Compare the2024 Nissan AriyaVS 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Nissan Ariya has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Ariya Platinum+ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard ProPilot Assist, the Nissan Ariya is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Ariya and the Ioniq 5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Nissan Ariya is safer than the Ioniq 5:

There are over 28 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ariya’s warranty.

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 Ariya’s reliability 29 points higher than the Ioniq 5.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

The Ariya has more powerful engines than the Ioniq 5:

The Ariya can travel longer on a full charge than the Ioniq 5 on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Ariya + e-4ORCE’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Ioniq 5:

The Ariya’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Ioniq 5 are solid, not vented.

The Ariya stops much shorter than the Ioniq 5:

The Ariya Platinum+ handles at .86 G’s, while the Ioniq 5 SEL AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Ariya’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ariya has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Ioniq 5 (6.7 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Ariya to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ariya Platinum+ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ariya has .6 inches more front legroom and 2.1 inches more front hip room than the Ioniq 5.

The Ariya has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Ioniq 5 with its rear seat folded (59.7 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

The Ariya’s cargo area is larger than the Ioniq 5’s in almost every dimension:

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Ioniq 5 Limited, the Ariya Platinum+ has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Ariya’s 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 5’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Ioniq 5 SEL/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Ariya’s standard Intelligent Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Ariya’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 5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Ariya has a standard rear wiper. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the Ariya’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Ioniq 5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Both the Ariya and the Ioniq 5 offer available heated front seats. The Ariya Engage/Evolve+/Empower+/Platinum+ also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Ioniq 5.

The Ariya will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ariya will retain 49.41% to 50.01% of its original price after five years, while the Ioniq 5 only retains 46.72% to 48.8%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Ariya, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ariya first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Ioniq 5 isn’t in the top three.