Kia Niro vs. Ford C-MAX Hybrid
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Kia Niro and Ford C-MAX Hybrid contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Kia Niro and the Ford C-MAX Hybrid.
When we compare the Kia Niro's and the Ford C-MAX Hybrid's specifications and ratings, the Kia Niro has the advantage in the area of fuel efficiency. The Ford C-MAX Hybrid has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Kia Niro's and the Ford C-MAX Hybrid's specifications and ratings, the Ford C-MAX Hybrid is a better car than the Kia Niro.
Pricing: A used 2018 Kia Niro ranges from $8,199 to $18,500 while a used 2018 Ford C-MAX Hybrid is priced between $6,652 to $18,988.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Kia Niro’s base engine makes 139 horsepower, and the Ford C-MAX Hybrid base engine makes 188 horsepower. The Niro is rated to deliver an average of 50 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 583 miles. The C-MAX Hybrid is rated to deliver an average of 40 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 513 miles. This gives the Kia Niro the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Ford C-MAX Hybrid. Both models use regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Ford C-MAX Hybrid has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front leg room, rear head room, and cargo space. The Kia Niro, a hybrid SUV, has the advantage in the areas of front shoulder room and rear leg room. The Kia Niro and Ford C-MAX Hybrid are comparable in regards to rear shoulder room.
Safety Ratings: The Kia Niro has an average safety rating of 4.45 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
23340
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Hybrid Subcompact SUVs)
29347
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Hybrid Subcompact SUVs)
23340 - 36800
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
24120
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
13660
Price Range:
8199 - 18500
Category Avg Price:
(Hybrid Subcompact SUVs)
16550
Category Avg Price Range:
(Hybrid Subcompact SUVs)
13660 - 18784
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
47
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
98501
# Good or Great Deals:
17
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
13121
Price Range:
6652 - 18988
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
32
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
74015
# Good or Great Deals:
7
Kia Niro Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.0 / 10
Safety:
7.4 / 10
Ford C-MAX Hybrid Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Kia Niro
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Ford C-MAX Hybrid
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
3.9
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.074
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
3.859143535944492
Typical Category Recalls:
(Hybrid Subcompact SUVs)
2.1
Category Range for Recalls:
(Hybrid Subcompact SUVs)
1.7 - 3.9
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.1837584777244623
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Kia Niro Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 32Ranking
1 out of / 28Ranking
1 out of / 5Ranking
1 out of / 5Ranking
1 out of / 3Ranking
2 out of / 5Ranking
2 out of / 5Ranking
3 out of / 5Ranking
5 out of / 5Ranking
6 out of / 31Ranking
8 out of / 36Ranking
10 out of / 36Ranking
10 out of / 31Ranking
10 out of / 31Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
13 out of / 36Ranking
14 out of / 31Ranking
19 out of / 36Ranking
19 out of / 36Ranking
21 out of / 31Ranking
25 out of / 36Ranking
31 out of / 31Ranking
36 out of / 36Ford C-MAX Hybrid Rankings
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
Wagon
Available Drivetrain Options
Hybrid
Available Drivetrain Options
Hybrid
Kia Niro Trim Levels
EX, FE, LX, Touring
Ford C-MAX Hybrid Trim Levels
SE, Titanium
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.45 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
139 hp @ 5700 rpm
Torque:
195 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.045 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
188 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:
Not yet available
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.052 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.6 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
52 / 49 / 50
Range (city/hwy):
619 / 583 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
42 / 38 / 40
Range (city/hwy):
567 / 513 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Available
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Forward Collision Warning:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
Available
Lane Keeping Assist:
Available
Pedestrian Detection:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.1 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.2 inches
Cargo Space:
19.4 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
54.5 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 3rd-row seat folded down:
Not applicable
Overall Interior Volume:
120.3 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
41 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.2 inches
Cargo Space:
24.5 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
52.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 3rd-row seat folded down:
Not applicable
Overall Interior Volume:
124.2 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3106 lbs
Width:
71.1 inches
Height:
60.4 inches
Length:
171.5 inches
Wheelbase:
106.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
6.3 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3607 lbs
Width:
82.1 inches
Height:
63.9 inches
Length:
173.6 inches
Wheelbase:
104.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.5 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P205/60R16
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P225/50R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Aurora Black Pearl
Red
Crimson Red
Silver
Silky Silver
White
Snow White Pearl
Blue
Not available
Gold
Not available
Gray
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Shadow Black
Red
Hot Pepper Red Metallic Clearcoat
Silver
Ingot Silver
White
Oxford White / White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat
Blue
Blue
Gold
White Gold
Gray
Magnetic
Interior Colors
Black
Charcoal
Gray
Gray
Interior Colors
Black
Charcoal Black
Gray
Medium Light Stone
