Light up has revealed the refreshed Niro electrified crossover that has received a number of design and technology upgrades ahead of its launch in the domestic market in March – 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 – with a new face and lighting signatures reminiscent of the smaller Stonic – as well as new alloy wheel designs and the latest technology the Korean brand has to offer.
That means the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment suite, which includes two 12.3-inch displays with the brand’s latest software and user interface, nestled into a redesigned dashboard.
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The 2026 Kia Niro will once again be offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicle (EV) versions and will be fully unveiled for the Korean domestic market in March. From there it will make its way to other major markets such as Europe and the UK, where it has proven very popular.
However, for Australia, Kia’s local division has confirmed that the Niro will no longer be available in our market as the brand focuses on other brands competing in the small SUV segment.
The Niro Hybrid will be replaced by the new Seltos Hybrid at the end of 2026, while the Niro EV has already passed the baton to the similarly sized EV3. Kia Australia has never offered the current-generation Niro PHEV here, but it’s understood it won’t be available Down Under either.
Only 454 new units of the Korean crossover were registered in Australia last year, compared to 1,455 units the year before.
Due to its premium price positioning compared to mainstream brand competition, the Niro has long struggled to emulate the success of Toyota hybrids as well as its own cousin, the Hyundai Kona.
This is despite the Niro being a top seller in overseas markets like South Korea and the UK, where its continued success has likely earned it the facelift you see here, rather than retiring it now that the EV3 exists and the Seltos Hybrid is on the way.
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