Hyundai vs Kia: which is better?
As of 2026, neither Hyundai nor Kia is better outright — it depends on what you value. Kia is cheaper to get into, starting at ฿1,399,000 (฿300,000 below Hyundai), while Kia goes furthest on a charge at 680 km, 199 km more than its rival, and Kia offers the wider choice with 6 models. Kia is the simpler pick because it leads on both price and range; choose Hyundai only if a specific model or body style suits you better.
Hyundai and Kia are two of the electric-vehicle brands on sale in Thailand, and this page compares them side by side using the prices, range and line-up data in the Rodfaifa directory. Hyundai fields 3 models, priced from ฿1,699,000 up to ฿2,390,000 (average ฿1,972,667). Kia fields 6 models, priced from ฿1,399,000 up to ฿3,899,000 (average ฿2,632,333).
On entry price, Kia is the more accessible of the two, starting ฿300,000 below Hyundai. Kia also leads on range, so it wins on both of the headline numbers buyers compare first.
For driving range, Kia offers the longer maximum at 680 km, 199 km more than its rival here. Average range across the line-ups is 439 km for Hyundai and 620 km for Kia. On straight-line pace, Kia posts the quicker best 0–100 km/h time of 5.3s.
Drilling into the line-ups: the cheapest way into Hyundai is the IONIQ 5 Premium at ฿1,699,000 (384 km, 58 kWh), while Kia opens with the EV5 Air at ฿1,399,000 (490 km, 59 kWh). If outright range matters most, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 Exclusive reaches 481 km and the Kia EV9 Earth Long Range reaches 680 km. At the top of each range, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 First Edition is the flagship at ฿2,390,000 versus the Kia EV9 GT-Line Long Range AWD at ฿3,899,000.
In terms of choice, Kia gives buyers the broader line-up with 6 models to pick from. Hyundai covers SUV body styles, while Kia covers SUV. The right pick comes down to budget, the body style you need and how far you drive: choose Kia to spend less getting in, or Kia for the longest range on a single charge.
Both brands offer SUV body styles, so a head-to-head on the same segment is possible. Hyundai's prices span ฿691,000 from cheapest to dearest, against ฿2,500,000 for Kia — the wider ladder gives Kia more room to match a specific budget. For buyers in Thailand weighing Hyundai against Kia, the numbers above are the fastest way to shortlist before booking a test drive.
Specs side by side
| Comparison | Hyundai | Kia |
|---|---|---|
| Models | 3 | 6 |
| Starting price | ฿1,699,000 | ฿1,399,000 |
| Top price | ฿2,390,000 | ฿3,899,000 |
| Average price | ฿1,972,667 | ฿2,632,333 |
| Max range | 481 km | 680 km |
| Average range | 439 km | 620 km |
| Best 0–100 km/h | 7.4s | 5.3s |
| Body types | SUV | SUV |
Bottom line: Kia leads on both price and range in this Hyundai vs Kia match-up.