Nissan Juke vs Kia Niro
What's the difference?

Nissan Juke

$22,990 - $36,485

2024 price

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Kia Niro

$24,990 - $42,888

2023 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Summary

2024 Nissan Juke

2023 Kia Niro

By Tom White

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 3, 1.0L

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.8L/100km (combined)

Electric range

455 km

Energy consumption

16.2 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

64.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

Funky looks
Decent interior space and boot
Full safety equipment

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

Dislikes

Frustrating dual clutch auto
Missing a few tech items rivals get
Could do with a hybrid version

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

2024 Nissan Juke Summary

The Nissan Juke was meant to herald a new era for Nissan in Australia.

It was the first in a slew of new-generation SUVs and has now been joined by the Qashqai, X-Trail, and Pathfinder as part of a new-look Nissan.

Unlike those others, though, the Juke hasn’t quite resonated with buyers. Since arriving to what Nissan probably expected to be fanfare back in 2020, the new Juke has since sunk to the bottom of its compact SUV segment, outselling only a handful of other models.

So, what went wrong? Is the quirky styling of the Juke too much? Are there too many appealing choices in the compact SUV space? Alternatively, could the Juke be an underrated gem worth checking out?

I find myself in an upper mid-spec ST-L to find out.

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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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Deep dive comparison

2024 Nissan Juke 2023 Kia Niro

Verdict

The Juke is a fun little car. It looks cool, it packs most of the important features and safety equipment, but while it can be fun to drive, it’s also a little clunky around town.

It’s so frustrating, because there is a great car in there somewhere, and it would take only small tweaks and enhancements to bring it out.

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.

Nissan Juke vs Kia Niro What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Nissan Juke vs Kia Niro
What's the difference?