2019 Prius vs. Ioniq Comparison
Prius was the first hybrid vehicle offered by Toyota. It made its U.S. debut in 2000, and it continues to be a leader in innovative driving. The Prius takes advantage of over 20 years of hybrid drivetrain heritage. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Ioniq just recently launched in 2016. The decades-long history of the Prius is one of reliability and safety: the 2019 Prius was a Top Safety Pick by the Institute for Highway Safety. The 2019 Ioniq was also a Top Safety Pick, but only with extra-cost driver assistance front crash prevention and HID Projector headlights. In addition, the Prius L Eco has a higher city MPG rating than the Ioniq Blue. In this head-to-head, we will look at the Prius vs. the Ioniq in key categories.
Published date: 09/04/19
Safety
Every 2019 Prius comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense® P (TSS-P) advanced safety suite. While not available on the base Ioniq, the higher-grade Ioniq SEL and Limited do have comparable standard safety features.
Standard Safety Features
TSS-P advanced active safety features in this suite include Pre-collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Full Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). Ioniq Limited and SEL include the comparable Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Automatic High Beam Assist, and Lane Change Assist features.
The added safety value of the Prius is not limited to just TSS-P. With Prius, you can rely on standard LED exterior lighting to brighten your field of view. LED Daytime Running Lights and taillights only come standard on the high-end SEL and Limited models of the Ioniq. In addition, drivers can be reassured by the all-wheel drive system of the Prius LE AWD-e that engages as necessary at speeds up to 43 mph in low-traction situations. This feature is not available on any model of the Ioniq which is only available in front-wheel drive.
Safety
- All 2019 Prius grades come with Toyota Safety Sense® P (TSS-P).
- Prius LE AWD-e models have all-wheel drive that engages as necessary at speeds up to 43 mph in low-traction situations.
- Ioniq is only available with front-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
The Toyota Prius has over 20 years of experience in producing dependable hybrid drivetrain technology. The Hyundai Ioniq debuted much more recently in 2016.
All-Wheel Drive Economy
The 2019 Prius XLE FWD yields an EPA-estimated 54/50/52 MPG (city/hwy/comb) and the Prius L Eco has a competitive EPA-estimated 58/53/56 MPG (city/hwy/comb). Hyundai Ioniq Blue has an EPA-estimated 57/59/58 MPG (city/hwy/comb), while the SEL and Limited models have 55/54/55 MPG.
Prius LE/XLE AWD-E has the highest MPG of any Toyota AWD vehicle. No model of the Hyundai Ioniq offers an AWD option. Prius LE/XLE AWD-E is a great option for those who want excellent fuel efficiency but who maybe live in a colder climate where snowy roads come into play.
Fuel Economy
- 2019 Prius L Eco has an EPA-estimated 58/53/56 MPG (city/hwy/comb).
- 2019 Ioniq Blue has an EPA-estimated 57/59/58 MPG (city/hwy/comb).
- Prius LE AWD-e and XLE AWD-e have EPA-estimated 52/48/50 (city/hwy/comb) -- the highest EPA-estimated MPG of any Toyota AWD vehicle.
Price
The base model Toyota Prius starts out slightly more expensive than the Hyundai Ioniq at $23,770 vs. $22,400 for the Ioniq. However, the Ioniq does not come backed with over 20 years of experience in the hybrid space and it misses out on many of the standard safety features of the Prius.
MSRP and Maintenance Costs
Moving up to the SEL or Limited trims of the Ioniq bring it to the same price range as the Prius. In fact, the Ioniq Hybrid Limited Ultimate trim (MSRP $2,200) brings the cost of the Ioniq up to $30,550. Only at that price point does the Ioniq come with comparable features to Prius’ TSS-P suite of advanced safety features.
When buying a vehicle, it is important to look at the cost of ownership. Every 2019 Prius comes with ToyotaCare No Cost Maintenance Plan (2-years/25,000 miles, whichever comes first) and Roadside Assistance (3-years/unlimited mileage). While the Hyundai Ioniq comes with a 5-years/unlimited mileage roadside assistance plan, Hyundai does not offer a comparable no cost maintenance plan. Rather, owners can purchase prepaid maintenance at extra cost for their Ioniq.
Price
- Only the Prius comes with complimentary no-cost factory scheduled maintenance via ToyotaCare.
- Both Prius and Ioniq come with complimentary roadside assistance plans of varying terms.
- Despite not having complimentary maintenance, the Ioniq does have longer warranty terms across most plans.
Conclusion: Prius vs. Ioniq
The 2019 Prius comes standard with significantly more options for safety and reliability. Prius is a versatile, dependable and fuel efficient hybrid with a proven track record of reliability. Every 2019 Prius comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense® P (TSS-P) and ToyotaCare. Plus, Prius was also an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Only higher-end Hyundai Ioniq SEL and Limited trims with HID Projector headlights and front crash prevention technology were chosen as Top Safety Picks by IIHS.
Plus, the Prius LE/XLE AWD-E have the highest MPG of any Toyota AWD vehicle. The Hyundai Ioniq does not offer AWD on any model. Prius LE AWD-E and XLE AWD-E are great options for those who want the excellent fuel efficiency of a hybrid vehicle but who deal with snowy roads in the winter. Don’t forget that the Prius is backed by over 20 years of hybrid engineering; the Hyundai Ioniq has only been around for a few short years since 2016.
In this hybrid vehicle head-to-head competition, the winner is clear: the 2019 Toyota Prius. Backed by reliability and safety, the Prius leads the way in hybrid innovation.