Small SUV · 2016–2021 cars
Kia Niro reliability
The Kia Niro fails 13% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 94,784 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Kia Niro before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 13%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 17% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 94,784
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,200
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Kia Niro ages
Each point is the share of Kia Niros of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Kia Niro | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 13.2% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 14% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 15.3% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 16% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 16.5% | 25.5% |
By year
The best and worst Kia Niro years
2021 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Niro | 5,892 | 9.1% | 31% fewer fails | 31,401 |
| 2020 Niro | 26,018 | 11.8% | 13% fewer fails | 32,313 |
| 2019 Niro | 23,516 | 13% | 13% fewer fails | 37,269 |
| 2018 Niro | 21,969 | 13.6% | 19% fewer fails | 44,731 |
| 2017 Niro | 13,534 | 15.1% | 17% fewer fails | 47,510 |
| 2016 Niro | 3,855 | 14.8% | 26% fewer fails | 50,991 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Kia Niro
Its weak spot is tyres: 16% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres5.8%16% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.8%13% above avg
- Lights and electrics2.6%38% below avg
- Brakes1.5%48% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.3%72% below avg
- Suspension0.2%89% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.2%71% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.1%59% below avg
- Wheels0.1%58% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.57% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 2
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.52% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.4% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.33% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Headlamp aim set too low 0.38% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 6
Registration plate lamp not working 0.37% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 7
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.34% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 8
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 0.3% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Kia Niro's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.59%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.2%
- Brake disc pitted or scored3.61%
- Child seat limits belt inspection1.86%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit1.75%
- Tyre has a shallow cut1.72%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Kia Niro
- 1
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 2
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Kia Niro covers about 9,200 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Hybrid83.5%
- Electric15%
- Other1.5%
- Petrol0.1%
Most common colours
Blue, Grey, White, Black, Red
Average engine size: 1.6 litres.
Compare
How the Kia Niro compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Honda HR-V | 13.1% | 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar E-Pace | 11.3% | 21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Kia Niro | 13% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mitsubishi ASX | 22.1% | 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Arona | 14.2% | 9% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jeep Renegade | 22.2% | 12% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat 500X | 21.4% | 14% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small suv ranked in the small suv reliability index, or all Kia models.
Questions
Kia Niro questions, answered
Is the Kia Niro reliable?
On MOT results, the Kia Niro is better than average: it fails 13% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 14 of 40 small suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Kia Niro MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Kia Niro are wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.57% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.52% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.4% of tests). By area, tyres fails 5.8% of its tests.
Which Kia Niro year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2021 cars do best (31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Kia Niro do a year?
A typical Kia Niro covers about 9,200 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Kia Niro before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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