Compare the2025 Toyota bZ4XVS 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Toyota bZ4X has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The bZ4X 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.

The bZ4X has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the bZ4X 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 bZ4X 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 bZ4X’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 bZ4X’s standard electric motor produces 68 more horsepower (201 vs. 133) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (196 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SE’s standard electric motor. The bZ4X’s electric motor produces 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (196 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line’s standard electric motor. The bZ4X’s optional electric motors produces 13 more horsepower (214 vs. 201) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (248 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota bZ4X electric motor is faster than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line:

On the EPA test cycle the bZ4X gets better mileage than the Kona Electric:

The bZ4X can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

For better stopping power the bZ4X’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona Electric:

The bZ4X’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the bZ4X has larger tires than the Kona Electric (235/60R18 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the bZ4X XLE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Kona Electric. The bZ4X Limited/Nightshade’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Kona Electric N-Line.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the bZ4X’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (112.2 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For greater off-road capability the bZ4X has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (8.1 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the bZ4X to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The bZ4X has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

The bZ4X has a much larger cargo volume than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (27.7 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

The bZ4X’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 bZ4X 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 bZ4X’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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The bZ4X’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Kona Electric’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Both the bZ4X and the Kona Electric offer available heated front seats. The bZ4X Limited 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.

Both the bZ4X and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the bZ4X has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota bZ4X has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Kona Electric N-Line/Limited offers wireless charging.