After bombarding us with EV news earlier this month, including the reveal of the new EV2 and several GT performance models, Kia is showing us that it hasn’t forgotten about its combustion and hybrid models. It’s dropped three images of a compact 2027 Niro crossover fresh from a mid-life makeover.

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But there’s still an EV connection to this news, and not just because Kia still sells the Niro with an optional pure electric powertrain. Kia’s designers clearly had the automaker’s sharper-suited electric SUVs in mind when they picked up the scalpel for the Niro update. The front end of the updated Niro borrows heavily from models like the EV2, 3, 5 and 9.

The new nose is squarer and more upright, and it adopts the wishbone-shaped DRLs of its electric brothers. Kia has even managed to draw attention away from the air intakes the combustion car’s radiator needs by giving the Niro an EV-style body-color band between the headlights.

There are no major changes to the central body structure and doors, but  the designers have definitely been busy at the rear end. The Niro doesn’t take on the EV models’ Y-shaped taillights, but it does get an entirely new hatch that looks far cleaner and more modern.

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It’s similar to the one on the ICE-powered Sportage SUV, and that means the license plate has been moved down to the rear bumper. We can also see a new black panel that echoes the boomerang shape of the rear lights, and the whole shebang rides on new 18-inch wheels, Kia says.

Screen Refresh

The updates aren’t restricted to the Niro’s exterior. Inside, it gets a redesigned upper half of the dash featuring same conjoined, twin-12.3-inch digital displays you’ll find on the numbered EV models and also the latest Sportage, plus a new-look two-spoke steering wheel.

Hybrid or EV?

Kia revealed the Niro’s new look in Korea, adding that we’ll find out more about the MY27 crossover in March. So we might have to wait until then to learn whether there are any changes to the drivetrain.

The current Niro comes with a choice of 139 hp (141 PS) 1.6-liter hybrid and 180 hp (183 PS) 1.6 plug-in hybrid petrol engines, though it’s also available in some markets as a 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) EV with a 253-mile (407 km) EPA range.

A Kia official said, “The New Niro, which has maintained its heritage as the first eco-friendly SUV, will provide high customer satisfaction with excellent usability based on practical value as well as a high-quality design that reflects the latest trends.”

Car manufacturers across the US are scrambling to rekindle interest in their electric vehicles as the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 fades into the rearview mirror. The loss of that incentive has left many brands looking for new ways to attract buyers, and Kia’s approach is simple enough: slash prices.

Read: Who Needs $7,500 Tax Credit When Kia Slashes EV Prices By $10,000

The company is offering discounts worth as much as $10,000 across several models, though the numbers suggest it’s not quite having the desired effect. At least not yet.

Kia announced last month that the 2025 Niro EV, 2025 EV6, and 2026 EV9 would all be available with $10,000 in customer cash. For the Niro EV, that amounts to roughly a 24 percent markdown on the base model. Yet despite the aggressive pricing, sales remain far below the levels seen when the tax credit was still in play.

Discounts Without Traction

Last month, Kia shifted 918 examples of the three-row EV9, almost triple the number of Hyundai Ioniq 9s sold over the same period, but down significantly from the 2,155 sold in November 2024. Year-to-date deliveries are also down 30 percent from 20,066 to just 14,032.

It’s a comparable story with the EV6. Despite receiving a comprehensive facelift, sales have dropped sharply from 1,887 in November 2024 to only 603 this year. Total sales for 2025 now stand at 12,188, down 38 percent from 19,604 over the same stretch in 2024.

Kia US Sales November 2025

Kia does not break down powertrain sales of the Niro, which is sold in ICE, hybrid, and EV guises in the US. What we do know is that overall Niro sales increased dramatically from 1,624 in November 2024 to 5,230 last month.

On Track For a Sales Record

Despite the underwhelming performance of its electric lineup, Kia’s overall sales tell a different story. November saw 72,002 vehicles delivered, up three percent from 70,107 a year earlier.

The brand has now sold 777,152 vehicles in 2025 and is on course to notch its third consecutive all-time annual sales record. The gains have been driven in part by a 64 percent jump in K5 sales, a 13 percent rise in Sportage deliveries, and an 8 percent boost for the Telluride.

Kia’s EV sales in the US took a beating last month after the government pulled the $7,500 EV federal tax credit. But the brand isn’t sitting still. In a bid to get more of its battery-powered models into driveways, Kia is rolling out hefty discounts across its full EV range, hoping to rekindle demand in a market that’s proving tougher than expected.

The company revealed that the 2025 Niro EV now comes with $10,000 in customer cash, up from $8,500 previously. That bump translates to a 24 percent discount on the base model, trimming its price to a more approachable $31,045.

Read: New Kia EV9 Gets Surprise Price Cuts And It’s Not The Only Upgrade

The savings don’t stop there. According to Cars Direct, the 2025 EV6 is also being offered with the same $10,000 discount, amounting to as much as 23 percent off. The newer 2026 EV9 joins the deal too, with the same dollar figure equating to an 18 percent price reduction.

Importantly, Kia notes that the deal is “subject to vehicle availability and dealer participation.” Additionally, customers must take delivery of their new vehicle by January 12.

Both the EV6 and EV9 were already eligible for $9,000 off before this round of incentives, so the extra $1,000 isn’t exactly a game changer, but for shoppers, it’s one more reason to consider going electric. Keeping an extra grand in the bank never hurts.

Kia also has some other very tempting EV deals on offer. For example, the 2025 EV6 and Niro EV are available at 0 percent APR for 72 months when financed and also come with a $2,500 incentive.

Similarly, the 2026 EV9 is available at the same 0 percent financing rate over a 60-month term. Certain EV6s, including the GT, are also available with up to $16,500 in lease cash.

Source: Cars Direct