Compare the2022 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2022 Kia Niro EV

The Kona Electric has standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to 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 EV 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 Kona Electric and the Niro EV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona Electric the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 136 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro EV has not been fully tested, yet.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric 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 EV.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Kona Electric’s reliability 36 points higher than the Niro EV.

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 Consumer Reports the Hyundai Kona Electric is faster than the Kia Niro EV:

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Niro EV (132 city/108 hwy vs. 123 city/102 hwy MPGe).

The Kona Electric’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 258 miles on a full charge, 8% further than the Niro EV’s 239-mile range.

The Kona Electric has 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 EV doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Kona Electric is 6.6 inches shorter than the Niro EV, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Kona Electric 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 EV doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Kona Electric has a larger cargo volume than the Niro EV with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 18.5 cubic feet).

The Kona Electric Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Niro EV’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona Electric, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Niro EV isn't recommended.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The Niro EV has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Kia Niro by over four to one during the 2021 model year.