2018 Kia Niro vs 2018 Volkswagen Golf

2018 Kia Niro

2018 Volkswagen Golf

Select style

EX FWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Niro EX FWD	51	46	$24,843	$26,150
Niro FE FWD	52	49	$22,523	$23,340
Niro LX FWD	51	46	$22,788	$23,650
Niro Touring FWD	46	40	$30,370	$32,000
Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX FWD	N/A	N/A	$29,887	$31,500
Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium FWD	N/A	N/A	$32,744	$34,500
Niro Plug-In Hybrid LX FWD	N/A	N/A	$26,836	$27,900

Select style

1.8T S Automatic

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Golf 1.8T S Automatic	24	33	$21,129	$22,010
Golf 1.8T S Manual	25	34	$20,073	$20,910
Golf 1.8T SE Automatic	24	33	$23,765	$24,755
Golf 1.8T SE Manual	25	34	$22,709	$23,655
Golf Alltrack 1.8T S DSG	22	30	$25,973	$27,055
Golf Alltrack 1.8T S Manual	21	30	$24,918	$25,955
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SE DSG	22	30	$29,630	$30,865
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SE Manual	21	30	$28,574	$29,765
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SEL DSG	22	30	$34,234	$35,660
Golf GTI 2.0T Automaticbahn DSG	24	32	$34,723	$36,170
Golf GTI 2.0T Automaticbahn Manual	25	33	$33,667	$35,070
Golf GTI 2.0T S DSG	24	32	$26,414	$27,515
Golf GTI 2.0T S Manual	25	33	$25,357	$26,415
Golf GTI 2.0T SE DSG	24	32	$30,308	$31,570
Golf GTI 2.0T SE Manual	25	33	$29,252	$30,470
Golf R 2.0T DSG w/DCC/Nav	22	29	$39,250	$40,885
Golf R 2.0T Manual w/DCC/Nav	21	29	$38,193	$39,785
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Automatic	24	33	$21,874	$22,785
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Automatic 4MOTION	22	29	$24,033	$25,035
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Manual	25	34	$20,818	$21,685
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Manual 4MOTION	22	31	$22,977	$23,935
Golf SportWagen 1.8T SE Automatic	24	33	$26,227	$27,320
Golf SportWagen 1.8T SEL Automatic	24	33	$29,035	$30,245

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$24,843

$21,129

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$26,150

$22,010

Monthly Payment Estimate

$436 / month

$367 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.4

Read Our Full Review

6.5

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid breathe new life into the hybrid segment, with a practical wagon shape and excellent interior you’d never know was a hybrid.

There's a VW Golf for everyone, and they're even better for 2018 thanks to a big tech upgrade inside.

TCC Likes

Utility vehicle styling
Good noise suppression
Handsome, intuitive interior

Functional, roomy interior
Great powertrains
Polished road manners

TCC Dislikes

AWD unavailable
Sluggish acceleration at speed
No crash-test data yet

Conservative looks
Golf R is pricey
Rear seats don't fold quite flat

Fuel Economy

City

51 mpg

24 mpg

Highway

46 mpg

33 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small Station Wagons

Compact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)

100.9

93.5

Front Hip Room (in)

53.7

Second Leg Room (in)

37.4

35.6

Front Head Room (in)

40.1

38.4

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

48.3

Front Shoulder Room (in)

55.9

Second Head Room (in)

39.1

38.1

Second Shoulder Room (in)

55.2

53.9

Front Leg Room (in)

41.7

41.2

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

62.2

59.8

Wheelbase (in)

106.3

103.8

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

71.1

70.8

Track Width, Front (in)

61.6

Min Ground Clearance (in)

6.3

5.4

Length, Overall (in)

171.5

167.6

Height, Overall (in)

60.4

58.2

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

54.5

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

19.4

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

19.4

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

17.4

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

53.7

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.3

10.7

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.3

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

11.9

13.2

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

35.8

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Tires

Rear Tire Size

P205/60HR16

P195/65HR15

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P205/60HR16

P195/65HR15

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3199

3023

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

16 X 6.5

15 X 6

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

16 X 6.5

15 X 6

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

195 @ 2400

199 @ 1600

Engine Order Code

Displacement

1.6 L/96

1.8 L/110

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

139 @ 5700

170 @ 4500

Engine Type

Gas/Electric I-4

Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.87

4.46

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.23

3.87

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.37

1.56

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.96

0.85

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

5.35

3.19

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.22

2.51

Trans Order Code

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.93

1.14

Trans Description Cont.

Auto-Shift Manual w/OD

Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.77

0.67

Summary

Vehicle Name

Kia Niro

Volkswagen Golf

Body Style

Sport Utility

Hatchback

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

3.6

6.3

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

480

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

140

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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