Compare the2026 Nissan LeafVS 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

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

The Leaf has standard Secondary Collision Mitigation Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Ioniq 5 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.

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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

There are over 25 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Leaf’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Hyundai.

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

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

For better stopping power the Leaf’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on 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 standard on the Ioniq 5 are solid, not vented.

The Leaf stops shorter than the Ioniq 5:

The Leaf’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 maneuverability, the Leaf’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The Leaf’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5 N’s (35.4 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The Leaf is 9.9 inches shorter than the Ioniq 5, making the Leaf easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Nissan Leaf amounts to more than styling. The Leaf has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is lower than the Ioniq 5 (.282 to .313) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Leaf get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Leaf Platinum+ is quieter than the Ioniq 5 N:

The Leaf has .1 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more front legroom than the Ioniq 5.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Leaf to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for tire rotation, 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 Leaf’s standard 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.

The Nissan Leaf has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located for the driver. 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 Ioniq 5.