The Kia Niro is a fun and zippy hybrid for under $30,000

Business Insider/Danielle MuoioKia took its very first shot at a hybrid hatchback-crossover this year - the Niro - and the results are commendable.

The hybrid hatch market is pretty well defined. Toyota's Prius has consistently reigned supreme in sales, and competitors like the Ford C-Max and Kia's corporate stablemate, the Hyundai Ioniq, have been slow to catch up.

Kia may not be a household name, but the Niro is already the second best-selling hybrid for 2017 and has received fairly consistent praise across the board.

At a time where the crossover segment is hot, the Niro boasts solid mileage without skimping on space - all with a price tag that's difficult to overlook.

We took the 2017 Niro hybrid out for a spin to see if it really lives up to the hype. Here's the verdict: