Kia Niro vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?

Kia Niro

$34,990 - $54,990

2023 price

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Subaru Forester

$43,490 - $55,990

2026 price

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Polestar 2 Long Range

Polestar 2 Standard Range

Summary

2023 Kia Niro

2026 Subaru Forester

By Emily Agar

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Not Applicable, 0.0L

Fuel Type

Electric

Fuel Efficiency

0.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

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

Nice interior
Refined on-road
Suitably capable off-road

Dislikes

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

Sluggish acceleration
Needs all-terrain tyres
Intrusive driver alert system

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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2026 Subaru Forester Summary

The sixth-generation of Subaru’s Forester has landed and while the new hybrid versions constitute the biggest news of this batch, the petrol-only variants should not be ignored.

The five-seat mid-size SUV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, Subaru’s well-regarded 'symmetrical all-wheel drive' system and some new changes inside and out.

So, does the top-spec Touring offer the best value-for-money in the petrol Forester line-up?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Kia Niro 2026 Subaru Forester

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 MY26 Subaru Forester packs plenty of punch in terms of standard features, a roomy and functional interior and overall driveability. Sure, it’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive on- or off-road but to get stuck on that is to miss the point entirely. This is a decent all-rounder with a solid background and an AWD system that long ago set the gold standard for vehicles of this type.

In a tough mid-size SUV market segment aimed more at those intent on driving through car parks rather than adventuring through national parks, the Forester offers greater versatility than most and should not be ignored.

Kia Niro vs Subaru Forester What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Niro vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?