Compare the2026 Toyota bZVS 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Toyota bZ has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 bZ 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 bZ 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 bZ 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 bZ is safer than the Kona Electric:

	bZ	Kona Electric
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	105	251
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.22 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	870 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	212	282
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.63 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	647 lbs.	759 lbs.

Warranty

There are over 45 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the bZ’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 10th.

Engine

The bZ has more powerful engines than the Kona Electric:

	Horsepower
bZ XLE electric motor	168 HP
bZ XLE Plus/Limited electric motor	221 HP
bZ electric motors	338 HP
Kona Electric SE electric motor	133 HP
Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line electric motor	201 HP

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

	bZ	Kona Electric
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.1 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101.7 MPH	93.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			Miles
bZ
	FWD	XLE Plus Electric Motor	314 miles
		XLE Electric Motor	236 miles
	AWD	XLE Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
Kona Electric
	FWD	SEL/Limited Electric Motor	261 miles
		N-Line Electric Motor	230 miles
		SE Electric Motor	200 miles

Brakes and Stopping

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

	bZ	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.8 inches

The bZ’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.

Tires and Wheels

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

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

Suspension and Handling

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

The bZ Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kona Electric Limited (26.7 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the bZ has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (8.2 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the bZ to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The bZ has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

Cargo Capacity

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

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the bZ Limited, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a memory system.

The bZ Limited’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 bZ’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 bZ 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 bZ’s standard Smart Key System allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Kona Electric doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The bZ’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 bZ’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Kona Electric’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

When the bZ Limited is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona Electric’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The bZ has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Kona Electric SEL/N-Line/Limited. The bZ Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The bZ has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Kona Electric Limited.

Both the bZ and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the bZ 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.

The Toyota bZ has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Kona Electric.

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

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