Many drivers are shopping for a car that’s green nowadays, and one of the best options on the market right now is the 2022 Kia Niro. This is because Kia offers the Niro as a hybrid, a PHEV, and an EV. Other than their powertrains, there are some differences between these versions of the 2022 Kia Niro, so here’s a look at which one may be the best option for you.

The 2022 Kia Niro

According to Kia, the standard 2022 Kia Niro starts at about $26,000, and it comes with quite a few excellent features. It has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to generate about 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. This allows the Niro to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.5 seconds. This hybrid engine allows it to get 53 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on highways, and 50 mpg combined.

In terms of features, the standard Niro has an 8.0-inch touch screen display compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Niro doesn’t get a lot of standard smart safety features, it does have a rear occupant warning system as standard. Kia gave the Niro some nice comfort features, though, such as a standard dual-zone automatic climate control system.

The 2022 Kia Niro PHEV

At a price tag that starts at almost $30,000, the 2022 Kia Niro PHEV comes with a more fuel-efficient hybrid engine and more features. The plug-in hybrid version still has the same 1.6-liter engine, but it’ll come with a bigger, 8.9-kWh battery. This allows Niro PHEV owners to drive the car on battery-only mode for 26 miles. Its overall fuel economy is 105 MPGe.

The best part about the Niro PHEV version is that Kia gave the car a long list of smart safety features. This includes forward-collision warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. That being said, inside the Niro PHEV, the car is largely unchanged. It’ll still have an 8.0-inch touch screen and dual-zone automatic climate control. However, it’ll also have a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2022 Kia Niro EV

According to Kia, the Kia Niro EV costs almost $40,000 before tax credits and other incentives are applied. Its electric motor gets about 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, and it comes with a 64-kWh battery. Thanks to the fact that it’s a true EV, the Niro EV can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds, making it the fastest Niro option right now.

In terms of fuel economy, it gets about 112 MPGe, making it the most efficient option. That being said, the Niro EV only has a range of about 239 miles. Like other EVs, it’ll take a while to recharge a Niro EV to full. Even with a DC fast charger, at best, the Niro EV will take an hour to recharge to 80%. However, the Niro EV does have a 10.3-inch touch screen display as standard and the same smart safety features that the Niro PHEV has.

Which 2022 Kia Niro is the best one for you?

While the Kia Niro EV is the cleanest option, it may not be the most practical. Its range is relatively short, and its charging time is not spectacular. The regular Niro is cheap and efficient, but it doesn’t have many smart safety features. The Niro PHEV seems to be the best of both, as it has smart safety features and it’s very fuel-efficient.