Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2023 Porsche Taycan

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 Kona Electric are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taycan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Taycan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Kona Electric has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Taycan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona Electric’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Taycan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Kona Electric’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Taycan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kona Electric and the Taycan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 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 234 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Taycan 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 Taycan’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the Taycan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Taycan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Taycan (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

There are over 4 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona Electric’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Porsche.

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 Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is ranked 7th.

The Kona Electric’s electric motor produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 254) than the Taycan’s standard electric motor. The Kona Electric’s electric motor produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 263) than the Taycan Performance Plus’ optional electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Taycan Cross Turismo:

The Kona Electric can travel longer on a full charge than the Taycan Cross Turismo on a full charge:

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.7 feet). The Kona Electric’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Taycan Cross Turismo’s (34.8 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 1350 pounds less than the Porsche Taycan.

The Kona Electric is 2 feet, 6.2 inches shorter than the Taycan Cross Turismo, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona Electric is 5.9 inches narrower on average than the Taycan, making the Kona Electric easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Kona Electric SE/SEL has standard flush composite headlights. The Taycan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Kona Electric has .4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Taycan Cross Turismo (92.4 vs. 92).

The Kona Electric has a larger cargo volume than the Taycan Cross Turismo with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 18.7 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona Electric has a standard rear wiper. The Taycan doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Kona Electric has standard extendable sun visors. The Taycan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Kona was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The Taycan has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Porsche Taycan by over 11 to one during 2022.