Kia Niro vs Audi RS Q3
What's the difference?

Kia Niro

$24,990 - $42,888

2023 price

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Audi RS Q3

$83,888 - $99,990

2023 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mini 3D Hatch

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Polestar 2 Long Range

Polestar 2 Standard Range

Summary

2023 Kia Niro

2023 Audi RS Q3

By Emily Agar

By James Cleary

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Turbo 5, 2.5L

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Electric range

455 km

8.9L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

16.2 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

64.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

Decent driving range
Pleasant interior design
Easy-to-use tech

Dynamics
Refinement
Quality

Dislikes

Rougher ride
Doughy acceleration from a full stop
Expensive compared to rivals

Front seats tricky to get in and out of
Sizeable turning circle
Only six airbags

2023 Kia Niro Summary

Kia has released the newly updated Niro, which is the smaller and less sporty sibling to Kia’s popular, EV6. As far as EVs go, it has a decent driving range and specs that should entice first-time electric vehicle owners to dip their toes into the EV pool.

However, the updated model does come with a price hike… which might not excite a budget-conscious buyer, especially with such affordable competitors like the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric also available.

I’ve been hanging in it for a week with my family of three to see how it handles!

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2023 Audi RS Q3 Summary

Is 10 years long enough for a special birthday celebration? When you're a kid, hitting 'double figures' is a pretty big deal, and Audi's obviously in the mood to make some noise because it has lit the candles on a limited 10th anniversary version of its compact SUV rocket ship, the RS Q3.

Only 555 examples of the 'RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years' will be produced for worldwide consumption, with Audi Australia capturing a batch of them and sending one our way for a brief blast as the fiery five-cylinder starts filtering into dealerships.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Kia Niro 2023 Audi RS Q3

Verdict

The Kia Niro S Electric is a solid little SUV that has decent space inside and some nice specs, but it's more expensive than its nearest rivals. The EV powertrain can take a little getting used to and I would have liked a smoother ride, but the 460km driving range is good.

For first-time EV owners, this wouldn’t be a bad option if you wanted to dip your toes in the water but it will suit urban dwellers and smaller families, like mine, best. This gets a 7.5/10 from me.

My son wasn’t in love with this one. Not enough buttons for him to press and he did comment on how bumpy the ride was in the back. He gives it a 6.0/10.

Verdict

The Audi RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years is dynamically brilliant, beautifully finished and surprisingly civilised on day-to-day duty. A polished compact performance package that even in this special 'get-it-while-you-can' guise offers compelling value relative to its direct competitors.

Kia Niro vs Audi RS Q3 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Niro vs Audi RS Q3
What's the difference?