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Kia Niro vs Toyota C-HR: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Kia Niro and the Toyota C-HR are too close to call — 1.3 percentage points apart on first-time MOT passes once you allow for the age of each fleet, which is inside what the choice of cars counted can move. A winner is named only at 2 points or more. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. Choose on the fault patterns and running costs below rather than on reliability.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Kia Niro
Pass rate91.0%
Age-matched national89.1%
Difference+1.9
Tests10,881
Toyota C-HR
Pass rate90.6%
Age-matched national87.3%
Difference+3.2
Tests10,473

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Kia Niros registered 2017–2023 and Toyota C-HRs registered 2017–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Kia Niro

first generation 2016–2022 and second generation 2022–on · family crossover, sold as hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric

The Kia Niro’s recalls are the story, and they concentrate on the first-generation hybrid. DVSA lists three on its hydraulic clutch actuator and power relay, the largest (R/2025/059) covering Niros built October 2015 to June 2022, and one on the e-Niro’s coolant leak. What Car? ranked the Niro first of 12 used electric and hybrid cars in 2023, and it passes the MOT level with or above cars of the same age. Kia UK covers a new Niro for seven years or 100,000 miles.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2025/059recall
    Kia Niro HCA Fuse Replacement
    51,667 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 26 October 2015 and 16 June 2022
    Large recall — 51,667 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2023/211recall
    A combination of the instrument cluster software and electrical noise while the vehicle is starting may result in cluster booting errors
    6,996 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 14 September 2022 and 22 March 2023
    Smaller recall — 6,996 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Electronics — minor infotainment glitches (e-Niro and Niro EV)minor
    What Car? says a small number of owners mentioned minor electrical glitches, such as infotainment problems, on the electric Niro; most owners reported very few mechanical issues, and quick, efficient fixes by Kia dealers.
    2019–2022 e-Niro and 2022-on Niro EV
    Check: Pair a phone, use the navigation and the reversing camera, and check every screen menu responds before you buy.
  • Cover — seven-year warranty and battery capacity coverminor
    Not a fault. Kia UK’s terms give a new car 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, from first registration: unlimited mileage for the first 36 months, then 100,000 miles to month 84. The warranty transfers to each new owner while it has not expired, and the electric and plug-in hybrid battery cover is against capacity falling below 70% for 84 months or 100,000 miles on cars registered up to 31 December 2023.
    All, counted from first registration
    Check: The mileage cap, not the years, usually decides a used claim: from month 37 the 100,000-mile limit applies. Work out the dates from the registration on the V5C, ask for the service history, and confirm the cover with a Kia dealer using the VIN, because Kia’s terms set different battery terms for cars registered from 1 January 2024.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
What Car? recorded 253 miles of real-world range from the 64 kWh e-Niro (its September 2024 update) and lists the ordinary hybrid’s efficiency as a drawback; it gives no real-world mpg for the hybrid, so we print none.
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Electric versions: one first registered from 1 April 2025 pays the £440/year supplement in years 2–6 only if it listed at over £50,000 new; one registered before then never does, whatever it cost.
Best years:
2018, 2019
Used Kia Niros for saleFull Niro fault guideUsed Kias

Also compare:

Toyota C-HR

Mk1 (2016–2023) · B/C crossover SUV with a distinctive coupe-SUV styling. Launched in the UK in late 2016 with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol and the 1.8 Hybrid (122 PS); the 2.0 Hybrid (184 PS) arrived in 2020 and the line-up later became hybrid-only. No diesel variant.

The Toyota C-HR Hybrid has a strong reliability record — the hybrid system is proven and needs little unscheduled maintenance. The trade-offs are a cramped rear seat under the coupe roofline and a 377-litre boot. Some 2017–2022 builds are covered by DVSA brake-pedal and fuel-pump recalls, so check by registration.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2022/055recall
    The initialization of the radar sensor may not have been completed correctly
    42,554 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 20 March 2020 and 26 July 2021
    Large recall — 42,554 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2018/240recall
    Engine wire harness connected to hybrid vehicle power control unit could contact cover
    32,393 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 26 May 2016 and 8 May 2018
    Large recall — 32,393 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • CVT transmission whine or noiseminor
    High-pitched whine from transmission under hard acceleration; "rubbery" CVT feel above 60 mph
    All years (1.8 Hybrid CVT) · Above 50,000 miles — noise can increase with age · £0 — often normal CVT characteristics; ATF fluid change (£150–£250) can reduce noise on older units
    Check: Accelerate firmly from 35–60 mph and listen for transmission noise. The 1.8 Hybrid CVT makes a characteristic high-pitched tone under hard acceleration — this is normal. Persistent grinding or rattling (rather than the characteristic tone) should be investigated.
  • 12V auxiliary battery failuremoderate
    Car fails to start; warning lights at startup; hybrid system fault codes; "ready" light does not illuminate
    All years approaching 4–5 years old · From 4 years old regardless of mileage · £120–£250 12V auxiliary battery replacement
    Check: On any C-HR approaching 5 years old, proactively budget for 12V auxiliary battery replacement. This is the most common unscheduled repair on the C-HR — the main traction battery is excellent, but the 12V auxiliary battery that wakes the hybrid system is a wear item.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
53–58 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.8 Hybrid, 50–54 mpg for the 2.0 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheets).
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022
Years to avoid:
2016
Full C-HR fault guideUsed Toyotas

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Kia Niro

Good for: Families who want a roomy hybrid or electric crossover with a long warranty, and who will check that the clutch-actuator and relay work was done on a first-generation hybrid.

Less good for: Anyone who buys a 2016–2017 hybrid without the dealer record for its recalls, or assumes the warranty is still running without checking the registration date.

Toyota C-HR

Good for: Buyers who prioritise reliability and low ownership costs above all else. Urban and suburban drivers who don't need large rear space or a big boot. Buyers who want Toyota's proven hybrid system in a compact crossover body.

Less good for: Families with teenagers or tall passengers in the rear — the C-HR rear headroom is significantly compromised by the coupe roofline. Buyers who regularly carry large loads — the 377-litre boot is small for the class. Buyers who need to tow more than a light trailer — Toyota rates the C-HR Hybrid at 725 kg, braked or unbraked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Kia Niro or the Toyota C-HR?
Neither, on the evidence. Their first-time MOT pass rates sit 1.3 percentage points apart once each is compared against the national rate for cars of the same age, which is too close to call (we name a winner only at 2 points or more). A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. Pick on the specific faults each is prone to instead.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Kia Niro and the Toyota C-HR compare?
91.0% of Kia Niros pass their MOT first time (10,881 tests in DVSA's records) and 90.6% of Toyota C-HRs pass their MOT first time (10,473 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Kia Niro's age average 89.1% and cars of the Toyota C-HR's age 87.3% — so the Kia Niro runs 1.9 points better than its age group and the Toyota C-HR runs 3.2 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Kia Niro and Toyota C-HR should I avoid?
Kia Niro: No year is named. Hybrid Niros built from 1 November 2016 to September 2017 are inside three DVSA recalls on the hydraulic clutch actuator and main power relay (R/2018/207, R/2019/167 and R/2025/059) where later hybrids are inside one, but each is a free dealer visit, 2017 registrations are level with all cars registered that year on the MOT table, and the table has no 2016 row. Ask for the dealer record for each recall on an early hybrid. Toyota C-HR: 2016–2017 launch cars: a small number of CVT transmission noise complaints and early infotainment software issues. Also, pre-facelift 1.8 Hybrid's CVT can feel sluggish on motorway overtakes. These are minor concerns — the C-HR was reliable from launch, just less polished. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2017 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid.
Is the Kia Niro or the Toyota C-HR cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine, and for a plug-in or electric version on whether you can charge at home. Kia Niro: What Car? recorded 253 miles of real-world range from the 64 kWh e-Niro (its September 2024 update) and lists the ordinary hybrid’s efficiency as a drawback; it gives no real-world mpg for the hybrid, so we print none. Toyota C-HR: 53–58 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.8 Hybrid, 50–54 mpg for the 2.0 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheets). WLTP figures are official lab results; your own driving can return a different figure. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. The electric versions (e-Niro and Niro EV) pay the same £200/year standard rate since 1 April 2025 (electric cars were exempt before then), with the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 only on one first registered from 1 April 2025 that listed at over £50,000 new. Any Kia Niro or Toyota C-HR registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.