Kia Niro vs Subaru Forester (2026)
Niro:
$7,295 less
- Niro
- longer warranty
- Niro
- 18 mpg more
- Forester
- 55 hp more
- Forester
- 2.4 in more clearance
- Measures won
- Tie
- 4 of 10 each
Niro LX FWD vs Forester Hybrid Premium AWD, 2026. Price: MSRP + destination.
Source marks: two or more sources agreeone sourcesources differmodel-level or estimate
| Measure | Niro | Forester | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $28,885 | $36,180 | Niro |
| Horsepower | 139 hp | 194 hp | Forester |
| Torque | 195 lb-ft | 154 lb-ft | Niro |
| MPG combined | 53 mpg | 35 mpg | Niro |
| Cargo, max | 22.8 cu ft to 63.7 cu ft | 69.1 cu ft | Not listed |
| Cargo, seats up | 22.8 cu ft | 27.5 cu ft | Forester |
| Rear legroom | 39.8 in | 39.4 in | About the same |
| Front legroom | 41.5 in | 43.3 in | Forester |
| Length | 174.0 in | 183.3 in | Not scored |
| Width | 71.9 in | 72.0 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 3,071 lb to 3,717 lb | 3,873 lb | Not listed |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | About the same |
| Ground clearance | 6.3 in | 8.7 in | Forester |
| 0-60 mph | Not listed | 7.5 s estimate | Not listed |
| Basic warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | Niro |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. A measure with no value for one car is not counted.
Nearest trims by price
Prices are MSRP + destination where both trims list it.
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Niro LX FWD $28,885 | Forester AWD $31,445 | $2,560 |
| Forester Hybrid Premium AWD $36,180 | Niro SX Touring FWD $37,285 | $1,105 |
Cost to run
Niro costs $10,334 less over 6 years.
- Miles a year
- 12,000
- Gas
- 4.35 a gallon (EIA, week of Oct 5, 2026)
- Electricity
- 18.19 cents per kWh (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2026-01..2026-07)
| Cost | Niro | Forester |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $28,885 | $36,180 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $985 | $1,491 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $5,909 | $8,949 |
| Total, 6 years | $34,794 | $45,129 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Niro wins.
Forester wins if MPG weight is 1 or less.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Niro | 20% |
| MPG | Niro | 34% |
| Power | Forester | 28% |
| Space | Not listed |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- Two or more sources agree
- One source
- Model-level or estimate
- Sources differ