicles do benefit from a comprehensive electrical system with moderately sized battery packs, but you still have to put fuel in them, especially if you plan on covering more than about 30 miles in a day. While operating via the ICE, the system still gets support from the electric motor, alleviating the load from the engine and resultantly lowering your fuel costs. Most PHEVs benefit from great daily fuel-saving benefits, but there’s one South Korean compact crossover with a very attractive starting price and a longstanding reputation for efficiency and reliability, making it an ideal option if it is your first time considering a PHEV, especially if you’re looking for the lowest cost-per-mile figure out there.

Related

2024 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid Charging Costs And Range Explained

The Kia Niro PHEV promotes fast charging times and low costs thanks to its compact battery pack.

The Kia Niro PHEV Costs The Least Per Mile

$1.16 To Drive 25 Miles Using Electricity And $1.62 To Drive Using Just Gas

The real reason why you’re going to consider the Niro PHEV is for its amazing fuel and energy efficiency returns. Technically speaking, this is more of a crossover than an SUV, but its consumption figures are so much more appealing, that we would recommend opting for this model over a larger SUV if you are looking for the lowest cost-per-mile result. According to the EPA, you can expect the entire system to return a 48 MPG result on the combined cycle, together with a

510-mile range
thanks to the 11.1 kWh battery pack and 9.8-gallon gasoline tank.

Using electrical power only, you can expect to cover 34 miles on a single charge and benefit from a 31 kWh per 100 miles average energy consumption estimate. The EPA also indicates that you can expect to save

up to $4,250 in fuel costs
over five years and spend around $800 on gasoline and electricity every year. It costs $1.16 to drive 25 miles using electricity and $1.62 to drive the ICE without any electrical assistance. These figures are much lower than any other SUV or crossover that you will come across in the new vehicle market. A full tank of gas will cost around $30.

• 	2024 Kia Niro PHEV	2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime
  Model	Kia Niro PHEV	Toyota RAV4 Prime
  Engine	1.6-liter four-cylinder and one electric motor	2.5-liter hybrid engine with dual electric motors
  Transmission	Six-speed automatic transmission	eCVT
  Horsepower	180 HP	302 HP
  Torque	195 LB-FT	288 LB-FT
  Driveline	Front-wheel drive	AWD
  Range	544-588 Miles	600 Miles
  Starting Price (MSRP)	$34,390 – $40,140	$43,690 – $47,560
  Fuel Economy	108 MPGe	38 MPG
  Charge Time	2.75 Hours @ 240V	2.5 Hours @ 240V
  0-60 MPH	7.3 seconds	5.5 Seconds

Just as a point of reference, the 2025 Kia Sportage PHEV costs $1.50 to drive 25 miles when using electricity and $2.22 while operating on gasoline. The more efficient Toyota RAV4 Prime costs $1.35 to drive 25 miles in EV mode and $2.05 to cover the same distance using gasoline. We can’t deny that this does come at the cost of practicality, as the Niro PHEV only benefits from 19.4 cubic-feet of cargo space, whereas the RAV4 Prime lets you enjoy as much as 35.5 cubic-feet. You’ll also notice noteworthy disparities in the rear legroom and headroom, as well as the base MSRP.

2025 Kia Niro PHEV Performance Specifications

The

Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
is one of the simplest and most accessible PHEV options that you can consider in the 2025 new vehicle market. Under the hood, you’ll find the Hyundai Group’s dependable naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine fitted to a six-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission with a permanent-magnet-synchronous motor positioned in-between.

The system produces a combined 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet exclusively to the front wheels. The result is a 7.3-second 0-60 MPH acceleration time and 100 MPH top speed. The motor generates 83 horsepower and 149 pound-feet when operating independently. There’s also a hybrid starter generator located within the transmission, which churns out a modest 11 horsepower and 26 pound-feet. The ICE produces 104 horsepower and 106 pound-feet without any electrical assistance.

Adding to the Niro PHEV’s appeal is its 79/100 overall score from Consumer Reports, which includes an 87/100 road test score and a 4/5 predicted owner satisfaction score. It only gets 55/100 for predicted reliability, likely because the 2025 model year currently has an active recall for the airbags.

Pros

• Good EV abilities
• Impressive fuel economy returns
• Practical for a compact crossover

Cons

• Infotainment system can be a bit confusing
• C-pillars create a noticeable blind spot
• Poor braking performance on wet surfaces

Related

2024 Kia Niro Hybrid And Plug-In Hybrid: Every Trim Compared

Take a look at the 2024 Kia Niro Hybrid And Plug-In Hybrid lineup, offering diverse trims, consistent features, and impressive fuel economy.

The Niro PHEV Costs $4.66 To Recharge

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor And Statistics, the national cost of electricity currently sits at around 17 cents per kWh. St. Louis and Seattle benefit from the lowest energy costs, at roughly 13 cents per kWh. San Diego and San Francisco are where things get a bit costly, where energy can run you up to 42 cents for every kWh. These rates are slightly lower during off-peak hours, which are typically between 11 PM and 6 AM when most people charge.

Charging Costs

The Kia Niro PHEV’s smaller battery means that you won’t be spending a lot of money to replenish energy, regardless of where you reside. In low-rate states, the 11.1 kWh battery costs just $1.44 to recharge, while more expensive cities will return a higher but still competitive $4.66 fee.

On average, you can expect to be paying $1.88 across the country. The fully electric model costs $8.42 in cheaper regions and $27.22 in cities with the highest energy costs. The national average charging cost of its battery sits at $11.02.

How Much A 2025 Niro PHEV Costs

Kia offers the Niro PHEV in two trims. The

base EX costs $34,490,
while the flagship SX Touring increases the price to $40,790. Kia attaches a $1,395 destination charge to all orders. Kia has equipped the EX trim with some impressive comfort features, including a pair of 10-way electrically adjustable and heated front seats with Charcoal SynTex and cloth upholstery. It also features ambient lighting, a six-speaker audio system for the 4.3-inch touchscreen, and a wireless smartphone charger.

Optional extras for the EX include Aurora Black Pearl, Snow White Pearl, and Runaway Red premium paints for $395 and the $600 Cold Weather Package, which includes heating for the PTC, rear outward seats, and steering wheel. You’ll find yourself paying $350 for an auto-dimming rearview mirror, $150 for a cargo cover, and $345 for an interior accent lighting kit. Crossbars for the roof are an additional $410. Other accessories include $125 mudguards, $175 carpeted floor mats, and a $115 cargo tray. There’s also a $55 cargo net and $100 cargo mat.

Kia makes the SX Touring a more comprehensive setting by adding ventilation and full perforated SynTex upholstery to the front seats. You also get a seven-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, LED interior lighting, alloy interior trimmings and pedals, and an electronically controllable sunroof. Kia doesn’t make any additional packages available for this trim, but you can select the same accessories as the EX trim.

The Niro PHEV’s Impressive Standard Warranty

Kia covers all Niro PHEV battery and powertrain-related problems via its comprehensive 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty. The carmaker assures that its battery technology won’t degrade by more than 30 percent during this time. If it does, it will install a new battery at its own cost.

Kia is fairly new to the electric car sphere, so we can’t say how reputable its battery technology is over a long period. Kia recalled previous-generation Niro PHEVs for a leaking transmission fluid that could result in a fire, but this has no bearing on the electrical system’s dependability.

Kia Sorento Hybrid Specs

Kia doesn’t disclose parts pricing, so we also can’t tell you how much a replacement battery outside of warranty costs. The brand suggests that, depending on how severe the wear is, a battery replacement for any of its PHEVs will cost between $2,000 and $8,000, including labor, but we suspect you’ll be paying far less than this, as modern PHEV battery replacement costs have declined over the last few years thanks to substantial investments into the technology. Kia will soon benefit from some of the best solid-state technologies thanks to a new development being made by its parent company, the Hyundai Group.