The move was expected, but now Kia Canada has confirmed it will discontinue the Niro crossover. The small SUV will be offered through the end of 2026, but that will be it, even as sales have remained relatively strong. The updated 2027 Niro will soldier on in the U.S., but strictly as a conventional hybrid, while Canadian buyers will turn to the new Kia EV3 or EV5 if they want a smallish all-electric Kia SUV.
Going out on a high note
Canadian Niro sales exceeded 10,000 units in 2025, representing a 45.9 percent increase, and that momentum carried into the first half of 2026, with another 5,449 units delivered, for a further 21 percent gain.
Clearly, consumers in Canada have been drawn to the fuel/energy efficiency and value offered by the Niro. Average fuel consumption can be as low as 4.4L/100 km (combined), making the Niro Canada's most fuel-efficient non-rechargeable vehicle.
Add to that a starting MSRP of $30,845 (all-inclusive starting price of $34,061), and you have an attractive proposition for budget-conscious buyers looking for a hybrid vehicle.
So why the axe?
Kia Canada had already withdrawn the plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants of the Niro; the automaker’s Canadian division evidently concluded that maintaining the Niro alongside newer models like the EV3, EV4 and EV5 risked internal cannibalization. Instead, dealers will steer prospective buyers toward those EVs, and especially to the 2027 Kia Seltos Hybrid.
Streamlining its lineup allows Kia leaves to provide space for each model within its respective market segment.
Growing divergence in Canada, U.S. portfolios
The Niro's departure marks yet another point of divergence between Kia’s Canadian and U.S. catalogues. The Soul was retired in Canada last year, but remains on the U.S. roster. Counter-tariffs have also helped put a stop to the availability in Canada of the K5 sedan and the ICE-powered Sorento and Telluride SUVs.
Meanwhile, the Canadian market enjoys exclusive access to full-on electric models the EV4, EV5 and PV5 commercial van, none of which are currently offered in the United States.