Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2026 Nissan Leaf
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 edges it, 83.6 to 81.5, on tech & comfort, safety. The Nissan Leaf is ahead on space & cargo and price. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 3.1 and it flips.
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2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 7 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Ioniq 5 RWD, is EP…
vs
C2026 Nissan Leaf
The 2026 Nissan Leaf is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 3 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the LEAF 75kWh (18 inch st…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Slight edgeThe Hyundai Ioniq 5 edges it, 83.6 to 81.5, on tech & comfort, safety. The Nissan Leaf is ahead on space & cargo and price. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 3.1 and it flips.
Tech & comfort 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 leads by 49.6
Space & cargo 2026 Nissan Leaf leads by 35.1
Safety 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 leads by 15.8
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Leafoverall 81.5 | 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5overall 83.6 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 85.7 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 94 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 53.9 | 69.7 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 64.9 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 85.3 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 50.4 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 81.5 | 83.6 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Leaf: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Nissan Leaf: base trim S+ FWD · Hyundai Ioniq 5: base trim SE Standard Range RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 3.1 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 wins
- It lists 48 standard driver-assist features against 29.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (63.5 points against 32 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 80 against 78).
Where the 2026 Nissan Leaf answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 24 filed with NHTSA).
- It holds 55.5 cu ft behind the second row against 26.3.
What they share
- The same EPA fuel cost ($650 a year).
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
41 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $29,990 | $35,000 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Engine type (full description) | 160 kW AC synchronous electric motor | Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) RWD |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 214 hp | 168 hp |
| Torque | 261 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 131 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 121 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 111 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 4.706 |
| Transmission speeds | — | 1 |
| Transmission type | Electric single-speed | Single-speed Reduction Gear |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | 6.1 in |
| Overall height | 61.3 in | 63 in |
| Overall length | 173 in | 183 in |
| Overall width | 71.3 in | 74.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | 118 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 58.5 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 55.5 cu-ft | 26.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 133 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.9 in | 39.8 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.2 in | 38.7 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.4 in | 41.7 in |
| Second-row legroom | 31.8 in | 39.4 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,187 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,187 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension type | — | Multi-link (5-link) |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Vehicle-speed-sensitive electric power-steering | Rack and Pinion (R-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.4 ft | 19.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 325 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Electric Parking Brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 325 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 19 in |
| Wheel material | steel | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 7.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/55 R18 | 235/55R19 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect | Bluelink+ |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 56 in | 57.7 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 54.6 in | 57.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
197 features · differences first, then sharedSafety47 differ · 62 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning Detection | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Surround View Monitor (SVM) | std | — |
| Highway Driving Assist 1 (HDA 1) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Curve Control (NSCC) | — | std |
| Rearview Camera | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Forward | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | — | std |
| 2.5-MPH Bumpers | — | std |
| ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) - 4 Wheels/Channels/Sensors | — | std |
| Adjustable front-seat shoulder belt anchors | — | std |
| Anti-theft system integrated with remote keyless entry and panic alarm | — | std |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) | std | — |
| Bodyside reinforcements | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Brake Booster - Active Hydraulic Booster (Regenerative Brake) | — | std |
| Cruise controls, Smart | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold | — | std |
| Electronic Shift Lock System & Ignition Key Interlock – Electronic type | — | std |
| Forward Attention Warning (FAW) | — | std |
| Front crumple zone | — | std |
| Front Wide View | std | — |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| Intelligent Hood View | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Prevention | std | — |
| Occupant Classification System (OCS) - Seat weight sensor and seat track sensor | — | std |
| Outside Mirrors - Blind-Spot Collision Indicator | — | std |
| Post-collision auto-hazard and emergency call | std | — |
| Power window lock-out button | — | std |
| Predictive Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear child safety locks (Power-operated) | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear LATCH Lower Anchors and Upper Tether Anchors | — | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) (door logic-type) | — | std |
| Seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters (all outboard seating positions) | — | std |
| Seatbelt Reminder (Driver and All Passengers) | — | std |
| Secondary Collision Mitigation Braking | std | — |
| Steering wheel haptic feedback (for LKA and BCA) | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management | — | std |
| Immobilizer | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection | std | std |
| Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go (steering wheel-mounted) | std | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | std |
| Airbags (Front - Advanced): Driver (1), Front passenger (1) | std | std |
| Driver and front passenger side-impact FR (Thorax) (2) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | std |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Reverse | std | std |
| Rear side airbags (2) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) and Brake Assist | std | std |
| High Beam Assist | std | std |
| Regenerative Braking System with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with 4-wheel disc brakes | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Individual Tire Indicator and Tire Fill Complete Alert | std | std |
Infotainment23 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch color touchscreen (ccNC) AM/FM/SiriusXM®/HD Radio audio system with onboard Navigation, Wireless Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | — | std |
| 12.3-inch color touchscreen audio system with 6-speakers | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free w/ wireless audio streaming + phonebook transfer | — | std |
| 4-speaker audio system | std | — |
| Amazon Alexa Built-in | std | — |
| Bluelink+ Connected Car System | — | std |
| Bluelink+ Remote Charge Access | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Multiple Device Connection (up to two devices) | — | std |
| Dynamic Voice Recognition | — | std |
| Hands-free text messaging assistant | std | — |
| Hyundai Pay | — | std |
| NissanConnect® telematics – 5G | std | — |
| NissanConnect® with 12.3-inch touchscreen | std | — |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) Controller ECU and Map/Multimedia software update capability | — | std |
| Regenerative brake control paddles | — | std |
| SiriusXM® 360 | std | — |
| Steering Wheel - Audio controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Three 1st row & Two 2nd row USB-C outlets (1x Power/Data & 4x Power) | — | std |
| USB Type C ports (front) | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® | std | — |
Convenience13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | — | std |
| 12-volt power outlet (front) | std | — |
| Nissan Intelligent Key™ with push-button start | std | — |
| Portable charge cable (120V / 240V EVSE) | std | — |
| Power door locks | — | std |
| Power door locks with auto locking system | std | — |
| Power windows with driver's auto-down/up | — | std |
| Power windows with remote open for driver's window | std | — |
| Proximity w/ detachable valet key & push button start (2) | — | std |
| Remote hood release | — | std |
| Remote keyless entry system with alarm and panic | — | std |
| Manual liftgate | std | — |
| 12-volt outlets - 2 total: 1 front, 1 cargo | — | std |
Climate6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic climate control with rear foot ducting | std | — |
| Cabin air filter | — | std |
| Dual Automatic Temperature Control w/ Driver Only mode | — | std |
| External temperature display | — | std |
| Heat Pump (AWD only for SE/SEL/XRT/Limited; standard for N AWD) | — | std |
| PTC Heater | — | std |
Seating7 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 Split Fold-down Manual Sliding Bench Seat w/ Reclining Seatback | — | std |
| 8-way power driver's seat | — | std |
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| 60/40 folding rear seats | std | — |
| Power lumbar support - Driver (SE) / Front (SEL, XRT, Limited, N AWD) | — | std |
| Seating capacity - 5 | — | std |
| Rear center armrest with cupholders | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable passenger seat | std | std |
| Seating Surfaces - Stain-resistant Cloth | std | std |
Interior41 differ · 42 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster w/ EV Technology Display - Speedometer, System Power Gauge, Charge level, Odometer, Trip odometer | — | std |
| Ambient lighting, white | std | — |
| Assist Grips (4) | — | std |
| Bottle holders - Front and rear | — | std |
| Bottle holders – 4 (door panels) | std | — |
| Cargo area LED lighting | std | — |
| Center console - Storage compartment and armrest | — | std |
| Center console storage | std | — |
| Central dome light (with delay) and auto cut-off | — | std |
| Cup holders – 2 in center console | std | — |
| Cupholders, Dual - Front center console-mounted | — | std |
| Cupholders, Dual - Rear seat center armrest-mounted | — | std |
| Door handles - Metallic-painted | — | std |
| Front center console - Fixed armrest storage with tray | — | std |
| Front trunk ("Frunk") LED light | — | std |
| Glove compartment | std | — |
| Glove compartment - Damped and Illuminated | — | std |
| I/P switch illumination (hazard) | — | std |
| Illuminated power window switches | — | std |
| LED Interior Lights | — | std |
| Manual-dimming inside rearview mirror | std | — |
| Power window switches - Front and rear | — | std |
| Rear center armrest | — | std |
| Rear coat hanger (1) | — | std |
| Roof trim - Cloth | — | std |
| Room lamp | std | — |
| Seatback pocket(s) - Front passenger (SE/SEL/XRT) / Both (Limited) | — | std |
| Shift knob - Column-type (stalk); shift-by-wire | — | std |
| Steering Wheel - 3-Spoke, H-Tex® wrapped | — | std |
| Steering Wheel - Tilt + telescoping | — | std |
| Storage tray - Fixed Center Stack | — | std |
| Sun visors with extension | std | — |
| TailorFit™ steering wheel | std | — |
| Inside rearview mirror - Manual day/night | — | std |
| Manual tilt / Manual telescopic | std | — |
| Sunvisors w/ Illumination | — | std |
| Cargo Light | — | std |
| Floor mats - Carpeted (PIO) | — | opt |
| Sunvisors w/ sliding function | — | std |
| Trip odometer | — | std |
| Door storage pockets - Front and rear | — | std |
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster w/ EV Technology Display | std | std |
Exterior20 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| "Aero" wiper blades | — | std |
| 18-inch steel with full wheel covers | std | — |
| 215/55 R18 Yokohama AVID GT | std | — |
| Acoustic Windshield | — | std |
| Active grille shutters (lower front grille) | — | std |
| Charge Port Door - Power open and close | — | std |
| Door Handles (Flush-type) - Bodycolor, Automatic operation | — | std |
| Front 2-speed/variable intermittent windshield wipers | — | std |
| LED headlights - MFR-type | — | std |
| Outside Mirrors - Heated | — | std |
| Outside Mirrors - LED Turn Signal Indicators | — | std |
| Rear spoiler - Integrated with LED CHMSL | — | std |
| Rear wiper/washer | — | std |
| Roof antenna, shark-fin - Black | — | std |
| Spare Tire - Tire Mobility Kit (TMK) | — | std |
| Variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Privacy Glass - Rear/quarter/back (heated) glass | — | std |
| Solar front glass - Front Door, Windshield | — | std |
| LED Center High-Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) | — | std |
| Mud Guards Front/Rear (PIO) | — | opt |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
| LED taillights | std | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | std |
Powertrain14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 160 kW AC synchronous electric motor | std | — |
| 214 horsepower, 261 lb-ft of torque | std | — |
| 7.2 kW onboard charger | std | — |
| 75 kWh lithium-ion battery | std | — |
| Battery preconditioning function | — | std |
| Charging timer – set desired charge time | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select (Eco → Normal → Sport → Snow) | — | std |
| J1772 charging port | std | — |
| North American Charging Standard (NACS) port | std | — |
| Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) | — | std |
| Plug & Charge capability | std | — |
| Transmission Type - Shift-by-wire | — | std |
| Ultra-Fast Charger (up to 800V / 350 kW) | — | std |
| Vehicle-to-load capability (V2L), 1,500 watts (requires adapter for exterior J1772 port) | std | — |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front suspension - MacPherson strut with High-Performance Damper | — | std |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) - Power assisted, rack-mounted | — | std |
| Rear suspension - Multi-link (5-link) with High-Performance Damper | — | std |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo net (PIO) | — | opt |
| Cargo tie-down anchors (4) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Leaf
Safety Signal 78 C
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 2 · 1 critical · 1 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 2 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (2), Fuel/Propulsion System (1), Power Train (1)
Park-outside advisory — open NHTSA recall with a consumer advisory.
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V188000 · 51 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 26V425000 · 3,788 vehicles · filed unfixed
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Safety Signal 80 B
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / ★★★★★
Recalls 2 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 24 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (11), Lane Departure (6), Forward Collision Avoidance (4)
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V068000 · 27 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan LeafS+ FWD | Hyundai Ioniq 5SE Standard Range RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,990 (base trim) | $35,000 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $29,990 – $38,990 3 trims | $35,000 – $59,900 10 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) | Ioniq 5 Standard range |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 121 | 115 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650 | $650 |
| EV range | 303 mi | 245 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Leaf or the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 edges it, 83.6 to 81.5, on tech & comfort, safety. The Nissan Leaf is ahead on space & cargo and price. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 3.1 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 scores 83.6 and the 2026 Nissan Leaf 81.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Nissan Leaf or the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
The 2026 Nissan Leaf starts lower — $29,990 against $35,000, a gap of $5,010 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Nissan Leaf or the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
2026 Nissan Leaf: no NHTSA rating yet, grade C, 2 recalls (1 filed with no repair available). 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Nissan Leaf and the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 wins: it lists 48 standard driver-assist features against 29, lists more comfort and tech equipment (63.5 points against 32 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 80 against 78). Where the 2026 Nissan Leaf answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 24 filed with NHTSA) and holds 55.5 cu ft behind the second row against 26.3. What they share: the same EPA fuel cost ($650 a year) and 5 seats.