Hyundai Ioniq vs Toyota Prius: the hybrid pioneers
Updated Report an error By Oleksandr Hnatiuk
Hyundai · 2016–2022
Ioniq
- Power
- 88 kW120 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 10.0 s
- Kerb mass
- 1,495 kg
Toyota · 2015–2022
Prius XW50
- Power
- 72 kW98 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 10.0 s
- Kerb mass
- 1,375 kg
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
Categories won: Ioniq 3 Prius XW50 0
- City Ioniq Length: 4,470 mm vs 4,575 mm
- Performance Ioniq Power per tonne: 59 kW/t vs 52 kW/t
- Running costs Ioniq Fuel per year: €520 vs €870 (estimated)
- Off-road Too close to call Drive and body: Front-wheel drive · Liftback vs Front-wheel drive · Liftback
Verdict Opinion
As a used buy, the Ioniq Hybrid and the Prius XW50 are close rivals. The Hyundai feels more conventional thanks to its dual-clutch gearbox; the Toyota has the longer hybrid track record. The Ioniq Electric is an interesting used route into a compact EV with a very efficient shape.
As a new car, only the Prius is still available. The fifth generation is much quicker than any Ioniq and, in Europe, a plug-in hybrid only. Hyundai has moved the Ioniq name to its range of battery-electric models.
— Oleksandr Hnatiuk
The Toyota Prius made the hybrid car mainstream. The first one, the NHW10, went on sale in Japan on 10 December 1997, built at the Takaoka plant, and won the Car of the Year Japan award. Global sales passed one million in May 2008, and by September 2022 Toyota had sold more than five million.
Hyundai designed the Ioniq as a direct challenger, as our launch story described. The hybrid debuted in South Korea in January 2016, and all three versions were shown at the Geneva and New York shows that spring. The Ioniq was built until July 2022; its natural rival was the fourth-generation Prius (XW50), first shown in Las Vegas in September 2015.
Hyundai Ioniq vs Toyota Prius: three drivetrains vs one idea
One body, three drivetrains
The Ioniq was unusual in offering petrol-electric, plug-in and fully electric versions in the same body. The hybrid combines a 1.6-litre GDI Kappa petrol engine of 78 kW with a 32 kW electric motor for a combined 104 kW (141 PS) and 264 N·m. Instead of a planetary e-CVT, it uses a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which makes it feel more like a conventional car when accelerating.
Plug-in and electric versions
The Ioniq Plug-in arrived in February 2017 with an 8.9 kWh battery and an EPA electric range of 47 km. The Ioniq Electric started with an 88 kW motor and a 28 kWh battery (280 km NEDC); the 2019 update raised that to 100 kW and 38.3 kWh, good for 311 km on the WLTP cycle. Toyota kept the Prius to petrol-electric drive: the Prius plug-in is still a hybrid with a charging cable rather than an EV.
The Prius moves on
The fourth-generation Prius was the first car on Toyota's TNGA platform and gained an E-Four all-wheel-drive option for the 2019 US model year. Its 1.8-litre petrol engine produces 72 kW and works with a 53 kW electric motor. The fifth generation (XW60), presented on 16 November 2022, is a far more powerful car: in Japan its 2.0-litre M20A-FXS hybrid makes 144 or 146 kW, and the plug-in hybrid has a combined 164 kW (223 PS). In Europe, where deliveries began in early 2023, only the plug-in is sold. It pairs a 112 kW 2.0-litre engine with a 120 kW motor, reaches 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds and stores 13.6 kWh in a lithium-ion battery.
Shape and size
Both cars are aerodynamic liftbacks. The Ioniq has a drag coefficient of 0.24 and measures 4,470 × 1,820 × 1,450 mm on a 2,700 mm wheelbase. The new Prius is lower and sleeker in profile but trades some aerodynamic efficiency for style: its Cd is 0.27, and the cargo area is smaller than before.
Race Stats side by side
Each figure is a 0–100 score from the catalog numbers, the same as on the 1CARS Race cards. PI is the overall performance index (100–999) and its class D–S.
| Stat | Ioniq | Prius XW50 |
|---|---|---|
| PI | C · 466 | C · 461 |
| Power | 34 | 30 |
| Grip | 37 | 39 |
| Handling | 68 | 70 |
| Top speed | 37 | 37 |
| Launch | 32 | 32 |
Grip and handling are estimates from drive type, weight, height and body (hover a figure to see where it comes from). 1CARS Race
Who wins a race?
Quarter-mile (402 m) drag from a standing start, dry road, no reaction time — the 1CARS Race physics on the catalog figures of these versions.
- 1 Prius XW50Prius XW50 · 1.8 Hybrid · 72 kW (98 PS) 17.08 sat 128 km/h
- 2 IoniqElectric (2016) · 88 kW (120 PS) 17.09 sat 128 km/h · +0.01 s
Size and weight
Side view to scale, all cars from the front bumper.
| Ioniq | Prius XW50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,470 mm176.0 in | 4,575 mm180.1 in +105 mm +4.1 in +2.3% |
| Width | 1,820 mm71.7 in | 1,760 mm69.3 in −60 mm −2.4 in −3.3% |
| Height | 1,450 mm57.1 in | 1,470 mm57.9 in +20 mm +0.8 in +1.4% |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm106.3 in | 2,700 mm106.3 in |
| Kerb weight | 1,495 kg3,296 lb | 1,375 kg3,031 lb −120 kg −265 lb −8.0% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Yes | Yes |
Difference vs Ioniq (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors.
Full specifications
| Hyundai Ioniq | Toyota Prius | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | Electric (2016) · 88 kW (120 PS) | Prius XW50 · 1.8 Hybrid · 72 kW (98 PS) |
| Production years | 2016–2022 | 2015–2022 |
| Body | Liftback | Liftback |
| Country | South Korea | Japan |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 88 kW (120 PS) 118 hp Better | 72 kW (98 PS) 97 hp |
| Power, all versions | 88–104 kW (120–141 PS) 118–139 hp | 30–164 kW (41–223 PS) 40–220 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 295 Nm 218 lb-ft | No data |
| 0–100 km/h Why it matters: A shorter 0–100 km/h time means quicker getaways and safer merging onto fast roads. | 10.0 s | 10.0 s |
| Power per tonne | 59 kW/t 72 hp/ton calculated Better | 52 kW/t 64 hp/ton calculated |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Electric | Hybrid |
| Engine | No data | 1,800 cc · 4 cyl 1.8 l |
| Gearbox | single-speed | No data |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 4,470 mm 176.0 in | 4,575 mm 180.1 in |
| Width | 1,820 mm 71.7 in | 1,760 mm 69.3 in |
| Height | 1,450 mm 57.1 in | 1,470 mm 57.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm 106.3 in | 2,700 mm 106.3 in |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 1,495 kg 3,296 lb | 1,375 kg 3,031 lb Better |
| Economy and running costs | ||
| Fuel consumption Why it matters: Lower consumption cuts running costs and CO₂ emissions on every trip. | No data | 3.3 l/100 km 71.3 mpg US |
| CO₂ | No data | 75 g/km |
| Fuel cost per year | €520/year estimated Better | €870/year estimated |
| Electric | ||
| Battery Why it matters: A bigger battery usually gives more range, but takes longer to charge fully. | 28 kWh | No data |
| Electric range Why it matters: A longer range means fewer charging stops on long journeys. | 280 km 174 mi | No data |
| Energy use | 11.5 kWh/100 km | No data |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP | ★★★★★ (2016) | ★★★★★ (2016) |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (5): Body, 0–100 km/h, Drive, Wheelbase, Euro NCAP.
Better marks the stronger figure — only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
Estimated at 15,000 km a year with fuel at €0.30/kWh electricity, €1.75/l petrol.
In plain words
Hyundai Ioniq has more power: 88 kW (120 PS) against 72 kW (98 PS) for Toyota Prius. Toyota Prius is 105 mm longer than Hyundai Ioniq (4,575 mm vs 4,470 mm). Toyota Prius is lighter by 120 kg (1,375 kg vs 1,495 kg). At 15,000 km a year, fuel would cost about €520 (Hyundai Ioniq), €870 (Toyota Prius) (estimated). Toyota Prius is the older design (from 1997); Hyundai Ioniq arrived in 2016. Toyota Prius is still in production; Hyundai Ioniq is not. On the catalog figures, the Hyundai Ioniq is the pick for city, performance and running costs.
Which one to choose
Choose the Hyundai Ioniq if you want a used hybrid that drives like a normal automatic, or a used electric car with a modest price and low consumption.
Choose the Toyota Prius if you prefer the brand with the longest hybrid experience, need all-wheel drive (XW50 E-Four in some markets) or want a new plug-in hybrid with 164 kW.
Check the battery on any used electric Ioniq: the 2016 car's 28 kWh pack gives noticeably less range than the 38.3 kWh pack of the 2019 update.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hyundai Ioniq still made?
No. Production of the Ioniq hybrid, plug-in and electric ended in July 2022. Hyundai now uses the Ioniq name for its battery-electric line-up.
Which is more powerful, the Ioniq Hybrid or the Prius?
The Ioniq Hybrid has a combined 104 kW (141 PS). The current Prius plug-in hybrid has 164 kW (223 PS), and the Japanese 2.0 hybrid 144–146 kW.
Does the Ioniq use a CVT like the Prius?
No. The Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in use a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Can I buy a non-plug-in Prius in Europe?
Not the current generation. Since the fifth Prius arrived in Europe in 2023, it has been sold there only as a plug-in hybrid.