Compare the2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 2026 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. SECSR-TYPQG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/12/19

Both the Ioniq 5 and Leaf have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Ioniq 5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Leaf’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Ioniq 5 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Ioniq 5’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Leaf doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Ioniq 5 and Leaf have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Ioniq 5 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Leaf’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the Leaf 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 around view monitors.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Leaf has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Warranty

The Ioniq 5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Leaf’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 5 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Leaf. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Leaf ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Ioniq 5’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Leaf’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Ioniq 5 has more powerful engines than the Leaf:

	Horsepower	Torque
Ioniq 5 Standard Range electric motor	168 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Ioniq 5 Long Range electric motor	225 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Ioniq 5 electric motors	320 HP	446 lbs.-ft.
Ioniq 5 N electric motors	641 HP	568 lbs.-ft.
Leaf S electric motor	174 HP	254 lbs.-ft.
Leaf + electric motor	214 HP	261 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is faster than the Leaf +:

	Ioniq 5	Ioniq 5 N	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	3 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.1 sec	6.9 sec	18 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.5 sec	3.3 sec	6.9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2 sec	1.5 sec	2.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	2.8 sec	1.8 sec	3.8 sec
Quarter Mile	13.1 sec	11.1 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103 MPH	123 MPH	93 MPH
Top Speed	117 MPH	163 MPH	102 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
Ioniq 5
	RWD	Standard Range Electric Motor	131 city/100 hwy
		Long Range Electric Motor	129 city/100 hwy
	AWD	19" Wheels Electric Motors	116 city/96 hwy
Leaf
	FWD	SV+ Electric Motor	122 city/105 hwy
		Platinum+ Electric Motor	110 city/96 hwy

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

			Miles
Ioniq 5
	RWD	Long Range Electric Motor	318 miles
	AWD	19" Wheels Electric Motors	290 miles
		20" Wheels Electric Motors	269 miles
Leaf
	FWD	S+ Electric Motor	303 miles
		SV+ Electric Motor	288 miles
		Platinum+ Electric Motor	259 miles

Transmission

The Ioniq 5 N’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Leaf doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ioniq 5 N’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	Ioniq 5 N	Leaf
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	14.2 inches	11.5 inches

The Ioniq 5 stops much shorter than the Leaf:

	Ioniq 5	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ioniq 5 has larger standard tires than the Leaf (235/55R19 vs. 215/55R18). The Ioniq 5 N’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (275/35R21 vs. 235/45R19).

The Ioniq 5 N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf Platinum+’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ioniq 5 N has standard 21-inch wheels. The Leaf’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Ioniq 5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 12.2 inches longer than on the Leaf (118.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 5 is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The Ioniq 5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Leaf’s (55.5% to 44.5%). This gives the Ioniq 5 more stable handling and braking.

The Ioniq 5 N handles at .96 G’s, while the Leaf Platinum+ pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Ioniq 5 N has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Leaf (5.6 vs. 5.3 inches), allowing the Ioniq 5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ioniq 5 XRT’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Leaf (7 vs. 5.3 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Ioniq 5 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Leaf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Ioniq 5 Limited AWD is quieter than the Leaf Platinum+ (67 vs. 68 dB).

Passenger Space

The Ioniq 5 has 14.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Leaf (106.5 vs. 92).

The Ioniq 5 has .7 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 7.6 inches more rear legroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ioniq 5’s rear seats recline. The Leaf’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Ioniq 5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Leaf with its rear seat up (26.3 vs. 20 cubic feet). The Ioniq 5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Leaf with its rear seat folded (58.5 vs. 55.5 cubic feet).

Towing

The Ioniq 5 XRT offers up to a 2700 lbs. towing capacity. The Leaf has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Ioniq 5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Leaf uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Ioniq 5 and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ioniq 5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Ioniq 5 Limited/N’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 Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ioniq 5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Ioniq 5’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf Platinum+.

Both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Nissan Leaf offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Ioniq 5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Leaf’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Ioniq 5 Limited/N keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Ioniq 5’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the Leaf offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ioniq 5 SEL/Limited/XRT/N has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Ioniq 5 XRT/Limited’s Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 4 more times in the last 4 years. The Leaf has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 outsold the Nissan Leaf by over four to one during 2024.

See Available Inventory