MAKE A STATEMENT

Sick of boring sedans and hatches? These baby SUVs are anything but dull.

No one could accuse the Nissan Juke of being plain. Now the entry point to the Nissan range, the Juke’s instantly recognisable caricature face has a new edge for 2020, giving the brand fresh ammunition in the fight for small SUV buyers.

We pit it against two rivals that also sell on sharp looks.

HYUNDAI KONA

As with Nissan, Hyundai has dumped small passenger cars from its range in favour of highriding crossovers. The brand has a cheaper SUV in the Venue, but its larger Kona lines up better with the Juke, especially in top-of-therange trim.

Priced from about $40,500 drive-away in Highlander form, the Kona is well-stocked with heated and cooled leather seats, wireless phone charging, climate control, smart keys, LED headlights and more. As with the Juke and CHR, it has an 8-inch central infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with satnav and front and rear parking sensors. All three cars have active cruise control, auto emergency braking, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Hyundai makes do with a regular reversing camera, while the Toyota and Nissan have nifty 360-degree units.

The Kona is smaller than the Nissan or Toyota, with less leg room. Another concern is execution — perfectly presentable at its $26,500 entry point, the Kona feels basic at $40,000-plus, with materials that aren’t quite as plush.

That said, the Kona’s head-up display is a welcome addition, and it offers buyers the choice of front or all-wheel-drive and the option of a more powerful turbocharged engine.

The standard two-wheel-drive Kona goes well enough, thanks to a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine with 110kW of power and 180Nm of torque. Though it has a power advantage, the Kona’s non-turbo engine needs to be worked hard to deliver its best.

It’s also comparatively thirsty, officially requiring 7.2L/100km of petrol. Servicing splits the others at $1475 for five years.

The Hyundai is the heaviest car here, but disguises its weight well thanks to firm suspension keeping body roll to a minimum.

Weighty, accurate steering lends confidence when cornering, though Hyundai’s taut ride can be uncomfortable on rough roads.

NISSAN JUKE TI

The new Juke is the first model in a wave of new products set to revive Nissan showrooms in the next couple of years. A smash hit overseas, the Juke’s compact dimensions and funky looks have won fans around the globe.

The latest model is available with just one engine, a turbocharged 1.0-litre, three-cylinder unit that uses 5.9L/100km to make 84kW and 180Nm. Those aren’t big figures, but the Juke’s 200 kilogram weight advantage helps it feel spritelier than expected.

The downside is a seven-speed auto that can feel jerky at times, struggling to choose the right ratio in hilly country.

We tested the Juke in range-topping Ti form which brings 19-inch wheels with low-profile tyres. Its ride felt busy on broken surfaces, making the Juke the least comfortable of our trio. There’s also more side-to-side movement than we’d prefer, and enthusiasts won’t like an “active trace control” feature that can secondguess cornering inputs.

But it has the best cabin by some margin, an attractive space trimmed with leather and Alcantara. An eight-speaker Bose stereo includes speakers mounted in the front headrests, lending immersive sound rare at this price. On sale for a sharp $39,490 drive-away, the Nissan costs $1889 to service for five years.

Rear seat space is a little tight compared to the C-HR, though folks in the back will enjoy the USB power outlet, along with a spacious boot offering plenty of room for luggage.

TOYOTA C-HR KOBA HYBRID

Toyota’s “Coupe-High Rider” is great to drive, with quick steering and a well-sorted suspension tune. It’s the lowest-riding car of this group by some margin, which lends car-like poise but cruels any hope of off-roading.

Then again, all three lack a proper spare wheel, limiting their ability off the tarmac.

The Toyota feels precise, agile and refined, helped by strong and quiet hybrid power.

Boasting 90kW of combined grunt from its electric motor and 1.8-litre petrol engine, the Toyota is easily the most refined proposition on the road. As an added bonus, fuel use is a bestin-class 4.3L/100km.

Servicing is also unusually cheap at $1000 for five years.

The catch is Toyota’s hybrid engine is only available on the top-spec C-HR Koba, making it the dearest car here at a little more than $41,000 drive-away.

As with its rivals here, the C-HR Koba is jammed with kit including a comprehensive safety suite, climate control and LED headlights.

A mid-life update recently introduced Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with a bigger 8-inch touchscreen.

Front occupants are well catered for in the Toyota, which places the driver low in the car on supportive seats, surrounded by an interesting diamond-like pattern on the doors and roof.

But poor over-the-shoulder vision will compromise its appeal to some, and the back seat’s high window line isn’t suited to kids.

High-mounted exterior door handles may also prove difficult for little ones.

Another downside is the smallest boot of the group (though 318 litres is adequate for most purposes) and hardware not ready for towing. Beyond that, the back seat is roomier than you might expect from the car’s rakish lines.

VERDICT

Hyundai’s Kona is convincing at lower price points, but it is outgunned here by better executed machines.

And the Juke is one of Nissan’s better efforts. However, the Toyota CH-R Koba Hybrid is the pick of the bunch. It is refined on the road, cheap to run and loaded with features.