Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2023 Nissan Ariya

The Kona Electric has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Ariya doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Kona Electric and the Ariya have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona Electric the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 221 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ariya has not been tested, yet.

The Kona Electric comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Ariya’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Ariya. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Ariya ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona Electric’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Ariya’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ariya.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 57 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 7 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Kona Electric’s electric motor produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 221) than the Ariya’s standard electric motor. The Kona Electric’s electric motor produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 221) than the Ariya +/Premier’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Ariya:

The Kona Electric can travel longer on a full charge than the Ariya Engage FWD (258 miles vs. 216 miles).

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Ariya’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 750 pounds less than the Nissan Ariya.

The Kona Electric is 1 foot, 5.3 inches shorter than the Ariya, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Hyundai Kona Electric amounts to more than styling. The Kona Electric has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Ariya (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Kona Electric get better fuel mileage.

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 Ariya doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Kona Electric has a standard 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 Ariya doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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

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