Forthing Taikon 5 vs Hyundai Kona Electric
Two electric SUVs go head to head. Which EV is the better buy for Australian drivers in 2026?
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 15 Oct 2026, price 15 Oct 2026
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Forthing Taikon 5: we're still completing price, kerb weight, 0-100km/h, transmission and ground clearance, plus 2 others.
Hyundai Kona Electric: we're still completing kerb weight, seat count, 0-100km/h, warranty and braked towing.
Blank cells below mean we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
No price
- no option data for this car
$46,000RRP
- cannot be matched: Heated Front Seats not offered
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Track the Forthing Taikon 5 & Hyundai Kona Electric
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Price Breakdown
Pricing for one or both models is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market. We will update this comparison when official RRPs are announced.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published ratings include no record for the Forthing Taikon 5. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Recalls on our record
Forthing Taikon 5
None open on our record
Hyundai Kona Electric
- REC-006586 · published 9 Apr 2026A software issue in the Battery Management System (BMS) may cause an electrical short circuit while charging or parked leading to a vehicle fire.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2023
- REC-001592 · published 23 Aug 2021Due to a manufacturing defect, the battery does not meet specifications and may lead to an electrical short which could start a fire.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2020
- REC-000605 · published 28 Jan 2021A software fault in the Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) may significantly reduce braking performance.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2020
- 1 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
64.4kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 80kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 80kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
How long to charge
48.6kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 100kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (10.4kW AC, 100kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Forthing Taikon 5 features a 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 8.8-inch digital dash, while the Hyundai Kona Electric gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Forthing Taikon 5 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, heated front seats, power tailgate, V2L and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Hyundai Kona Electric. The Hyundai Kona Electric counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Forthing Taikon 5 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Hyundai Kona Electric offers premium cloth.
Drivetrain
The Forthing Taikon 5 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 150kW and 340Nm of torque, sent through its transmission to a FWD layout.
The Hyundai Kona Electric responds with a Electric making 99kW and 255Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels.
The Forthing Taikon 5 has the clear power advantage at 150kW vs 99kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Battery: 64.4kWh (Forthing Taikon 5) vs 48.6kWh (Hyundai Kona Electric), giving WLTP ranges of 427km and 370km. DC fast charging peaks at 80kW (Forthing Taikon 5) vs 100kW (Hyundai Kona Electric).
Space & Comfort
The Forthing Taikon 5 measures 4,600mm long on a 2,715mm wheelbase, 245mm longer than the Hyundai Kona Electric at 4,355mm (2,660mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Forthing Taikon 5 generally means more rear legroom.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.6m diameter
Good
Based on 10.6m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Good
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 9.3 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: clears in one
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.8 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: swings in
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Forthing Taikon 5 if: You prioritise performance, or prefer Forthing's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Hyundai Kona Electric if: You or prefer Hyundai's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
Hyundai Kona Electric: Top CarSorted Score, 67 vs 62
The Hyundai Kona Electric comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (67 vs 62), taking 1 of 5 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: energy efficiency (Hyundai Kona Electric ahead by 24), safety (Hyundai Kona Electric ahead by 13), technology (Forthing Taikon 5 ahead by 12). The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Forthing Taikon 5 and Hyundai Kona Electric?
The Hyundai Kona Electric is the cheapest at $46,000 before on-road costs.
Which has the longest driving range?
The Forthing Taikon 5 has the most range at 427km (WLTP).
Which charges fastest?
The Hyundai Kona Electric accepts the highest DC charging at up to 100kW.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Hyundai Kona Electric holds a 4-star ANCAP rating. ANCAP's published ratings include no record for Forthing Taikon 5, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which is the most powerful?
The Forthing Taikon 5 makes the most power at 150kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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