2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Hyundai Kona

The 2020 Hyundai Kona was a standout in its segment due to its sleek, sporty, and dramatic exterior design. Larger than the Ford EcoSport, the Kona managed to look exciting and premium despite its compact size. Hyundai's clever use of tiered lighting, a tall grille, and matte plastic trim made the Kona appear taller and wider. The car's design elements, such as slim LED running lamps, fender creases, and two-tone wheels, contributed to its visually stimulating appearance. However, the interior did not match the exterior's quality, featuring hard plastics and lackluster finishes. While the layout and screens were acceptable, the overall tactile quality fell short compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, recognizable by its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with options like painted or exposed fenders and various top configurations. The Wrangler's interior was all about function, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and effective in-door cargo nets. The cabin also featured drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it comparable to smaller crossovers.

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. This engine, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, offered strong acceleration and confidence when merging onto highways. The standard engine was a 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both engines offered optional all-wheel drive (AWD) with torque vectoring. The Kona's steering was fast and direct, and the suspension was tight and stable, providing a delightful driving experience. However, the ride was stiffer, and the cabin was noisier compared to more refined competitors. Fuel economy was average, with the 1.6T AWD achieving 26 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Wrangler's 4WD systems, including Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, provided excellent off-road capabilities. The Rubicon 392 also featured a beefed-up frame, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona struggled with interior space, offering seating for four and average rear legroom. The cargo space was limited, with 19 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with the seats folded. Competitors like the Honda HR-V, Buick Encore GX, and Jeep Renegade offered significantly more cargo space. Despite its easy-to-use controls and good sightlines, the Kona's cramped interior made it less practical as a utility vehicle.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, premium black cloth soft top, and the Freedom top, a three-piece hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it comparable to smaller crossovers.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona offered a good list of standard features, starting with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base SE model. The SEL trim added proximity entry, auto/up down windows, and heated front seats. The SEL Plus included an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless charging, and an eight-speaker Infinity stereo. The Limited trim featured leather upholstery and the turbo engine, while the Ultimate trim added a sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, while the 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The sharp 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and a clever off-road camera. The larger screens had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, and the steering wheel had radio toggles for easy control.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona scored five out of five stars overall in crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was rated a 2020 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. The Ultimate trim added pedestrian detection. However, the Kona lacked front knee airbags and rear side airbags.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.