Compare the2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 2025 Kia Niro EV

Both the Ioniq 5 and Niro EV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Ioniq 5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Niro EV’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Ioniq 5 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro EV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Ioniq 5 Limited/XRT/N has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro EV only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the Niro EV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 weighs 423 to 1140 pounds more than the Kia Niro EV. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Niro EV has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Ioniq 5’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Niro EV’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro EV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked fourth.

The Ioniq 5 Standard Range’s standard electric motor produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor. The Ioniq 5 Long Range’s optional electric motor produces 24 more horsepower (225 vs. 201) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor. The Ioniq 5’s optional electric motors produces 119 more horsepower (320 vs. 201) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (446 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor. The Ioniq 5 N’s standard electric motors produces 440 more horsepower (641 vs. 201) and 380 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 188) than the Niro EV’s electric motor.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is faster than the Kia Niro EV:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ioniq 5 N electric motors is faster than the Kia Niro EV (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 5 gets better mileage than the Niro EV:

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

The Ioniq 5 N’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Niro EV doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Ioniq 5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro EV:

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

The Ioniq 5 stops much shorter than the Niro EV:

For better traction, the Ioniq 5 has larger standard tires than the Niro EV (235/55R19 vs. 215/55R17). The Ioniq 5 N’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro EV (275/35R21 vs. 215/55R17).

The Ioniq 5 N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Niro EV’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ioniq 5 XRT has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Niro EV. The Ioniq 5 N has standard 21-inch wheels.

The Ioniq 5 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 Niro EV doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Ioniq 5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Niro EV’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 11 inches longer than on the Niro EV (118.1 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 5 is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Niro EV.

The Ioniq 5 N handles at .96 G’s, while the Niro EV Wave pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ioniq 5 N executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.2 seconds quicker than the Niro EV Wave (24.1 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ioniq 5 XRT has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro EV (7 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Ioniq 5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ioniq 5 has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Niro EV (106.5 vs. 99.7).

The Ioniq 5 has .2 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro EV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ioniq 5’s rear seats recline. The Niro EV’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Ioniq 5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Niro EV with its rear seat up (26.3 vs. 22.8 cubic feet).

The Ioniq 5 XRT offers up to a 2700 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro EV has no towing capacity.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’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 Niro EV Wave’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Ioniq 5’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro EV’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ioniq 5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Niro EV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Ioniq 5 has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Niro EV doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 3 more times in the last 4 years. The Niro EV has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.