Compare the2024 Nissan LeafVS 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Nissan Leaf 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 Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Leaf has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Leaf and the Ioniq 5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available daytime running lights, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

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

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

There are over 30 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Leaf’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Leaf’s reliability 12 points higher than the Ioniq 5.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

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

The Leaf’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Ioniq 5 are solid, not vented.

The Leaf stops shorter than the Ioniq 5:

For better maneuverability, the Leaf S’ turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5’s (34.8 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The Leaf SV PLUS’ turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5’s (36.1 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Nissan Leaf may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 800 pounds less than the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The Leaf is 6.1 inches shorter than the Ioniq 5, making the Leaf easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Leaf has 1.4 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more front legroom than the Ioniq 5.

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

The Leaf’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Ioniq 5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Leaf has a standard rear wiper. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Nissan Leaf as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.