Drivers who want some of the savings and eco-friendly benefits of an electric vehicle with the convenience of a gas-powered car are finding the perfect mix in hybrids: great mileage and none of the range anxiety that can come with owning a full EV.
Hybrid sales in the U.S. surged by more than 36.7% in 2024, outpacing growth in both traditional gas vehicles and fully electric models, according to Wards Intelligence. Hybrids use both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor that work in tandem to optimize range and efficiency.
Fuel economy is a key factor driving sales. Hybrid vehicles with full gasoline-electric systems can achieve up to 50 percent better fuel economy than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That kind of savings resonates with car buyers who might not be ready for a full EV, experts say.
“Your standard hybrid makes the most sense to most people,” said Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds.com. “I think you’ll find that people don’t want to deal with the hassle or the difficulties of charging.”
That was true for Heather Bosch, an accountant in San Diego County who bought a Kia Niro Hybrid five years ago. Bosch said she wanted something with good fuel economy but ruled out an EV because she feared getting stranded while looking for a place to charge. The Niro Hybrid turned out to be the perfect fit.
“I knew I wanted a small SUV and I wanted to save on gas — that’s one of the things I love about (my Niro),” said Bosch, adding she only needs to fill up about once a month. Occasional road trips that took three tanks of gas in her old car now take about half that, she said.
Heather Bosch with her 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid.
Bosch said the Niro Hybrid also provides the flexibility she was looking for, especially when driving long distances. “I drive to Vegas quite a bit to visit my dad and it’s about 300 miles each way,” she said. “I didn’t want to have to stop for an hour to charge. Every time I make that trip I’m really happy I have my hybrid.”
Bosch’s 2017 Niro gets an estimated 50 mpg combined. The 2025 Niro Hybrid is even more impressive, with an EPA-estimated 53 mpg combined and a total driving range of up to 588 miles.
The Niro is just one in a broad range of Kia HEVs—including the 2025 Sportage Hybrid, the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid and the eight-passenger 2025 Carnival MPV Hybrid—that have made Kia such a strong performer in the U.S. hybrid marketplace.
How hybrid-electric vehicles work
HEVs use a combination of a gasoline engine, an electric motor and a battery pack to maximize range and fuel economy. At lower speeds—typically up to 25 mph, depending on battery charge—the electric motor powers the car. The gas engine takes over at higher speeds, where it’s more efficient, or when extra power is needed for acceleration or climbing hills.
While hybrids can run on electric power alone for short distances, they usually use both the engine and motor together.
Unlike fully electric cars, HEVs don’t need to be plugged in. The battery gets recharged by the gas engine and a system called regenerative braking, just one of the unique technologies hybrids use to reduce fuel consumption and minimize tail-pipe emissions:
- Regenerative braking. Regenerative braking captures momentum to create electricity as the car decelerates. When a driver slows down or applies the brakes, energy that would typically be lost as heat is instead converted into electricity and stored in the vehicle’s battery for later use.
- Advanced software. Advanced software controls when the car switches between the gas engine and the electric motor, optimizing efficiency based on speed, acceleration and terrain. The transition is so smooth that many drivers barely notice it happening.
- Idle stop-start at technology. Idle stop-start technology shuts off the gas engine at stop lights and as the car decelerates in slow commuting traffic, allowing the electric motor and battery to take over at low speeds for short distances. When the driver lifts off the brake pedal, the engine immediately refires.
HEVs differ in some key ways from plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which have larger batteries and electric motors, allowing for longer electric-only range. PHEVs can be plugged into an external power source to recharge and are typically more expensive than standard HEVs.
Lawrence Aronovitch, a playwright and actor from Ontario, Canada, said he recently replaced his old Toyota Prius with a 2025 Niro PHEV, which he said has “more pep” than the Prius. He charges his Niro PHEV overnight at home using an ordinary 120V outlet.
“We’re very happy with (the Niro’s) fuel efficiency for the way we use it,” said Aronovitch. “Basically (it drives like) a full EV in the city, with excellent mileage on the highway.”
Hybrids to fit every lifestyle
Kia has established itself as a leader in the hybrid marketplace by offering a broad range of models to fit every lifestyle, with a slew of innovative features that come standard, including remote keyless entry, touchscreen infotainment systems and driver-assist technology.
The 2025 Kia Niro Hybrid.
2025 Niro Hybrid
The 2025 Niro Hybrid, the smallest SUV/crossover in Kia’s hybrid lineup, is big on performance with a 1.6-liter hybrid powertrain that delivers 139 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. The Niro also has more storage capacity than a typical sedan, with 39.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 63.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. In addition to the HEV and PHEV models, the Niro is available as a full EV.
Bosch said she likes the Niro Hybrid’s compact design and its rear liftgate, or hatchback. “That was a priority for me when I was looking for a car,” she said. “We go camping in the desert a lot and the hatchback makes it really easy to load our gear in and out, so we can just lay back in the car and look at the stars.”
The 2025 Sportage Hybrid.
2025 Sportage Hybrid
Kia’s longest-running nameplate, the Sportage, is a compact SUV/crossover that seats five and comes in gas-powered, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The 2025 Sportage Hybrid has a turbocharged 1.6-liter hybrid engine that delivers 227 horsepower and gets about 44 mpg highway, depending on the configuration—roughly 12 mpg more than the gas-powered Sportage—with a maximum estimated driving range of 589 miles.
The Sportage is also roomy inside, with best-in-class second-row leg room and 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 73.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.
(Not content to rest on its laurels, Kia recently announced a reimagined 2026 Sportage— including a 2026 Sportage Hybrid—with bold design updates, enhanced driver assistance technology and a refreshed interior that will be available in dealerships later this year.)
The 2025 Sorento Hybrid.
2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid
For those who need even more space, the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid has three rows of seating for up to seven passengers and up to 75.5 cubic feet of cargo room with both rows folded down.
With an EPA-estimated 36 mpg in city driving and a turbo-hybrid powertrain with 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the Sorento Hybrid has the kind of power and performance that appeals to SoCal commuters.
“We’re constantly in a car and traveling all over, so feeling comfortable, enjoying the journey and knowing you’re getting great mileage makes a big difference,” said Ashley Rodriguez, a social media influencer who recently took the Sportage Hybrid out for an afternoon shopping trip with her boyfriend, Paul Castro.
The Sorento is available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and traditional gas-powered vehicle.
The 2025 Carnival Hybrid.
2025 Carnival MPV Hybrid
Topping off Kia’s hybrid lineup is the 2025 Carnival MPV Hybrid, with three rows of seating for up to eight passengers and second-row seats that slide forward for easier third-row access. Again, cargo space is a big plus, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 86.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 145.1 cubic feet with both rows folded down.
All that space doesn’t mean sacrificing efficiency. The Carnival MPV Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 33 mpg combined with a total driving range of 627 miles. It also comes with 17 driver-assist safety features, including the Safe Exit Assist feature, which prevents doors from opening if a vehicle or bicycle is approaching.
“Our kids are at the age where, if they’re excited to be somewhere, they’ll jump right out of the car,” said Erik McEwen, a father of two who was impressed with the attention to detail in the Carnival MPV Hybrid. “Having that safety feature is incredible. It not only protects the people inside the car from getting out at the wrong time, it makes it safer for everyone around you.”
Learn more about Kia’s hybrid and EV lineup at kia.com/us/en/ev .