Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Qashqai

The Hyundai Kona starts from $33,700 before on-road costs, while the Nissan Qashqai opens at $47,165. That makes the Hyundai Kona the more affordable entry point by $13,465.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $37,070 and $51,882 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Nissan Qashqai by roughly $2,565 in fuel alone.

Both the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Qashqai hold a 4-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 80% for the Hyundai Kona and 78% for the Nissan Qashqai.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Nissan Qashqai, against 4 on the Hyundai Kona.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Hyundai Kona and 7 in the Nissan Qashqai.

The Hyundai Kona features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Nissan Qashqai gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Hyundai Kona stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the Nissan Qashqai. The Nissan Qashqai counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up display, panoramic roof and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Hyundai Kona uses a Petrol producing 110kW and 180Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds.

The Nissan Qashqai responds with a Petrol making 140kW and 330Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The Nissan Qashqai has the clear power advantage at 140kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Nissan Qashqai is 2.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Hyundai Kona measures 4,350mm long on a 2,660mm wheelbase, 75mm shorter than the Nissan Qashqai at 4,425mm (2,665mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Nissan Qashqai generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 361L in the Hyundai Kona and 404L in the Nissan Qashqai, giving the Nissan Qashqai a 43L advantage.

For towing, the Hyundai Kona leads with a 1,300kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 550kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,881/year for the Hyundai Kona and $1,368/year for the Nissan Qashqai. That is a $513 annual difference in favour of the Nissan Qashqai.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Kona) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Nissan Qashqai). Both match on warranty length.