Compare the2024 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2024 Toyota Prius Prime

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona Electric has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the Prius Prime.

Both the Kona Electric and the Prius Prime 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 Prius Prime 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 Prius Prime’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 Toyota covers the Prius Prime. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Prius Prime ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Prius Prime (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Prius Prime running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Prius Prime running its gasoline engine:

The Kona Electric can travel longer on a full charge than the Prius Prime on electricity, only, on a full charge:

The Kona Electric, as a pure battery electric vehicle, has no need to “idle” its motors in traffic: they only burn power when moving. The Kona Electric’s climate control systems still work completely when the vehicle is stopped. The Prius Prime still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

For better traction, the Kona Electric has larger tires than the Prius Prime (215/60R17 vs. 195/60R17).

The Kona Electric 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 Prius Prime doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Kona Electric is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than on the Prius Prime.

The Kona Electric is 9.6 inches shorter than the Prius Prime, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona Electric has 7.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Prius Prime (99 vs. 91.2).

The Kona Electric has 2 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Prius Prime.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Kona Electric’s rear seats recline. The Prius Prime’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Kona Electric’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Kona Electric’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Prius Prime doesn’t offer a sensor on the trunk or any door except the driver’s, so you’ll have to walk to the driver's door to touch the handle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona Electric has a standard rear wiper. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Kona Electric has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Prius Prime has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XSE.

The Kona Electric’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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

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 Prius Prime XSE Premium’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Toyota Prius by over two to one during 2023.