Compare the2022 Hyundai Ioniq HybridVS 2022 Kia Niro

The Ioniq Hybrid Limited offers optional Rear Parking Sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Niro doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Ioniq Hybrid Limited has standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Niro doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Ioniq Hybrid and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Ioniq Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Niro’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro.

The Niro’s redline is at 6750 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Ioniq Hybrid has a 5500 RPM redline.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is faster than the Kia Niro:

The Ioniq Hybrid stops much shorter than the Niro:

The Ioniq Hybrid has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Niro doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Ioniq Hybrid BLUE handles at .87 G’s, while the Niro LXS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The design of the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid amounts to more than styling. The Ioniq Hybrid has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .24 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Niro (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Ioniq Hybrid get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Ioniq Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Niro doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Ioniq Hybrid has .5 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room and 4.6 inches more rear hip room than the Niro.

The front step up height for the Ioniq Hybrid is 1 inches lower than the Niro (14.5” vs. 15.5”). The Ioniq Hybrid’s rear step up height is 1.7 inches lower than the Niro’s (14.5” vs. 16.2”).

The Ioniq Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume than the Niro with its rear seat up (26.5 vs. 19.4 cubic feet).

When different drivers share the Ioniq Hybrid Limited, the optional memory seats make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Niro doesn’t offer memory seats.

Consumer Reports rated the Ioniq Hybrid’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Niro’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ioniq Hybrid Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Niro doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and the Kia Niro, based on reliability, safety and performance.