Compare the2023 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.

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.

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 Car and Driver 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 (134 city/106 hwy vs. 123 city/102 hwy MPGe).

The Kona Electric can travel longer on a full charge than the Niro EV (258 miles vs. 239 miles).

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.

Insurance will cost less for the Kona Electric owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Kona Electric will cost $675 less than the Niro EV over a five-year period.

The Kona Electric will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Kona Electric will retain 42.54% to 43.52% of its original price after five years, while the Niro EV only retains 41.81% to 41.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Kona Electric will be $2719 to $6452 less than for the Kia Niro EV.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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.