Compare the2023 Toyota PriusVS 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Prius have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Prius are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Prius has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Prius offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Prius has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Prius Limited offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Ioniq Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Prius has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Ioniq Hybrid SEL/Limited offers rear cross-path warning.

Both the Prius and the Ioniq Hybrid 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, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Prius its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 36 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ioniq Hybrid has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 49 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Prius’ warranty.

Reliability

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 Prius’ reliability 40 points higher than the Ioniq Hybrid.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Prius’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (194 vs. 139) than the Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Prius’ optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 57 more horsepower (196 vs. 139) than the Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Prius 2.0 is faster than the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid:

	Prius	Ioniq Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	18.8 sec	26.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.1 sec	9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	4 sec	4.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5 sec	6.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	82 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Prius LE FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Ioniq Hybrid (57 city/56 hwy vs. 54 city/57 hwy).

Transmission

The Prius has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Prius AWD-e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ioniq Hybrid:

	Prius	Prius AWD-e	Ioniq Hybrid
Front Rotors	11.1 inches	12 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11 inches	11 inches	10.3 inches

The Prius stops shorter than the Ioniq Hybrid:

	Prius	Ioniq Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The Prius LE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ioniq Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prius LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Ioniq Hybrid. The Prius XLE/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the Ioniq Hybrid Limited.

The Prius LE has a standard space-saver spare (not available on XLE/Limited) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Ioniq Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Prius’ wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Ioniq Hybrid (108.3 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

The Prius Limited handles at .87 G’s, while the Ioniq Hybrid Limited pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Prius has 1 inch more front legroom and .9 inches more front hip room than the Ioniq Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Prius Limited has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

The Prius 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Prius’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Ioniq Hybrid’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Prius’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ioniq Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Ioniq Hybrid Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Prius the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Ioniq Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Prius LE’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Ioniq Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Prius XLE/Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Prius’ LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Ioniq Hybrid’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Prius’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Ioniq Hybrid SEL/Limited.

Both the Prius and the Ioniq Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Prius Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Ioniq Hybrid.

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

On extremely cold winter days, the Prius XLE/Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Prius XLE/Limited has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Prius’ optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Toyota Prius outsold the Hyundai Ioniq by 39% during 2022.