The unloved Be Niro The small crossover SUV is being phased out in Australia, with the electric version reduced to last stock and the hybrid model likely to be replaced by the next-generation Seltos.
In conversation with Daily SparkzGeneral manager of products at Kia Australia, Roland Rivero, said the Niro was technically still on sale, although production of the EV version for Australia ended “months ago”.
While Mr Rivero wouldn’t specifically say the Niro EV and Niro Hybrid will be canceled in Australia, it all suggests the slow-selling crossover is on its last legs in Australia. The former has effectively been replaced by the current EV3, while the expected next-generation Seltos Hybrid, due out late next year, will bring the latter to market.
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It’s no secret that the Kia Niro is a slow seller, despite having hot electrified powertrains and an SUV body style. The Korean crossover’s price positioning and limited offering have long been its Achilles heel in Australia.
Priced at $45,000 plus on-road costs for the most basic Niro Hybrid and a hefty $66,590 for the base EV, the small SUV struggles to keep up with almost any similarly sized competitor from a mainstream brand.
Only 1,455 units were registered during 2024, down from 1,826 units in 2023. So far in 2025, Kia has only delivered 375 Niros through November 30, a decline of 73.1 percent.
In comparison, the related Hyundai Kona – which offers petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains – recorded 21,036 registrations in the period January to November 2025, up 28.0 percent year-on-year.
The Kona Hybrid costs more than $36,950 on the road in its most basic form, almost $10,000 less than the Niro Hybrid S and significantly more equipment – no doubt why the Hyundai is one of the best-selling small SUVs here.
While the Niro remains popular in overseas markets such as South Korea and Europe (including the UK), the newer EV3 has taken the Niro EV’s place in the local lineup.
An entry-level EV3 Air is barely more expensive than a base Niro HEV, starting at $47,600 (excluding on-road costs). The standard range version comes close to matching the Niro EV’s WLTP range rating (436 vs. 460 km), while the EV3 Long Range models (from $53,315) can cover over 600 km per charge.
The Niro Hybrid, meanwhile, is set to be replaced by the next-generation Seltos. With the new Seltos due to land in Australia in late 2026, it will move to the same ‘K3’ platform as the Niro and Hyundai Kona and is all but guaranteed to offer a hybrid option for the first time.
Kia will host a global unveiling of the new Seltos later this week on December 10 and provide more details about what to expect from the next-generation small SUV.
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MORE: Explore the Kia Niro showroom
