Kia Niro Hybrid Earns Top Safety Pick+
The 2018 Kia Niro gasoline-electric hybrid has qualified for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest safety rating, the Top Safety Pick+, when equipped with optional automatic emergency braking and high-intensity discharge headlights.
The 2018 Kia Niro has been awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest rating.
Photo courtesy of IIHS.
The 2018 Kia Niro gasoline-electric hybrid has qualified for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest safety rating, the Top Safety Pick+, when equipped with optional automatic emergency braking and high-intensity discharge headlights.
The Niro earned good ratings across the board in IIHS crash tests, including the passenger-side small overlap front test. The good ratings also apply to the plug-in hybrid Niro. Hyundai introduced the subcompact SUV in the 2017 model year.
The frontal crash prevention is optional on the regular hybrid and standard on the plug-in model. The system helped the vehicle avoid collisions in 12 mph and 25 mph tests. The vehicle also includes a forward collision warning that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.
The base headlights on both versions earned a poor rating, while the HID headlights available on higher trim grades are rated as good. The institute didn't rate the LED headlights available on the plug-in model.
Related: 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid (driving notes)
More Safety
From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets
From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.
Read More →
IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?
Read More →
Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Hosted with the cofounder of Lifesaver Mobile, this episode addresses phone use behind the wheel and how to design a driving environment that actually helps prevents accidents.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)
Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab
Read More →
How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety
This episode connects with Steve Santostasi of Ford Pro and covers how a few seconds of data can make a difference in fleet safety.
Read More →
Managing Road Risk at Scale: Why Fleet Safety Needs a Data-Driven Framework
Insights from the FIA Road and Driver Safety Indexes reveal how to manage road risk on a larger scale.
Read More →
Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk
Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.
Read More →
Coaching Is Not Training, Even When AI Is Doing It
AI-powered safety platforms can detect risky behaviors and deliver immediate feedback. But effective driver development still requires a foundation of training followed by coaching that reinforces those skills.
Read More →
How Emotions Behind the Wheel Can Affect Fleet Safety
During National Safety Month, fleets are encouraged to look beyond distracted driving and recognize how stress, fatigue, and emotional well-being influence driver performance and crash risk.
Read More →
Nominations Open for 2026 Fleet Safety Award
Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Fleet Safety Award Winner.
Read More →