Compare the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6VS 2024 Kia Niro EV

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 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 Kia Niro EV doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Ioniq 6 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro EV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Ioniq 6 Limited has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro EV 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.

Both the Ioniq 6 and the Niro EV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Niro EV has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Ioniq 6’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Niro EV’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 6 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro EV.

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 Ioniq 6’s reliability 19 points higher than the Niro EV.

The Ioniq 6 Standard Range’s standard electric motor produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor. The Ioniq 6 Long Range’s optional electric motor produces 24 more horsepower (225 vs. 201) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor. The Ioniq 6’s optional electric motors produces 119 more horsepower (320 vs. 201) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (446 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is faster than the Kia Niro EV:

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 6 gets better mileage than the Niro EV:

The Ioniq 6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Niro EV on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Ioniq 6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro EV:

The Ioniq 6 stops much shorter than the Niro EV:

For better traction, the Ioniq 6 has larger standard tires than the Niro EV (225/55R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Ioniq 6 SEL/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro EV (245/40R20 vs. 215/55R17).

The Ioniq 6 SEL/Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Niro EV’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ioniq 6 SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Niro EV. The Ioniq 6 SEL/Limited has standard 20-inch wheels.

The Ioniq 6 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Niro EV doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Ioniq 6 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Niro EV doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 6’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the Niro EV (116.1 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 6 is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Niro EV.

The Ioniq 6 Limited AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Niro EV Wave pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ioniq 6 has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Niro EV (103 vs. 99.7).

The Ioniq 6 has 3.9 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro EV.

The Ioniq 6’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro EV’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Ioniq 6 has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Niro EV doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Kia Niro EV, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its July 2023 issue and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD won out over the Kia Niro EV Wave.