Which to buy?

Asked by Stam22 Jun 26, 2018 at 09:47 PM about the 2017 Kia Niro LX

Question type: Shopping & Pricing

Hello all!

Looking for some advice on a used car purchase.

I took a new job which will require a round trip commute of 112.6 miles per day...mostly 55 mph roads and no freeways. I'm looking at purchasing a hybrid to cut back on gas expenses.

The two cars I've zeroed in on are the 2017 Kia Niro and a used Toyota Prius...likely a 2014 or 2015. I've driven both and prefer the Niro to the Prius. It feels much more "normal" to me, has easier to use/more intuitive tech, and basically does the same thing mileage-wise as the Prius. The Prius took me some time to get used to, is a bit less comfortable to me than the Niro, and feels a bit more like I'm driving a tank (solidly built. but a bit cumbersome). The big "ick" about the Prius is the way the rear window is bisected by the spoiler.

My wife is hung up on the fact that the Niro is a newer car whereas the Prius is an established brand with a solid track record. The Niro I'm looking at has just shy of 6,000 miles on the odometer and right at the start of it's 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. The best I can get on the Prius seems to be 2-3 years of coverage on drive train, hybrid, with one in particular that I'm looking at (a 2014) having just over 24,000 miles on it.

I'd really love to see if anyone has any thoughts/experience with both cars and can offer some objective feedback. Do I take a chance on the Niro (am I really taking a chance?) or do I play it safe with a used Prius?

Thanks a ton for your collective input!

3 Answers

40

While there are many dynamics at work here deciding which car is right for you, I can only assume that your main question is about the warranty/longevity of the two similar cars. The Prius is an established car made by a company that is know for its solid reliability. Prius cars are known to get well over 300k miles without a problem. The Kia however, has become one of the highest rated car manufacturers in recent years. I am on my third Kia vehicle. I just purchased a 2018 Niro in February. I am pleased with the MPG on my Niro getting over 50MPG routinely. As far as reliability, the whole hybrid drive train is a marvel in reliability. The electric motor assists the gas motor therefore putting much less stress on the gas engine in the drive train. This is why many people believe that the hybrid system is such a reliable drive train. I think either choice would be a wise investment.

4 people found this helpful.
10

I travel everyday to work 25 miles one way, and I drive 2013 Ford CMax it gives me an Average of 38-40 mpg. I'm still driving the same car today, and I love it even more I have 98,500 miles already and still sounds like brandnew, I love it. In my opinion, the Gas/Lithium Battery combination is the best Hybrid and it's a hassle free and no need to worry about looking for a place to charge your battery. I will buy it again. and I wish they will do all SUVs and Vans to Hybrid Gas/Battery not Plug-ins. I wish Prius will redesign the body style to an SUVs soon. Happy 3 day weekend everyone. God bless us ALL.

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

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