Kia will not offer the Niro PHEV for 2026 due to market changes
Niro PHEV sales lagged other models in the lineup
The Niro hybrid and EV variants continue, alongside Kia’s Sportage and Sorento PHEVs.
Kia will discontinue the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its Niro small SUV in North America for the 2026 model year, citing “changing market conditions.”
The compact Niro PHEV, launched in 2018 and redesigned in 2023, has been a low-ish-volume import within the Niro lineup, which also includes hybrid and fully electric variants. Kia does not disclose specific sales figures by powertrain type, but the combined Niro lineup recorded 31,182 units sold in 2025, making it one of the brand’s least popular models in the U.S. The Kia Soul, which sold over 50,000 units in 2025, will also be discontinued for the 2026 model year. In Canada, sales of the Niro and Soul have softened for several reasons, including the noted evolving market.
Kia’s rapidly changing lineup of electrified compact models is also responsible for these decisions. The more modern K4 and EV4 fill the need for affordable entry-level mobility, while the anticipated EV5 will satisfy nearly all with its style and performance. Finally, the unstoppable Sportage and its multiple powertrain options are difficult to overlook.
Kia will continue to offer two other PHEV models for 2026: the compact Sportage PHEV and the three-row Sorento PHEV, alongside numerous new EVs and hybrids.
Imported from South Korea, the Niro PHEV’s cost competitiveness may have been affected by U.S. tariffs and policy frameworks. This is not the case in Canada; however, the low sales volume could not support a business case to maintain its availability.
