Compare the2027 Kia Niro VS 2027 Hyundai Kona

The Kia Niro has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Niro and the Kona 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.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Niro is 3.3% to 4.1% less likely to roll over than the Kona.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Niro’s reliability 17 points higher than the Kona.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 132) than the Kona SE/SEL Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Niro is faster than the Kona SE/SEL Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Niro	Kona
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	9.8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.6 sec	6.2 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	17.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84 MPH	82 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Niro gets better mileage than the Kona:

			MPG
Niro
	FWD	1.6 4-cyl. Hybrid	53 city/46 hwy
Kona
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/29 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/29 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Niro’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Kona doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Niro’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Kona doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Niro has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The Kona’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

The Niro offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Kona doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Niro stops shorter than the Kona:

	Niro	Kona
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Niro has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Niro has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Niro flat and controlled during cornering. The Kona 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Niro’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Kona (107.1 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

The Niro SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Kona SEL Premium HTRAC AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The design of the Kia Niro amounts to more than styling. The Niro has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is lower than the Kona (.302) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Niro get better fuel mileage.

The Niro has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

When two different drivers share the Niro SX, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Niro SX’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

On a hot day the Niro’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Niro SX’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Kona’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Niro’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Kona SEL/Limited.

When the Niro SX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Niro offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Kona’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Niro has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Kona SEL/Limited.

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

The Niro SX’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kona’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

With standard voice command, the Niro SX offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kona doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Niro, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Kona isn't recommended.