Head-to-head
Hyundai Kona Electric vs Nissan Ariya
Two suvs priced within $1,840 of each other. Here's where each pulls ahead on range, charging, safety and warranty.
Option A · SUV
Hyundai Kona Electric
The second-generation Kona Electric brings sharper styling, more efficient packaging and a choice of 48 kWh Standard Range or 65 kWh Extended Range batteries. Built in Europe rather than Korea for this generation.
- From
- $54,000
- Range
- 505 km
- Battery
- 65 kWh
Option B · SUV
Nissan Ariya
Nissan's electric mid-size SUV — finally in Australia after a long wait, with the longest factory warranty of any EV on sale: 10 years / 300,000 km on both vehicle and battery.
- From
- $55,840
- Range
- 504 km
- Battery
- 87 kWh
Key differences at a glance
The biggest material gaps between the Hyundai Kona Electric and Nissan Ariya, ranked by how much they're likely to matter day-to-day.
- 1
Battery · advantage Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya carries a 22.0 kWh larger battery (87 vs 65 kWh).
- 2
Warranty · advantage Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya covers the vehicle for 5 more years (10 vs 5 yrs).
- 3
DC charging · advantage Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya accepts 25 kW more DC peak charging (130 vs 105 kW), meaning shorter road-trip stops.
- 4
Price · advantage Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric undercuts the Nissan Ariya by $1,840 (3%) on starting price.
- 5
0–100 km/h · advantage Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric is 0.5 s quicker to 100 km/h (7.6 s vs 8.1 s).
Spec for spec
Highlighted cells show the better number in each row.
Where the Hyundai Kona Electric wins
- ▸ Cheaper by $1,840
- ▸ 1 km longer WLTP range
- ▸ Quicker 0–100 km/h (7.6s vs 8.1s)
Where the Nissan Ariya wins
- ▸ Faster DC charging peak (130 kW vs 105 kW)
- ▸ Longer warranty (10 years)
Hyundai Kona Electric
What we like
- ✓ Choice of battery sizes to match budget
- ✓ Strong real-world efficiency for the segment
- ✓ Native Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
What we don't
- ✕ 4-star ANCAP rating trails most rivals
- ✕ Rear seat space tight for the segment
- ✕ Pricing crept up over earlier generations
Nissan Ariya
What we like
- ✓ Class-leading 10-year / 300,000 km warranty (best in Australia)
- ✓ Fresh 2025 ANCAP 5-star rating
- ✓ Class-leading 22 kW three-phase AC charging
What we don't
- ✕ Modest 0-100 for the price (8.1s)
- ✕ Pricing climbs sharply for AWD e-4ORCE variants
- ✕ Late to market — competitors have evolved further
Frequently asked: Hyundai Kona Electric vs Nissan Ariya
Quick answers to the questions cross-shoppers most often ask about this pair.
- Which is cheaper, the Hyundai Kona Electric or the Nissan Ariya?
- The Hyundai Kona Electric is the cheaper of the two — it starts at $54,000 versus $55,840 for the Nissan Ariya, a $1,840 difference. Prices shown are manufacturer recommended retail excluding on-road costs.
- Which has the longer driving range?
- The Hyundai Kona Electric has the longer WLTP-claimed range at 505 km, 1 km further than the Nissan Ariya's 504 km. Real-world range typically lands 10–20% below the WLTP figure depending on speed, terrain, climate and load.
- Which one charges faster on a DC fast charger?
- The Nissan Ariya accepts a peak DC charging rate of 130 kW versus 105 kW for the Hyundai Kona Electric. Peak rate only holds for a short window during the charging curve, so real-world 10–80% times often diverge less than the peak numbers suggest. Compatibility with 350 kW chargers depends on the vehicle's onboard architecture, not just the published peak.
- Which is quicker off the line?
- The Hyundai Kona Electric does 0–100 km/h in 7.6 seconds — 0.5 s quicker than the Nissan Ariya's 8.1 s. EV acceleration figures hold up at speed better than equivalent petrol cars because electric motors deliver peak torque instantly.
- Which has the longer warranty?
- The Nissan Ariya is covered by a 10-year vehicle warranty, versus 5 years for the Hyundai Kona Electric. Both also carry separate high-voltage battery warranties — check the manufacturer's site for the latest kilometre and condition limits.
Which one should you buy?
The short version, based on where each car pulls ahead.
Choose the
Hyundai Kona Electric
if…
- ✓ you match the profile: couples
Choose the
Nissan Ariya
if…
- ✓ peace-of-mind warranty matters (5 more years of cover)
- ✓ you match the profile: warranty-focused buyers
Verdict reasoning is derived from published specs; brand preference, dealer experience and how a car drives are personal — always take a test drive before deciding.