2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a small SUV that combined a playful and unique exterior with a more subdued rear design. Its front featured a busy arrangement of lights and a distinctive grille, appealing to younger buyers with its funky style. Inside, the Kona maintained a balance between fun and functionality, offering neat seat patterns and a straightforward layout. The interior was compact yet intuitive, with a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it user-friendly and engaging.

In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave was a large SUV that harkened back to Buick's glory days with its impressive size and luxurious design. It was the largest of Buick's SUV lineup, offering a premium look with the Avenir trim adding extra flair through a unique grille and polished wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist yet upscale design, featuring soft leather seats, polished accents, and a wood-and-leather steering wheel. The cabin was spacious and serene, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning efforts, making it a comfortable choice for families.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, with all-wheel drive available. The Kona's engines provided sufficient power for city and highway driving, and its handling was agile and engaging. Fuel consumption ratings were competitive, with the base engine achieving 8.6/7.0/7.9 L/100 km city/highway/combined with FWD.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine generating 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on the Essence trim, while all-wheel drive was available on higher trims. The V6 engine offered strong acceleration, and the Enclave's size belied its nimble driving dynamics. The suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, provided a smooth and comfortable ride. Fuel efficiency was rated at 11.2 L/100 km combined, with AWD models using 11.8 L/100 km. The Enclave's large fuel tank allowed for long-distance travel on a single fill-up.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with controls easily accessible to both front passengers. The seats were comfortable but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed good headroom, though legroom was limited. The Kona's cargo space was smaller than most competitors, but folding rear seats and generous small-item storage compensated for this shortcoming.

The 2021 Buick Enclave excelled in interior space, comfortably seating six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured power-adjustable, massaging front seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Enclave's cabin was quiet and luxurious, with ample storage and a stylish centre console. The third-row seat was spacious, and cargo capacity was impressive, offering 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,764 litres with seats folded.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM radio, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with responsive software and easy navigation.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, the screen size and audio components were less competitive. The Avenir trim offered a rear camera mirror and a 10-speaker Bose sound system, but connected services required subscriptions after short trial periods.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Optional upgrades included lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors.

The 2021 Buick Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though frontal-impact protection was rated four stars. The IIHS gave high marks, but headlight performance was rated Marginal. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with additional features available on higher trims. The Avenir Technology Package offered advanced driver assistance technologies, but some features were limited to the most expensive trims.