Kia Niro

How it looks when you see on the street: Kia Niro is a sensible, good looking small SUV — and we think it makes a good run in plug-in-hybrid form. The Niro is made as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric vehicle (EV). It’s a unique offering that’s two steps ahead of the curve, both affordable, efficient, and practical. Up close, it has an elongated front end, angular headlights, a flat table-like hood, and a long wide grille.

How it makes you feel when you get in: The Niro interior is neat and tidy. Most recentl we drove the plug-in hybrid SX not quite a fully loaded model, which still used a fair amount of plastic in a dark, subdued interior. It came with 18-inch wheels, and a 10.3-inch infotainment display. Infotainment across the Kia line is easy to use. Standard safety tech includes forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision warning lane keeping assist and cyclist blind-spot collision warning, essential in city driving situations. Again, the breadth of the bundle is a great value.

How it drives: Niro, in all variations, is good for cruising around town in serenity. Across the board, Niro’s story is about fuel economy.The PHEV adds a healthy balance, earning 48 miles per gallon of gas only miles, while that number bumps up 108 mpge when on battery power. It has a bit more pluck than the standard hybrid and once it gets going the ride is smooth.

Space for people and things: Four passengers fit comfortably, while the fifth passenger will be more cramped, a common denominator in the small SUV segment that includes Nissan Rogue and Honda HRV.

What you should compare it to: Mazda CX-30, Kia Soul, Subaru Crosstrek.

How much does it cost: We just finished driving the Kia Niro PHEV with the SX trim, and the sticker was $42,565. Kia has three separate power trains on Niro that add flexibility in pricing, and start at $27,915. The EX Premium trim starts at about $33,000.