Cargo space behind the rear seats is almost even: 20.3-23.8 cubic feet in the Prius and 22.8 cubic feet in the Niro. That's a sizable amount and more than you would get in a sedan. Front seat space is similar, but the Niro has more rear passenger room.

Winner: tie

COMFORT AND DRIVING Ride comfort is superb in both hybrids, which isn't always the case in small cars. Their seats are also comfortable, although the Niro's are on the firm side but have more bolstering to help keep you in place. As with most hybrids, both engines get loud under hard acceleration, but the Niro does a better job keeping out wind and tire noise.

Based on our testing, the Prius drives better hands down. Both hybrids are great around town, but the Prius' quicker acceleration comes in handy on the highway. It also handles much better, making it more fun to drive. The Prius' superior driving dynamics give it the win here.

Winner: Toyota Prius

PRICING AND VALUE The Prius' starting price of $28,545 is a little higher than the Niro's starting price of $27,915. Both base models come similarly equipped, but for an extra $1,400, you can add all-wheel drive to any Prius trim. The midlevel trims are also closely matched in features, but the Prius is once again a little pricier, although its additional power and mpg justify the extra cost. The Prius' top trim, which is priced like the Niro's, offers optional features at an added cost that the Niro doesn't provide, including a self-parking system, heated rear seats and a surround-view camera system.

If warranties are important to you, Kia's five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty tops Toyota's three-year/36,000-mile warranty. However, Toyota offers two years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Winner: tie

EDMUNDS SAYS, The Toyota Prius and Kia Niro are both highly rated hybrids by Edmunds. But as with any comparison, there's a winner. The Toyota Prius gets the victory here thanks to its superior power, fuel efficiency and available all-wheel drive.

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