Hyundai Kona Electric vs Kia Niro EV

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric was admired for its distinctive "bulldog" appearance, characterized by its short and stout build with minimal rear overhang. The updated model featured new wheels and refreshed front and rear bumpers, enhancing its tough yet friendly visual appeal. The Limited trim, with its Blue Wave paint and 17-inch alloy wheels, was particularly eye-catching, though the abundance of blue could be overwhelming. The Kona's interior was praised for its simplicity and usability, with physical controls and a straightforward layout that made it easy to navigate. The vehicle offered excellent outward visibility, and despite its compact size, it didn't feel cramped in the front seats.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV shared its design with the Niro Hybrid and PHEV models, featuring unique styling elements that set it apart from other entry-level EVs. The Niro EV boasted a distinctive front fascia with divided headlights and a larger grille, along with 17-inch alloy wheels. The charge port was conveniently located in the center of the front fascia, making charging more accessible. At the rear, the Niro EV sported boomerang-like taillights and "Air Blades" for improved aerodynamics. The interior showcased a creative design with a crescent-shaped dashboard and sustainable materials, though it still included some less desirable piano black plastic. Overall, the Niro EV offered a more upright shape compared to other small EVs, providing a unique contrast in the market.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric was equipped with a 150-kW electric motor and a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. It was quick off the line, reaching 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds, and offered an EPA-estimated 132 city, 108 highway, and 120 combined MPGe rating. The Kona Electric had a total driving range of 258 miles on a full charge, though this could vary with temperature changes. Charging was less impressive, with a 7.2 kW onboard charger taking over nine hours for a full charge on a level 2 home charger. However, the battery warmer on higher trims helped speed up charging in cold weather. The Kona Electric featured three drive modes—Eco, Comfort, and Sport—and maintained composure in corners, providing a fun driving experience.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV featured a 64.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a single electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from 0-62 mph in 7.8 seconds, offering a smoother power delivery and a more refined driving experience compared to its hybrid and plug-in hybrid counterparts. While the Niro EV's handling was better than the hybrid models, it lacked the nimble feel of competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and VW ID.4. Despite this, the Niro EV provided a pleasant driving experience, though it didn't set new standards for EV handling or ride quality.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric offered reasonable headroom with 39.6 inches in the front and 37.7 inches in the rear. Front passengers enjoyed 41.5 inches of legroom, but rear passengers had only 33.4 inches. Cargo space was limited, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 45.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Despite its compact size, the Kona Electric made good use of storage compartments, accommodating various road-trip necessities. However, it wasn't suitable for towing.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV provided more headroom and legroom than the Chevy Bolt EV/EUV and Nissan Leaf, with slightly more legroom than the VW ID.4. Cargo space was also generous, with 22.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them down. The Niro EV included a small storage compartment under the hood, though it wasn't a true frunk. In-cabin storage was limited, with shallow door pockets and a narrow center console, but it did feature large cupholders and a convenient phone tray.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric featured a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen on the SEL trim, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited trim had a larger 10.25-inch display, though it lacked wireless connectivity. Standard equipment included dual USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Limited trim added a Harmon Kardon audio system and a 10.25-inch digital driver information display.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV came with a standard 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The touchscreen was responsive and featured appealing graphics, though it lacked wireless connectivity. The Niro EV also included a reconfigurable touch control panel for audio and climate controls, as well as Digital Key 2.0 functionality for compatible devices.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems under the SmartSense umbrella. Standard features included forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-following assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added rear parking sensors and cyclist detection, along with Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist technology. While crash-test ratings for the Kona Electric were unavailable, the gas-powered Kona received top scores from the IIHS.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV offered standard driver-assist features on the base Wind trim, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, driver attention monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, rear occupant alert, and blind-spot collision avoidance. The Wave model added parking sensors and Remote Smart Parking Assist. Both trims featured adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, navigation-based curve prediction, and Highway Driving Assist. The Wave trim offered an optional Highway Driving Assist II with automated lane-change capability. Crash-test ratings for the redesigned model were not yet available.