Compare the2024 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2023 Nissan Ariya

Both the Kona Electric and Ariya have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kona Electric has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ariya’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Kona Electric and the Ariya 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.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona Electric the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 207 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ariya has not been fully tested, yet.

The Kona Electric comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Ariya’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Ariya. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Ariya ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona Electric’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Ariya’s (7 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 57 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Ariya:

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

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Ariya’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1150 pounds less than the Nissan Ariya.

The Kona Electric is 11.4 inches shorter than the Ariya, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Kona Electric uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Ariya doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Kona Electric has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Ariya with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 22.8 cubic feet). The Kona Electric has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Ariya with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 59.7 cubic feet).

The Kona Electric Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Ariya Empower+/Platinum+’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Nissan Ariya by almost six to one during 2023.