Hyundai

Limited

Kona Electric

The Hyundai Kona Electric enters the subcompact crossover segment as one of the more affordable purpose-built EVs on the market, starting at $32,975 for the SE. It competes directly with vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Nissan Ariya, offering a practical urban footprint with genuine highway capability. Reviewers at Edmunds and InsideEVs have highlighted the SEL and Limited trims' 261-mile EPA range as a standout for the class, while the well-sorted suspension and composed handling draw consistent praise for a front-wheel-drive crossover in this price bracket.

SEL and Limited trims achieve 261 miles of EPA-rated range, competitive for a subcompact EV under $42,000

SEL and Limited deliver 201 hp and a 6.6-second 0–60 time, providing confident acceleration for everyday merging and highway use

Interior quality and feature content punch above the price point, with the Limited offering premium materials reviewers note feel borrowed from a higher segment

Hyundai's reputation for EV reliability and a 10-year/100,000-mile battery warranty provide strong ownership confidence

Compact exterior dimensions make city parking and maneuverability noticeably easier than larger crossover competitors

SE trim's 200-mile range and 8.8-second 0–60 time make it a notably weaker value proposition given only a $4,175 price gap to the much more capable SEL

DC fast-charging speeds are limited compared to Hyundai's own Ioniq 6, with slower replenishment rates that reviewers flag on long road trips

Rear passenger and cargo space is constrained by the subcompact footprint, with InsideEVs noting the cargo area falls short of the Ioniq 5 and comparable non-EV crossovers

All trims are front-wheel-drive only, with no all-wheel-drive option available, limiting traction appeal in snow-belt markets

Nissan

Engage

Engage+

Evolve+ e-4ORCE

Platinum+ e-4ORCE

Ariya

The Nissan Ariya arrives as the brand's flagship EV crossover, slotting into a competitive segment against the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. It draws on Nissan's EV heritage from the Leaf while offering a more premium experience with a distinctive minimalist interior. Reviewers consistently highlight the serene, well-appointed cabin as a genuine strength, and the dual-motor e-4ORCE variants earn praise for composed, confidence-inspiring all-wheel-drive dynamics. The lineup's wide price spread—from $39,590 to $55,990—covers a broad range of buyers, though some trims present notable range trade-offs.

Exceptionally refined interior with flush-mounted controls, a clean dual-screen layout, and premium materials that reviewers from Edmunds and MotorTrend rate above segment average

Dual-motor e-4ORCE trims deliver 389 hp and a 0–60 mph time of 4.8 seconds, with reviewers noting particularly smooth, precise torque distribution between axles

Engage+ single-motor trim offers the longest range in the lineup at 304 miles EPA, competitive with most rivals in its price class near $43,990

Spacious, flat cabin floor enabled by the CMF-EV platform, providing generous rear-seat legroom that reviewers note rivals larger crossovers

e-4ORCE AWD system earns specific praise from Car and Driver and InsideEVs for its stability in wet and low-traction conditions, going beyond simple torque splitting

Adding AWD costs meaningful range: the Evolve+ e-4ORCE drops to 272 miles and the Platinum+ e-4ORCE falls further to 257 miles compared to the Engage+'s 304-mile rating

DC fast-charging is capped at 130 kW, which reviewers including InsideEVs flag as underwhelming against competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that support up to 800V/350 kW charging

Software and over-the-air update capability lag behind competitors, with reviewers noting the infotainment interface feels less polished than Ford's Sync 4A or Hyundai's system

Nissan's CHAdeMO-era charging network infrastructure and brand-specific dealer EV readiness drew criticism during early availability, with some buyers reporting inconsistent delivery timelines

	Hyundai Kona Electric	Nissan Ariya
Body type	compact crossover	compact crossover
Trims	3	4
Starting price	$32,975	$39,590
Max EPA range	261 mi	304 mi
Max power	201 hp	389 hp
Quickest 0–60	6.6 s	4.8 s
Federal tax credit	Not eligible	Not eligible
Drive options	Single-Motor FWD	Single-Motor FWD Dual-Motor AWD
	Full Hyundai Kona Electric specs →	Full Nissan Ariya specs →

Hyundai Kona Electric vs. Nissan Ariya