2020 Hyundai Kona vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of trim levels, including Essential, Preferred, Luxury, and Ultimate. The latter two trims featured a turbocharged engine, enhancing power and performance, while all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard on all Canadian trims except the Essential. The Santa Fe's design was bold and experimental, with a grille shape, stacked lighting elements, and asymmetrical fender stampings that might not appeal to everyone. Inside, the Santa Fe's interior was dramatic, with a dual-cowl dashboard and diamond-textured speaker grilles. However, the materials used, such as glossy plastic and stiff leather upholstery, did not match the high-style design, although the build quality was excellent.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Kona was praised for its sleek, sporty, and dramatic exterior, despite being larger than the Ford EcoSport. The Kona's design included tiered lighting, a tall grille, and chunky matte plastic trim, making it appear taller and wider. The Kona's interior, however, did not match the exterior's quality, with hard plastics and lackluster finishes. The Kona's cabin was simple, with a good layout and high-resolution screens, but it lacked the tactile quality of competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V. Despite this, the Kona's exterior design was considered a standout in its segment.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine was the preferred choice, offering 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided better performance, especially at altitude, and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms, and its fuel efficiency varied depending on the engine and drivetrain. The turbocharged engine with AWD consumed 12.0 L/100 km in the city and 9.2 on the highway. The Santa Fe offered a smooth ride, decent handling, and a quiet highway experience, making it a good daily driver.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona's 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four engine delivered 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful in its segment. The engine was paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, providing strong acceleration and confidence when merging onto highways. The Kona's standard engine was a 2.0-litre inline-four with 147 hp, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Kona's AWD models featured an independent rear suspension, enhancing handling and road feel. Fuel efficiency for the Kona 1.6T AWD was estimated at 9.0 L/100 km city and 8.0 highway. Despite some noise and vibration, the Kona offered a delightful driving experience with its responsive steering and stable suspension.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was designed with thoughtful attention to detail, offering creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric. The test vehicle featured eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, along with a heated steering wheel. The Santa Fe's dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, and the panoramic sunroof added to the comfort. The rear seats were comfortable for adults, with air conditioning vents and reclining options. However, the Santa Fe's cargo space was limited, with 1,017 litres behind the rear seat and a maximum of 2,019 litres. The hands-free "smart" liftgate was a convenient feature.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona, on the other hand, struggled with interior space. While seating for four was adequate, the Kona's cargo space was limited, offering 544 litres with the rear seats up and 1,296 litres with them folded. Competitors like the Honda HR-V and Buick Encore GX offered more cargo space and flexibility. The Kona's controls were easy to use, and the infotainment system was simple and fast. However, the Kona's utility was limited, making it more akin to a small hatchback than a true crossover.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a well-designed touchscreen infotainment system with stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the Preferred trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. The Luxury trim included a surround-view camera system, while the Ultimate trim offered a larger display, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. The head-up display provided valuable information, and the voice recognition system was sophisticated.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona came with a good list of standard features, including a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and proximity entry. Heated front seats and side mirrors were also standard. The Luxury and Ultimate trims added a sunroof and adaptive cruise control. The Ultimate trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and impressive lane-centring abilities. However, the adaptive cruise control shut off below 10 km/h, limiting its functionality.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was a safe choice, earning a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Luxury trim included a Blind View Monitor, and the Preferred grade added an ultrasonic occupant alert system. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona also scored well in safety tests, earning a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Pedestrian detection was only available on the Ultimate trim, and the Kona lacked front knee airbags and rear side airbags.