2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that blended mild and wild styling. Up front, it featured a busy look with multiple lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on some trims. This playful design targeted younger buyers. The rear was more subdued, with a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being overly whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it simple and intuitive to use.

The 2021 BMW X5 exemplified high-quality craftsmanship, a hallmark of BMW. It was unmistakably a BMW, from its kidney grille to its body shape, though this sameness could make it blend in with other BMWs. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and various trim options, including the sporty M Sport styling with body-color matched elements and high-gloss black accents. Wheel options ranged from 19 to 22 inches. Inside, the X5's design was consistent with other BMW models, featuring an abundance of black plastic, leather, and soft-touch materials. M Sport models had unique styling elements like an M sports steering wheel and exclusive interior trim strips.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbo engine came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,400. Both engines provided ample power for city and highway driving, though the dual-clutch transmission was less graceful at low speeds. The Kona handled confidently, offering a fun and engaging driving experience. Fuel economy varied, with the base engine and FWD achieving 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and the turbo engine with AWD getting 26/29/27 mpg.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with several powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i had a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the X5 M delivered 600 hp, or 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid achieved 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, with up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's driving dynamics were less engaging than other BMW models, with steering issues at both low and high speeds. The cabin was quiet, and the suspension absorbed road imperfections well. The X5 M was the least fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e achieved 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with controls and displays easily accessible. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The large rear door openings facilitated loading and unloading children, though large rear-facing car seats could be problematic for taller front passengers. The Kona's cargo space was limited, though small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space, with front cupholders positioned out of the way and a wireless phone charging pad. The center console was cluttered with buttons and dials, making it difficult to use at night. Front seats were comfortable for short trips but felt hard after a few hours. Rear seats were spacious enough for kids and two adults, with an optional third row available. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with full power functionality made loading cargo easier. The X5's cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second row was challenging due to narrow door openings.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and use.

The 2021 BMW X5 featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, a proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was easy to use once familiar.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with "Good" scores in all crash test areas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars overall. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, but it had issues reacting to stopped traffic and lane markings, especially in sunlight or light rain. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being the subject of seven recalls.