Hyundai Kona Electric vs Ioniq 5: Which Hyundai EV Should You Buy?
Published October 29, 2026 · Last updated October 29, 2026
The Hyundai Kona Electric (Kona EV) is the smaller, cheaper EV, from $32,975 with up to 261 miles of range. The Ioniq 5 is bigger and faster-charging, from $35,250 with up to 318 miles, a built-in NACS port for Tesla Superchargers and available AWD. One catch: Hyundai skipped the 2026 model year for the Kona Electric in the US, so new Konas are 2025 models while stock lasts, and the 2027 Ioniq 5 is the one you can order new today.
Kona Electric or Ioniq 5: The Short Answer
- Choose the Kona Electric for price and city size: 11.8 inches shorter, $2,275 less to start and standard Vehicle-to-Load on every trim.
- Choose the Ioniq 5 for range, charging and space: up to 318 miles, 10–80% in about 20 minutes on a 350-kW charger, AWD and three more inches of rear legroom.
- Our take: the Ioniq 5 SE RWD ($37,750), with 318 miles and the full $2,000 Drive Clean Rebate, if it is on NYSERDA's list.
Model-year timing: We compare the 2025 Kona Electric, the latest sold in the US, with the 2027 Ioniq 5. Hyundai paused the Kona Electric for 2026 and said 2025 stock would cover demand; it plans a 2027 model but has not announced US pricing (Cars.com). Prices are MSRPs before destination ($1,495 for the Kona Electric, $1,650 for the Ioniq 5). Browse every new Ioniq 5 at Plaza Hyundai, or ask us to locate a Kona Electric.
Kona Electric vs Ioniq 5 at a Glance
| Spec | 2025 Kona Electric | 2027 Ioniq 5 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $32,975 | $35,250 (RWD); $41,250 (AWD) | Kona Electric |
| Battery | 48.6 or 64.8 kWh | 63.0 or 84.0 kWh | — |
| EPA range | 200–261 mi | 245–318 mi | Ioniq 5 |
| Power | 133 or 201 hp | 168 or 225 hp RWD; 320 hp AWD | Ioniq 5 |
| Drive | FWD only | RWD or AWD | Ioniq 5 |
| DC fast charge, 10–80% | About 43 min (100 kW max) | About 20 min (350-kW charger) | Ioniq 5 |
| Charging port | CCS1 (adapter for Superchargers) | NACS (Tesla Supercharger ready) | Ioniq 5 |
| Cargo, seats up / folded | 25.5 / 63.7 cu ft | 26.3 / 58.5 cu ft | Tie |
| Rear legroom | 36.4 in | 39.4 in | Ioniq 5 |
| Efficiency (best) | 118 MPGe (SE) | 115 MPGe (SE Standard Range); 114 long-range RWD | Kona Electric |
| IIHS | No separate Kona Electric rating (gas Kona: 2025 Top Safety Pick+) | 2026 Top Safety Pick+ | Ioniq 5 |
| Battery warranty | 10 yr/100,000 mi | 10 yr/100,000 mi | Tie |
Want Today's Price on a Hyundai EV?
Tell us whether you are leaning toward the Kona Electric or the Ioniq 5, plus the trim and color you want, and a Plaza Hyundai EV specialist will send availability, Plaza pricing with today's incentives and a test-drive time, usually within the hour during business hours. No deposit, no obligation.
Is the Ioniq 5 Bigger Than the Kona Electric? Size and Dimensions
Yes. The Ioniq 5 is 183.3 inches long against 171.5 for the Kona Electric, 2.5 inches wider and rides on a 118.1-inch wheelbase, 13.4 inches longer. The Kona Electric is the easier car to squeeze into a Brooklyn curb spot or a tight garage.
Which Has More Room? Interior and Cargo Space
Rear-seat passengers get 39.4 inches of legroom in the Ioniq 5 against 36.4 in the Kona Electric, the difference you notice with adults or rear-facing child seats. Cargo is closer than the size suggests: 25.5 cubic feet behind the Kona Electric's rear seat and 63.7 folded, against 26.3 and 58.5 in the Ioniq 5, which adds a small 0.85-cubic-foot front trunk.
Range and Charging: Which Goes Farther?
The Ioniq 5 goes farther: 318 miles for a long-range RWD model against 261 for a Kona Electric SEL or Limited, and 245 against 200 for the standard-range models. It also charges more than twice as fast on DC fast chargers, 10 to 80% in about 20 minutes on a 350-kW charger against about 43 minutes for the Kona Electric, and its NACS port plugs straight into Tesla Superchargers. The Kona Electric is slightly more efficient, so it costs a little less to charge at home.
| Version | kWh per 100 mi | kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kona Electric SE (118 MPGe) | 28.6 | 3,428 | $982 |
| 2025 Kona Electric SEL / Limited (116 MPGe) | 29.1 | 3,487 | $999 |
| 2027 Ioniq 5 RWD long range (114 MPGe) | 29.6 | 3,548 | $1,017 |
| 2027 Ioniq 5 AWD SE/SEL (106 MPGe) | 31.8 | 3,816 | $1,093 |
Which Is Faster? Performance and AWD
The Ioniq 5 is quicker and offers AWD. Its long-range RWD model makes 225 hp and the dual-motor AWD model 320 hp; a dual-motor Ioniq 5 Limited ran 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds at the Edmunds test track. The Kona Electric is front-wheel drive only, with 133 hp in the SE and 201 hp in the long-range trims. For snowy upstate weekends, the Ioniq 5 AWD is the better tool.
Tech and Safety: How Do They Compare?
Both have twin 12.3-inch screens and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Kona Electric gives you Vehicle-to-Load power and Highway Driving Assist on every trim; on the Ioniq 5, Vehicle-to-Load comes on upper trims. The Kona Electric Limited adds Bose audio, Surround View and Blind-Spot View Monitor, while the Ioniq 5 Limited adds a head-up display and Highway Driving Assist 2. The Ioniq 5 is a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. IIHS rates the 2025 Kona a Top Safety Pick+, but it has not published separate ratings for the Kona Electric. Both carry a 10-year/100,000-mile EV battery warranty (Hyundai warranty).
Which Costs Less? Trims and Price Compared
The Kona Electric costs less, and every 2025 trim is priced under the $42,000 cap for New York's full $2,000 Drive Clean Rebate, if it is on NYSERDA's eligible list. On the Ioniq 5, the SE Standard Range, SE RWD, SE AWD and SEL RWD qualify for the full amount. For every Ioniq 5 grade, see Hyundai Ioniq Trims Compared.
| Trim | 2025 Kona Electric (FWD) | 2027 Ioniq 5 (RWD / AWD) |
|---|---|---|
| SE (standard range) | $32,975 · 200 mi | $35,250 · 245 mi (RWD) |
| SE (long range) | — | $37,750 / $41,250 · 318 / 290 mi |
| SEL | $36,975 · 261 mi | $40,200 / $43,700 · 318 / 290 mi |
| N Line / XRT | N Line $38,375 · 230 mi | XRT — / $46,525 · 259 mi |
| Limited | $41,150 · 261 mi | $45,225 / $49,125 · 318 / 269 mi |
Check the current Hyundai specials in Brooklyn and get pre-approved for financing before you visit.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Kona Electric if you want the lowest price, mostly drive in the city and can charge at home, and you are happy with a 2025 model. Buy the Ioniq 5 if you take road trips, rely on public fast chargers or want AWD: it goes up to 57 miles farther, charges in half the time and plugs into Superchargers without an adapter.
Still deciding? If you are cross-shopping the gas Kona, read Hyundai Kona vs Tucson. If the Ioniq 5 is on your list, see Ioniq 5 vs Ioniq 6: Which Hyundai EV Should You Buy?
Shop More Brands at Plaza Auto Mall
Plaza Hyundai is part of Plaza Auto Mall, a family-owned group on Nostrand Avenue since 1975. Every showroom is a short walk from the next, so you can compare the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 with a Prologue, bZ or EV6 the same afternoon.
Hyundai Kona Electric vs Ioniq 5: Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more range, the Kona Electric or the Ioniq 5?
The Ioniq 5. The 2027 Ioniq 5 long-range RWD is EPA-rated at 318 miles and the AWD at 290, against 261 miles for the 2025 Kona Electric SEL and Limited and 200 for the Kona Electric SE.
Is the Ioniq 5 bigger than the Kona?
Yes. The Ioniq 5 is 11.8 inches longer than the Kona Electric (183.3 against 171.5 inches) and has a 13.4-inch longer wheelbase and 3 more inches of rear legroom. Cargo space is similar: 26.3 cubic feet in the Ioniq 5 and 25.5 in the Kona Electric with the rear seat up.
Is the Kona Electric (Kona EV) cheaper than the Ioniq 5?
Yes. The 2025 Kona Electric starts at $32,975, against $35,250 for the 2027 Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range, and the top Kona Electric Limited ($41,150) costs less than an Ioniq 5 SEL AWD. Every Kona Electric trim is priced under the $42,000 cap for New York's full $2,000 Drive Clean Rebate.
Is there a 2026 Hyundai Kona Electric?
No. Hyundai skipped the 2026 model year for the Kona Electric in the US and is selling remaining 2025 models. It plans a 2027 Kona Electric but has not announced US pricing or specifications.
Is the Ioniq 5 the same as the old Hyundai Ioniq?
No. The original Hyundai Ioniq was a compact hatchback, sold in the US as the Ioniq Electric through the 2021 model year and as the Ioniq Hybrid and Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid through 2022; it is now only available used. The Ioniq 5 is a separate, larger electric crossover on Hyundai's 800-volt E-GMP platform.
Is the Kona Electric safe?
IIHS rates the 2025 Hyundai Kona a Top Safety Pick+, but it has not published separate crash ratings for the Kona Electric. Every Kona Electric comes with Highway Driving Assist and Hyundai's SmartSense driver aids, and the Limited adds Surround View and Blind-Spot View Monitor. The 2026 Ioniq 5 is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Free home delivery within a 25-mile radius. Plaza Hyundai delivers your new or pre-owned Hyundai to your door, free within a 25-mile radius of our Nostrand Avenue showroom. Our service department also offers pickup and drop-off across New York City.
Ask Our Team About DeliveryTest-Drive a Hyundai EV at Plaza Hyundai
Visit Plaza Hyundai (2726 Nostrand Ave) to drive the Ioniq 5 and ask our EV team about home charging and the Drive Clean Rebate. Want a Kona Electric? We will check what we can locate. Family-owned Plaza Auto Mall has served New York since 1975. No Hassle, No Pressure, No Middlemen. Call (800) 556-2369, or browse the inventory below.
*MSRP excludes destination ($1,495 for the 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric; $1,650 for the 2027 Hyundai Ioniq 5), taxes, title and registration fees. Specifications and pricing are based on Hyundai Motor America information available as of October 29, 2026. Acceleration figure is an Edmunds test result. EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov; electricity prices from the EIA; safety ratings from IIHS. Drive Clean Rebate eligibility depends on NYSERDA's current eligible-vehicle list and available funding. EPA range figures are estimates; actual range will vary. See dealer for details.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Inventory at Plaza Hyundai
Below is every new Hyundai Ioniq 5 at Plaza Hyundai, with Plaza pricing, trim, drivetrain and range on each listing. Pick an SE or SEL RWD for up to 318 miles, AWD for winter traction, or a Limited for the head-up display and Bose audio. Looking for a Kona Electric? Tap Confirm availability on any listing or call (800) 556-2369, and we will check what we can locate. Free delivery within a 25-mile radius.
