Compare the2023 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridVS 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Niro Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

Both the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 41 more horsepower (180 vs. 139) than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 33 miles. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 29 miles.

For better traction, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid (225/45R18 vs. 205/55R16).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX has standard 18-inch wheels. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

When the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid have standard heated front seats. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Kia Niro outsold the Hyundai Ioniq by 17% during the 2021 model year.