I’m jealous… I went from a 2023 Soul GT to the 2024 Seltos and had a 2023 Green Touring model that made me nervous. It was from Carmax and had a recall on a part. Kia said it was under warranty but I didn’t want to deal with that risk or spend $25k. I love the color of my 2024 Seltos in Platoon Blue, but the Soul was unique… drives like no other, except for the Niro! Those two handle smoothly and save a lot of gas, perfect for cozy driving. It’s almost like driving a go-kart for the first time, but much safer with all the tech features you could need. The Seltos feels luxurious with basic leather in the Ex model, and Sport mode gives it more power. But honestly, I don’t need that much power. The Niro can get you out of tough spots in just a couple of seconds. I even test drove the 2025 blue one with white seats and interior, and it was nice.
I think it was this car. It looks blue to me now that I see other pics. I almost bought the green one online from Carmax but test drove the 2025 at Kia to see if I wanted to ship the 2023 from Texas to Jacksonville, Florida. Just wanted to clarify my earlier comments because they sounded confusing. But hey, you’re in the Hybrid club now, and you won’t use much gas. Don’t let worries about batteries or other issues ruin your daily drive in that awesome little machine. I’m telling myself the same thing.
@MarioKing
Thanks! I was considering getting another cat like yours too. I test drove the Sportage hybrid twice, and while the extra horsepower, AWD, and cargo space were nice, I didn’t like the panoramic sunroof. The inside of the Niro felt just as roomy, and I liked the design better. It’s just me, my husband, and two cats. I’m a teacher, so on snow days when I might need AWD, I’d get the day off anyway. So I chose the fuel savings and better design (in my opinion) with the Niro. It’s been great so far.
@Brad
You made a great choice! It drives like a dream. Trust me, you have the best of both worlds. You can lower your trunk floor by about 4 or 5 inches, and it’s amazing how much extra room that gives you.
@Brad
I’ve been thinking about buying the 2025 SX like yours, but they’re really hard to find around here. I’ve test driven a different model and I’m considering ordering the SX. Glad to see the positive review. One thing I haven’t found a clear answer to is whether it has a built-in dash cam that records?
@SorentoSquad
No built-in dash cam that records, unfortunately. So I need to get one myself because people drive crazy these days.
I almost got a Niro HEV when I got my Soul. I went from two cars (a Hyundai Sonata and a Hyundai Ioniq EV) and thought a hybrid would be a good option since I can’t charge the EV at my current place. I was selling the Ioniq EV and didn’t want the Niro EV or PHEV. I chose the Soul so I could pay it off in 3 to 3.5 years. The Niro wouldn’t have solved everything I dislike about my car, but I think I would have been much happier with it and wouldn’t be looking to get rid of my Soul so soon. The Niro seems just right in many ways… size, equipment, price, and fuel economy are all good. I feel a bit envious. If I had gone that route, I’d probably keep it until it died. And great choice on color too, that’s the one I would have picked as well.
@DeeMario
Thanks 
I checked out the Sportage hybrid EX but still liked the Niro better. I was worried about the low horsepower mentioned in reviews, but coming from a 2015 Forte, the Niro has plenty of power for daily driving, especially in sport mode. It has lots of tech and features at a better price than the Sportage. And I couldn’t resist the Cityscape Green.
Welcome to the club