Compare the2026 Kia EV6VS 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Kia EV6 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 Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the EV6 and the Ioniq 5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia EV6 is safer than the Hyundai Ioniq 5:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia EV6 is safer than the Hyundai Ioniq 5:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 6 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.

As tested in Motor Trend the EV6 Long Range electric motors is faster than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric motors:

On the EPA test cycle the EV6 gets better mileage than the Ioniq 5:

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Ioniq 5 on a full charge:

The EV6 stops shorter than the Ioniq 5:

The EV6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ioniq 5 XRT’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EV6 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Ioniq 5 XRT.

The EV6 Wind e-AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Ioniq 5 SEL AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV6 Wind e-AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Ioniq 5 Limited AWD (26.1 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EV6’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5’s (38.2 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The EV6’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5 N’s (38.2 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The EV6 has .7 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room and .1 inches more front shoulder room than the Ioniq 5.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the EV6 easier. The EV6’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.6 inches, while the Ioniq 5’s liftover is 30.2 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EV6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the EV6 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Hyundai doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Ioniq 5.

The EV6’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 Ioniq 5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the EV6’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Ioniq 5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Kia EV6 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Ioniq 5 XRT/Limited/N.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Ioniq 5 SEL/Limited/XRT/N offers wireless charging.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2025 issue and they ranked the Kia EV6 Wind e-AWD higher than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Ioniq 5 has never been chosen.