Compare the2025 Nissan AriyaVS 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric

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

Safety

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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 Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Ariya offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Ariya and the Kona Electric have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Nissan Ariya weighs 432 to 1486 pounds more than the Hyundai Kona Electric. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Kona Electric:

	Ariya	Kona Electric
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	48	251
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.1 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.02 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	51	282
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.79 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.63 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	625 lbs.	759 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

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.

Engine

The Ariya has more powerful engines than the Kona Electric:

	Horsepower	Torque
Ariya Engage electric motor	214 HP	221 lbs.-ft.
Ariya Evolve+ electric motor	238 HP	221 lbs.-ft.
Ariya Engage electric motors	335 HP	413 lbs.-ft.
Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+ electric motors	389 HP	442 lbs.-ft.
Kona Electric SE electric motor	133 HP	188 lbs.-ft.
Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line electric motor	201 HP	188 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+ electric motors is faster than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line:

	Ariya	Kona Electric
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	108.1 MPH	93.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Ariya can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

			Miles
Ariya
	FWD	Evolve+ Electric Motor	289 miles
		Engage Electric Motor	216 miles
	AWD	Engage+/Evolve+ Electric Motors	272 miles
		Platinum+ Electric Motors	267 miles
		Platinum+ 20" Wheels Electric Motors	257 miles
		Engage Electric Motors	205 miles
Kona Electric
	FWD	SEL/Limited Electric Motor	261 miles
		N-Line Electric Motor	230 miles
		SE Electric Motor	200 miles

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Ariya + e-4ORCE	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	14.3 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.8 inches

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 Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ariya has larger standard tires than the Kona Electric (235/55R19 vs. 215/60R17). The Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona Electric (245/45R20 vs. 235/45R19).

The Ariya’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ariya has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Kona Electric. The Ariya Platinum+’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Kona Electric N-Line.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ariya’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (109.3 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ariya is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kona Electric.

The Ariya Platinum+ handles at .84 G’s, while the Kona Electric Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ariya Platinum+ executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Kona Electric Limited (26.3 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ariya has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (6.7 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Ariya to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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 Kona Electric doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Ariya has 2.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona Electric (101.2 vs. 99).

The Ariya has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

Cargo Capacity

The Ariya has a much larger cargo volume than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Kona Electric is limited to 0 pounds. The Ariya e-4ORCE offers up to a 1500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Ariya, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Ariya has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Kona Electric’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona Electric N-Line/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Ariya’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Ariya Evolve+/Platinum+’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

When the Ariya Platinum+ is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona Electric’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Nissan Ariya has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are not standard on all versions of the Kona Electric.

The Ariya has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Kona Electric SEL/N-Line/Limited. The Ariya also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The Ariya has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Kona Electric Limited.

Both the Ariya and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ariya has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Ariya has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Kona Electric N-Line/Limited offers wireless charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Ariya, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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