Compare the2025 Toyota Prius Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Prius Plug-In Hybrid and the Kona Electric 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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Kona Electric:

There are over 47 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 87 more horsepower (220 vs. 133) than the Kona Electric SE’s standard electric motor. The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (220 vs. 201) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is faster than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Kona Electric:

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 607 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Kona Electric’s range is only 200 to 261 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 43 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 6 hours and 5 minutes.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (108.3 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE handles at .82 G’s, while the Kona Electric Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has .7 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more front hip room than the Kona Electric.

When two different drivers share the Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE Premium, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE Premium’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 Electric doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’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 Kona Electric’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona Electric N-Line/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Prius Plug-In Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona Electric’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Prius Plug-In Hybrid and the Kona Electric offer available heated front seats. The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE Premium also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Kona Electric Limited.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Prius/Prius Prime was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 1 more times in the last 22 years. The Kona Electric has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Prius Plug-In Hybrid as their 2024 Car of the Year. The Kona Electric has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Prius as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The Kona was last chosen as a North American vehicle of the year in 2019.