Kia Niro vs Subaru Forester
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2026 Subaru Forester
Overview
| Spec | Kia NiroLX | Subaru ForesterForester SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | LX | Forester SUV |
| Body style | SUV | SUV |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive | all wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | continuously variable-speed automatic |
| Engine type | hybrid | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2026 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Kia NiroLX | Subaru ForesterForester SUV |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $27,090 (best) | $29,995 |
| Lowest listing price | $22,499 | $13,023 (best) |
| Median listing price | $30,105 | $27,995 (best) |
| Highest listing price | $33,945 (best) | $42,263 |
| For sale now | 34 | 91 (best) |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Kia NiroLX | Subaru ForesterForester SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 53 MPG (best) | 29 MPG |
| City MPG | 53 MPG (best) | 26 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 54 MPG (best) | 33 MPG |
| Fuel tank | 11 gal | 16.6 gal (best) |
Performance
| Spec | Kia NiroLX | Subaru ForesterForester SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 139 hp | 180 hp (best) |
| Torque | 195 lb-ft (best) | 178 lb-ft |
| Engine size | 1.6 L | 2.5 L (best) |
| Cylinders | I4 | flat 4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Kia NiroLX | Subaru ForesterForester SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Cargo volume | — | 74.4 cu ft (best) |
| Curb weight | 3,071 lbs (best) | 3,510 lbs |
| Ground clearance | 6 in | 8.7 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 107 in (best) | 105.1 in |
| Length | 174 in | 183.3 in (best) |
| Width | 72 in | 72 in |
| Height | 61 in | 68.1 in (best) |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Kia NiroLX | Subaru ForesterForester SUV |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 4 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ (best) |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 4 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ (best) |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 4 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ (best) |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Rollover | 4 / 5 ★ | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | None reported (best) | 3 |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Kia Niro | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LX $27,090 MSRP(Currently comparing) | Forester SUV $29,995 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | EX $29,890 MSRP | Premium $33,385 MSRP |
| 3 | SX $33,090 MSRP | Premium Hybrid $34,730 MSRP |
| 4 | SX Touring $35,490 MSRP | Sport $36,105 MSRP |
| 5 | — | Limited $37,695 MSRP |
| 6 | — | Sport Hybrid $37,930 MSRP |
| 7 | — | Wilderness $38,385 MSRP |
| 8 | — | Limited Hybrid $38,995 MSRP |
| 9 | — | Touring Hybrid $41,545 MSRP |
| 10 | — | Touring $41,595 MSRP |
Live inventory
Kia Niro34 for sale
See all
New2026 Kia Niro
LX
Interstellar Gray•Charcoal15 mi$26,657Tustin Kia
Tustin, CA
New2026 Kia Niro
EX
Snow White Pearl•CharcoalN/A$29,924Mike Miller Kia Peoria
Peoria, IL
New2026 Kia Niro
EX
Snow White Pearl•CharcoalN/A$29,791Mike Miller Kia Peoria
Peoria, IL
New2026 Kia Niro
EX
Snow White Pearl•CharcoalN/A$31,520Santa Fe Kia
Santa Fe, NM
Used2024 Kia Niro
SX
Snow White Pearl•Charcoal10,434 mi$29,985Lehighton Kia
Lehighton, PA
New2026 Kia Niro
LX
Aurora Black Pearl•CharcoalN/A$27,815Cape & Islands Kia South Yarmouth
South Yarmouth, MA
Subaru Forester91 for sale
See all
Used2020 Subaru Forester
Premium
Crystal White Pearl•Black95,634 mi$17,995Wholesale Direct Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Used2019 Subaru Forester
Limited
Silver•black42,576 mi$21,000Kia of Clermont
Clermont, FL
Certified2026 Subaru Forester
Wilderness
Magnetite Gray Metallic•Gray2,648 mi$34,674Dulles Kia Leesburg
Leesburg, VA
Used2023 Subaru Forester
Wilderness
White•Gray16,392 mi$29,551Kia on Atlantic
Jacksonville, FL
Used2022 Subaru Forester
Limited
Blue•lighting37,321 mi$25,263Kia of Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel, FL
Used2024 Subaru Forester
Wilderness
Magnetite Gray Metallic•gray40,325 mi$30,265Classic Nissan Newport News
Newport News, VA
Kia Niro vs Subaru Forester FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Kia Niro or 2026 Subaru Forester?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Kia Niro vs 2026 Subaru Forester on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Kia Niro or 2026 Subaru Forester?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2026 Kia Niro starts lower at $27,090. Live Kia Niro listings start at $22,499. Live Subaru Forester listings start at $13,023.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Kia Niro or 2026 Subaru Forester?
- The 2026 Kia Niro leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (27,090).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Kia Niro or 2026 Subaru Forester?
- The 2026 Kia Niro leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (53).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Kia Niro or 2026 Subaru Forester?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester leads on horsepower in this comparison (194).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 Kia Niro or 2026 Subaru Forester?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (3,000).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Kia Niro vs 2026 Subaru Forester?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Kia Niro (4/5 NHTSA overall); Subaru Forester (5/5 NHTSA overall).