I have a 2023 Niro EX PHEV with the standard halogen projector headlights. As part of the Amazon Vine review program I tested 4 different LED replacement bulb sets (HB3/9005), but found none of them acceptable.
Access to the bulbs is from the wheel wells. You need to remove the inner plastic fender liner/shield (2 screws, 13 pop-in plastic fasteners). It can be done with the wheels on (as described in the owners manual), but is far easier with the front wheels removed and the front of the car on jack stands (if you have the equipment and experience).
Despite outrageous claims like "5X brightness" and "20,000 lumens", most are, at best, 50% brighter than the halogen bulbs. However, they are very white -- which is nice. LEDs draw far less current than the halogen bulbs. The circuitry within the car interprets this low current consumption as a burned out bulb and generates a headlamp warning. On the Niro it's not just a light on the dash, it's also a nagging message. Most of the better LED replacements have a built in resistor to "waste" enough power to fool the car and eliminate the warning -- which is good. To dissipate the heat from that wasted energy they often add a fan; a moving part which could impact the life and reliability of the bulb. I suppose I can live with that.
Unfortunately, there is one more problem: flicker. All the bulbs I tested, including those that claimed to eliminate the problem, rapidly flicker creating a noticeable and annoying strobe effect. While you can still see where you are going, people will comment that "there's something wrong with your headlights". Apparently, the Niro pulses the headlight signal (perhaps as part of the burned-out bulb test). The halogen bulbs respond slowly enough that no flicker is visible, but the LED respond more quickly. Plug-in anti-flicker "decoder" adapter cables are available, but are too large to fit within the headlight housing.
If anyone has found an acceptable LED replacement, please let me know.
Here are the ones I tested:
Auxbeam 2023 F15 Series 9005/HB3 LED Headlight Bulbs
Xenooto 9005 HB3 LED Headlight Bulbs
KAC 9005 LED Bulbs, 9005/HB3 LED Headlight Bulbs
BRISHINE 9005 HB3 LED Light Bulbs
