Although many automakers are bolstering their hybrid model offerings as electric vehicle (EV) sales decline, some plug-in hybrids aren’t making the cut. The latest to go? The 2026 Kia Niro PHEV.
“Due to changing market conditions, the 2026 Niro PHEV will no longer be available in the U.S. market,” Kia spokespeople told KBB.com in a statement. The Niro comes in three forms: hybrid, battery-electric, and PHEV.
The Niro was Kia’s lowest-selling model outside of its EV models, the EV6 and EV9. Overall, Kia sold 31,182 Niros last year, which was an increase year over year, but not enough to save the PHEV variant. Kia doesn’t break out Niro sales by model, but the company did note sales of its electrified models — hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs — were up 24 percent in 2025.
Life without the Niro PHEV appears to be just fine as the hybrid/EV lineup sold 3,170 units in January compared to the year-ago period when it moved just 1,202 vehicles — including the no-longer-available PHEV — for a nearly three-fold increase.
If you’re looking for a plug-in hybrid from Kia, you still have options, including Sorento and Sportage, which also offer more interior space than the now-dead Niro.
Other automakers are looking hard at PHEV models, and Stellantis pulled its entire lineup of plug-in hybrid offerings, including Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, and Chrysler Pacifica PHEV.
[Images Kia, Stellants]
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