2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a small SUV that combined a playful and unique exterior design with a more subdued rear. 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 patterns on the seats and a well-organized dashboard. The infotainment system was mounted high, and the physical climate controls were intuitive, making the compact interior feel user-friendly and engaging.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 showcased a distinctive look as an electric vehicle, moving away from the traditional styling of Volkswagen's gasoline models. It featured a streamlined profile with wheels pushed to the corners, emphasizing its EV-specific design. The ID.4 was part of VW’s MEB platform, designed to cater to the North American market's preference for crossovers. Its interior combined minimalism with a tech-forward aesthetic, using piano black and matte plastic materials. The cabin felt spacious, with good forward visibility, although rearward visibility was compromised by thick pillars. The ID.4's interior was designed for comfort, with standard heated seats and a steering wheel, making it suitable for colder climates.

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 optional turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, with all-wheel drive available as an option, while higher trims came with standard AWD. The Kona's engines provided sufficient power for city and highway driving, though they weren't particularly powerful. The dual-clutch transmission enhanced the sporty feel but was less smooth at low speeds. The Kona's handling was agile and confident, offering a fun driving experience with a balance of comfort and composure. Fuel consumption ratings varied, with the base engine and FWD achieving 8.6/7.0/7.9 L/100 km city/highway/combined, and the turbo engine with AWD at 9.0/8.0/8.6 L/100 km.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was available in two powertrain configurations. The base rear-wheel drive version featured a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. An all-wheel-drive version added a second motor for a total of 295 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The ID.4's RWD setup provided balanced handling, with the electric motor offering instantaneous torque for quick acceleration. While not sporty, the ID.4 prioritized comfort, with a smooth ride and noticeable body roll in corners. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 did not emphasize regenerative braking, opting for a more traditional driving experience with friction brakes. This decision aimed to provide a familiar feel for drivers transitioning from gasoline vehicles.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with controls easily accessible to both front passengers. The seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom, and the large rear door openings facilitated child seat installation. However, the Kona's cargo space was limited, ranking low in its segment, though small-item storage was generous and well-placed.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 provided more front and rear headroom compared to other EVs, though legroom was average. It offered 858 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, surpassing several EV competitors but falling short of gasoline models like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk, prioritizing cabin space instead. The interior felt spacious, with good forward visibility but limited rearward visibility due to thick pillars. The ID.4 featured a unique gear selector and a narrow centre console, offering limited storage for larger items. Standard heated seats and a steering wheel enhanced comfort in colder conditions.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered additional features like SiriusXM radio, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with colourful and responsive software, though the larger screen did not support wireless smartphone connectivity.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 featured a standard 10-inch touchscreen, with an optional 12-inch screen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced traditional controls. While visually appealing, the touchpads lacked tactile feedback, complicating use while driving. The ID.4 included a natural-language voice-control system and the ID.Light feature, which communicated information through a light strip. Despite some gimmicky features, the infotainment system was well-positioned and easy to navigate, offering a choice between smartphone-like icons or a split-screen setup.

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, automatic emergency braking, and cruise control. AWD models added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional upgrades included lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with points docked for certain headlights. The NHTSA awarded the RWD version a five-star safety rating, while the AWD version had not been tested. The ID.4 offered a range of driver aids, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. New features included Travel Assist, which added automated lane centring, and Emergency Assist, designed to stop the car if the driver is incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding effectively to acceleration and deceleration.