Compare the2024 Toyota Prius PrimeVS 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Prius Prime 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Prius Prime offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the Prius Prime 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 Prime 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 Prime’s warranty.

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 Prime’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 Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (220 vs. 201) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the Kona Electric:

The Prius Prime SE’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 606 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 45 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.

The Prius Prime XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prius Prime XSE has standard 19-inch wheels. The Kona Electric’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

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

The Prius Prime has .7 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more front hip room than the Kona Electric.

When two different drivers share the Prius Prime 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 Prime 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 Prime’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 Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Prius Prime 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 Prime’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 Prime and the Kona Electric offer available heated front seats. The Prius Prime 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 Prime 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.

The Prius Prime has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Prius Prime 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 21 years. The Kona Electric has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Prius Prime 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 Prime as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The Kona Electric has never been chosen.