2020 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Hyundai Kona, larger than the Ford EcoSport, presented an exciting and sporty exterior. Hyundai utilized the Kona's compact size to create a sleek and dramatic design, making it stand out among its competitors. The tiered lighting, tall grille, and matte plastic trim gave the Kona a taller and wider appearance. The fender creases and black trim added to its premium vibe, especially in the Limited and Ultimate models with larger wheels and additional gray trim. However, the interior did not match the exterior's quality, with hard plastics and lackluster finishes. Despite good switchgear and high-res screens, the Kona's cabin fell short compared to rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained a timeless and rugged design, blending utility with upscale sophistication. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed to its success, offering a range of trims from the affordable Laredo to the luxurious Summit and performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk. The Summit trim, with its 5.7-liter V8 engine and premium features, showcased a more refined look with body-color mirror caps and platinum chrome finishes. Inside, the Summit's cabin featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum, creating a luxurious feel. However, the interior showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits, indicating a need for a redesign.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona surprised many with its impressive powertrain and chassis. The 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine produced 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, outperforming most competitors. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission provided strong acceleration and confidence in various driving conditions. However, only the Limited and Ultimate trims featured the turbo engine, while the standard 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft was less impressive. The Kona's handling was commendable, with fast and direct steering, a tight suspension, and minimal roll. Despite its noisy cabin and stiffer ride, the Kona offered a delightful driving experience, especially with AWD models featuring an independent rear suspension.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 provided 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, along with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8's cylinder deactivation technology improved fuel efficiency, though it still averaged 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities, while the Summit trim offered a comfortable and responsive driving experience. However, the V8's fuel consumption and occasional bouncy ride were notable drawbacks.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona struggled with interior space, offering only 19 cubic feet of cargo space and 46 with the rear seats folded. While seating for four was adequate, the Kona's cramped interior made it less practical for carrying passengers and luggage. Competitors like the Honda HR-V and Buick Encore GX provided significantly more cargo space, making the Kona less suitable for utility purposes. Despite its user-friendly controls and good sightlines, the Kona's limited interior space and lack of side rails on the base SE trim hindered its functionality as a utility vehicle.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a more spacious and luxurious interior. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, while the rear seats were comfortable but had somewhat limited legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia, but large windows and a panoramic sunroof helped alleviate this. Interior storage was adequate, though the rear-seat entertainment system took up valuable space in the center console bin. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. Practical features like grocery bag hooks and a power liftgate closing button added to its functionality.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona offered a range of standard features, with the base SE model including a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SEL added proximity entry, heated front seats, and blind-spot monitoring. The SEL Plus introduced wireless charging, an eight-speaker Infinity stereo, and Blue Link connectivity. The Limited trim featured leather upholstery and the turbo engine, while the Ultimate trim included a sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, and adaptive cruise control. Despite its impressive lane-centering abilities, the Kona's adaptive cruise control shut off below 6 mph, limiting its functionality.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system remained impressive, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system's user-friendly interface, fast response, and voice recognition technology made it a pleasure to use. The Grand Cherokee also featured SiriusXM services, including satellite radio, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link. The Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality. While the Grand Cherokee's infotainment system and advanced driving assistance systems were commendable, it lacked some of the latest tech features found in newer models.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona received high safety ratings, scoring five out of five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests and earning a 2020 Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. However, pedestrian detection was only available on the Ultimate trim, and the Kona lacked front knee airbags and rear side airbags.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA for 4WD models, its performance in IIHS tests was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. However, the Summit trim included a comprehensive list of safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The Grand Cherokee also offered parking assistance and a backup camera with guidance lines.