Compare the2023 Kia Niro EVVS 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

The Kia Niro EV has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ioniq 6 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Niro EV and the Ioniq 6 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, 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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Niro EV’s electric motor produces 52 more horsepower (201 vs. 149) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 258) than the Ioniq 6 Standard Range’s standard electric motor. The Niro EV’s electric motor produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 258) than the Ioniq 6 Long Range’s optional electric motor.

For better maneuverability, the Niro EV’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the Ioniq 6’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

The Kia Niro EV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 900 pounds less than the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

The Niro EV is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the Ioniq 6, making the Niro EV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Niro EV has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear hip room than the Ioniq 6.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Niro EV to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Hyundai doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Ioniq 6.

The Niro EV offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Ioniq 6 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Niro EV’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Ioniq 6’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

The Niro EV’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 6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Niro EV has a standard rear wiper. The Ioniq 6 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Niro EV’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Ioniq 6’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

Both the Niro EV and the Ioniq 6 have standard heated front seats. The Niro EV also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Ioniq 6.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Niro EV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Ioniq 6 SEL/Limited offers wireless charging.

The Kia Niro outsold the Hyundai Ioniq by 8% during 2022.