Toyota Corolla Cross vs Kia Niro: battle of the subcompact hybrids

There are several great subcompact crossovers on the market, but only two of them offer really efficient hybrid options. The Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid is superior in every metric bar entry price to the gas only version. The Kia Niro comes standard as a hybrid, and has plug-in hybrid and full EV versions as well.

The two normal hybrid versions are very similar in size, with the Toyota giving a bit more power, while the Kia has better fuel-efficiency. Both cars offer good tech for their price bracket, and although not as spacious as a RAV4-size crossover, still have more passenger and cargo space than a small sedan.

There are several reasons to choose a small crossover, ranging from getting a practical drive with low running costs at a reasonable price, to simply preferring the easier drive and parking of a smaller size. The Toyota and Kia both offer ranges from more basic to quite loaded, so it will depend on what you are looking for and your budget.

Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid vs Kia Niro hybrid

A range of price and feature options

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

There’s a lot of value in the name Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid. Toyota is the epitome of practical and reliable motoring, while the Corolla is the top-selling car of all time. The ‘Cross’ means crossover, the most popular car shape. Hybrid is simply Toyota taking their most popular cars and making them better in all ways by adding a hybrid drive. This hybrid has more power and way better fuel consumption than the ordinary gas version.

Three of the six Corolla Cross versions are hybrids, the S, SE, and XSE, ranging from $28,995 to $33,030. All three come standard with AWD, and the price variations are based on nice-to-haves like tinted windows, faux leather upholstery, and heated front seats.

Kia Niro Hybrid

The Kia Niro hybrid is available in five trim levels, the LX, EX, EX Touring, SX, and SX Touring, ranging from $26,990 to $35,390. The cheapest LX is obviously the econo model, with an eight-inch infotainment screen, but otherwise pretty fully loaded. The EX is a step up, with a bigger screen, roof rails, satellite radio, and so on. The first two versions have 16″ wheels and better fuel consumption, while the other three sport 18″ wheels and progressively more fancy goodies. All five are FWD only.

Should I buy a Niro hybrid, I would choose the LX, as $2,700 seems an awful lot to pay for a bigger screen and roofrails on what is essentially a budget choice. But if you want a subcompact crossover that is fully loaded, that is obviously your choice. The Niro is also available as a plug-in hybrid at $35K, or an EV at $40K, but both face seriously strong competition at their respective price points.

Cabin and cargo

Where you spend your time

Both the Corolla Cross and Niro are subcompact crossovers, seating five. The rear seats on both cars are probably more suited to two adults on longer trips, but can fit in three for normal city driving.

The styling on the two cars is markedly different, however. The Corolla Cross is the same as the Corolla sedan, blandly functional, almost austere in its treatment. The Niro shows an active effort at design, with curvy shapes on the dashboard, natural fibers in the upholstery, and ambient interior lighting. The Niro has a nicer cabin than the Corolla, not better, just less bland.

Interior technology

The Corolla Cross comes standard with an 8.0-inch square infotainment screen with the Toyota interface and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster. Standard are Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM, with optional wireless charging, rear USB charging ports, and an excellent JBL sound system.

The Niro’s base LX trim has an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, with the higher trims moving to 10.3-inch. The instrument screen is smaller than the Corolla’s, at 4.3-inches. The infotainment runs via Kia’s UVO interface and includes both Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The EX and up have wireless charging. The first three trims have a six-speaker sound system, while the two SX trims come with a seven-speaker Harman/Kardon rig.

Interior and cargo volume

The Niro has a slightly bigger passenger volume at 102 cu-ft, compared to the Corolla Cross at 89 cu-ft. The Niro has 23 cu-ft of cargo volume behind the rear seats, while the Corolla has 22 cu-ft. Both cars have rear seats that can fold down for more cargo space.

Performance where it matters

Fuel efficiency and warranties

Credit: Toyota

The Toyota has a bigger engine and has more power, while AWD drive gives it the edge over the FWD of the Niro when road conditions get iffy. Otherwise, the Niro FWD is perfectly adequate for most urban driving and the odd weekend away.

Neither car was meant for drag racing, but rather for fuel-efficient daily driving. One area where I prefer the Niro is in the six-speed automatic transmission. It gives a greater driving feel than the CVT of the Toyota.

Specifications

Warranty

The Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid’s warranties are:

• Limited warranty: 3-years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty: 5-years/60,000 miles
• Hybrid components: 10-years/150,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance: 2-years/25,000 miles

The Kia Niro Hybrid warranties are:

• Limited warranty: 5-years/60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty: 10-years/60,000 miles

Which is the best?

The Kia ticks most of the boxes, but it is a bit slower than the Toyota. I would still pick it though, even if only for the automatic transmission. Speed is not a buying decision in this class of car.

On the other hand, I have seen a number of Corolla Cross hybrids driving around my area as well, and they are really nice looking cars. Neither are very big, but they still both show a solid road presence. In the end, I think it will come down to whether you prefer Kia or Toyota, or even the best deal you can get on the day.