Fuel economy is becoming increasingly important as drivers look to save money and automakers aim to reduce their carbon footprint. Advances in technology have led to the production of vehicles with incredible fuel efficiency. Cars, trucks, and SUVs can travel further than ever before on a single tank of gas. One new hybrid SUV gets over 53 miles per gallon combined.

Kia’s hybrid SUV gets amazing gas mileage

Hyundai Motor Company and its portfolio of brands are behind some of the best new SUV models on the market. Whether it’s electric vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 or midsize models like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, the South Korean automaker produces great SUVs. Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are all making waves, respectively.

Hyundai’s Kia brand produces a subcompact SUV that’s unlike anything offered by the company’s other brands. The Kia Niro is a standard hybrid subcompact SUV. That’s right. Consumers can only get the Niro with a hybrid powertrain. This may seem unreasonable for folks opposed to electrification, but the SUV’s standard powertrain allows for great gas mileage and decent power for its size. Best of all, the hybrid SUV is affordable.

The 2023 Kia Niro starts at $26,590. It uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to make 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The subcompact hybrid SUV achieves 53 miles per gallon in the city and 54 miles per gallon on the highway (only the LX configuration).

How far can the 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid go on a full tank?

The Kia Niro Hybrid has an 11.1-gallon gas tank. It is capable of traveling for 593 miles on a full tank. The 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid has incredible driving range for its size. This allows drivers to refuel less and save hundreds of dollars on gas over the course of a year. Owning the Kia Niro Hybrid for several years could help drivers save thousands on fuel because of its incredible efficiency.

What is the best Kia Niro configuration?

The Kia Niro has five configurations: the LX, EX, EX Touring, SX, and SX Touring. Car and Driver recommends the EX Touring.

Some drivers will find that the SX Touring provides more value for the money. The Niro SX Touring has a power sunroof, smart power tailgate, and roof rails. It also includes SynTex seat trim, a wireless phone charger, and front/rear parking sensors.

The 2023 Kia Niro SX Touring features a heated steering wheel, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and blind spot detection technology. The Niro’s final configuration starts at $34,890. Its long list of standard features justifies its price.

The Kia Niro is making a huge impact on the industry because it is actively proving that there’s plenty of room for standard hybrid SUV models. The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size standard hybrid SUV that is changing the game for its segment. Hybrid SUVs may not be as ubiquitous as internal combustion engine SUVs today, but they could be the vehicles of the future.