The unloved Kia Niro small crossover SUV is in its runout phase in Australia, with the electric version down to its final stock and the hybrid model likely to be replaced by the next-generation Seltos.
Speaking with CarExpert, general manager for product at Kia Australia, Roland Rivero, said the Niro technically remains on sale, though production of the EV version ceased for Australia “months ago”.
While Mr Rivero wouldn’t explicitly say that the Niro EV and Niro Hybrid are axed in Australia, this all points to the slow-selling crossover being on its last legs in Australia. The former has effectively been supplanted by the current EV3, while the anticipated next-generation Seltos Hybrid due late next year will dispatch the latter.
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It’s no secret the Kia Niro has been a very slow sales performer despite offering in-vogue electrified drivetrains and an SUV body style. The Korean crossover’s price positioning and limited supply has long been its Achilles heel in Australia.
Priced from $45,000 plus on-road costs for the most basic Niro Hybrid and a lofty $65,590 for the base EV, the small SUV has struggled to match the value equation of just about any similarly sized rival from a mainstream brand.
Just 1455 units were registered throughout the course of 2024, down on 2023’s 1826-unit run. So far in 2025, Kia has delivered just 375 Niros to November 30, down 73.1 per cent.
By comparison, the related Hyundai Kona – which offers petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains – has managed 21,036 registrations for the January-November period in 2025, up 28.0 per cent on the year prior.
The Kona Hybrid starts from $36,950 plus on-roads in its most basic form, nearly $10,000 less than the Niro Hybrid S and boasting substantially more equipment – no doubt as to why the Hyundai is one of the top-selling small SUVs here.
While the Niro remains popular in overseas markets like South Korea and Europe (including the UK), the newer EV3 has taken over the Niro EV’s slot in the local lineup.
An entry-level EV3 Air is barely any dearer than a base Niro HEV, priced from $47,600 before on-road costs. The Standard Range version nearly matches the Niro EV’s WLTP range claim (436 v 460km), while the EV3 Long Range models (from $53,315) can travel over 600km per charge.
The Niro Hybrid, meanwhile, is expected to be supplanted by the next-generation Seltos. Due to land in Australia in the latter stages of 2026, the new Seltos will move to the same ‘K3’ platform as the Niro and Hyundai Kona and is all but guaranteed to offer a hybrid option for the first time.
Kia will host a global reveal of the new Seltos later this week on December 10, and provide further details about what to expect from the next-generation small SUV.
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