Here’s how much a 2020 Kia Niro EV has depreciated after 5 years

If the Hyundai Kona Electric was the style icon and the Chevy Bolt was the economy play, the Kia Niro EV was the pragmatic grown-up in the room. It didn’t have weird doors. It didn’t have a closed-off grille that looked like a muzzle. It just looked like a Kia.

In November 2020, that “normcore” vibe was its biggest selling point. It offered the same excellent 239-mile powertrain as the Kona but packaged it in a boxier, roomier shell that could actually fit a car seat without requiring the front passenger to eat their knees.

But being the sensible choice doesn’t always protect you from the cruel math of the used car market. Five years later, with the sleek EV6 and the massive EV9 stealing the showroom spotlight, has the humble Niro EV held its ground?

Let’s crunch the numbers.

The question

We are focusing on the 2020 Kia Niro EV EX. This was the entry-level trim, but like its Hyundai cousin, it came shockingly well-equipped compared to gas cars of the same era.

In late 2020, a Niro EV EX carried a starting MSRP of $39,090. If you wanted the EX Premium with the sunroof and fancy audio, you were looking at $44,590.

That is nearly forty grand for a compact crossover. If you paid that sticker price five years ago to drive the “stealth EV,” what is it worth now?

The numbers

According to current market listings in late 2025:

• 2020 Kia Niro EV EX (New): $39,090
• 2020 Kia Niro EV EX (Used, 2025): ~$16,500
• Depreciation: ~$22,590
• Value Retained: ~42%
• Percent Lost: ~58%

The Niro EV sits right in the pocket of standard EV depreciation. It hasn’t fallen off a cliff quite as hard as the Nissan Leaf, but it certainly hasn’t defied gravity like a Toyota RAV4 Prime. Losing 58% is steep, but it tracks with the broader market correction for “Gen 1.5” electric vehicles.

How it compares

The Niro EV generally commands a slight premium over its direct rivals on the used market, purely because it is the most useful shape.

• Hyundai Kona Electric: The Niro usually sells for $700–$1,000 more than a comparable Kona. Why? Rear legroom and cargo space. The Kona is a subcompact; the Niro is a proper compact.
• Chevy Bolt EV: The Niro feels like a class above the Bolt in terms of ride quality and interior materials, and the market reflects that with a $2,000+ price difference.
• Tesla Model 3: You can buy a used 2020 Model 3 SR+ for roughly $18,500–$20,000. The gap between the Niro and the Tesla has narrowed, making the Kia a tougher sell unless you specifically need a hatchback/crossover shape.

The “clicking” wildcard

While the Bolt and Kona had battery fires to worry about, the Niro EV has a different skeleton in its closet: the “Wheel of Fortune” noise.

A known issue with the 2019–2020 Hyundai/Kia EV powertrains involves the reduction gear (transmission) bearings or the motor itself developing a rhythmic ticking or clicking sound. It sounds like a playing card in bicycle spokes.

While Kia has fixed many of these under warranty, the 5-year/60,000-mile comprehensive warranty on a 2020 model has just expired for many owners (though the 100k powertrain warranty should still apply). If you are buying used, you need to listen closely. A silent Niro is a great car; a clicking one is a headache waiting to happen.

The verdict

If you bought a 2020 Niro EV new, you paid a premium for practicality. You took a $22,000 hit, but you also spent five years driving a car that fits your life, requires zero gas, and likely gave you very little trouble.

For the used buyer? This is arguably the smartest buy in the sub-$20k EV segment. It charges faster than a Bolt (77 kW), it’s roomier than a Kona, and it doesn’t have the CHAdeMO anchor of the Leaf. It is the “Dad shoe” of electric cars: uncool, comfortable, and incredibly effective.

Depreciation Grade: D+ (Better than average, but still hurts)
Used Value Grade: A (The practical champion)