2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Acura MDX

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 array of lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on some trims. This quirky styling appealed to younger buyers. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun vibe with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, while higher trims offered leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, with an intuitive layout featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

In contrast, the 2022 Acura MDX presented a more sophisticated and modern appearance. Built on a new dedicated platform, it boasted a longer wheelbase, wider body, and increased dash-to-axle distance, enhancing its elegant proportions. The MDX featured standard Jewel Eye LED headlights and larger wheels, contributing to its sporty and assertive look. Inside, the MDX's cabin was spacious and luxurious, with authentic materials like natural wood, genuine aluminum, and real leather. The dashboard emphasized width, and the centre console housed unique controls, including a fighter jet-inspired gear selector. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen was strategically placed for safety, and the overall design exuded quality craftsmanship.

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 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, with all-wheel drive available, while higher trims came with standard AWD. Although neither engine was particularly powerful, they provided sufficient power for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was surprisingly confident, offering agility and engagement, while maintaining comfort on curvy roads. 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 2022 Acura MDX came with a single engine option at launch, a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), standard in Canada. The SH-AWD system featured torque vectoring, enhancing cornering feel and control. The MDX's suspension was upgraded with a double-wishbone front setup and revised rear multi-link suspension, improving ride quality and sporty handling. The vehicle's stiffness and rigidity were significantly enhanced, resulting in a solid ride feel. The 10-speed transmission worked seamlessly with the engine, offering smooth performance and five drive modes for customization. During test drives, the MDX impressed with its cornering ability and highway cruising, standing out among competitors like the Lexus RX L, Volvo XC90, and Audi Q7.

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. Back-seat passengers found good headroom but limited legroom, and large rear-facing car seats could pose challenges for taller front passengers. The Kona's cargo space was limited, ranking low in its segment, though rear seats could be folded to expand the area. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious centre console.

The 2022 Acura MDX excelled in versatility as a three-row SUV. It offered comfortable seating for the first two rows, with dual bucket sport seats in the front and a second row with a removable centre section. The second row could slide and recline, balancing legroom for passengers. The third row was best suited for smaller passengers, but the MDX's seating capacity and USB connections in all rows were appreciated for family use. The MDX provided flexible cargo capacity, with up to 512 litres of luggage space behind the third row and up to 2,690 litres with the second and third rows folded. The power tailgate featured convenient functions like "Walk Away Close" and Hands-Free Access. Interior lighting was customizable, with 27 themes enhancing the cabin's ambiance.

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, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a simple interface and responsive performance. Wireless smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage, especially for lower trims, though the larger touchscreen did not support this feature.

The 2022 Acura MDX boasted advanced technology, including the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System with 16 speakers and 710 watts of amplification in higher trims. The base MDX featured a Premium Audio system, while the Tech grade offered an ELS Studio system with 12 speakers. Navigation was standard on Tech and above trims, and all models included a 12.3-inch infotainment system and Acura Precision Cockpit digital instrument panel. Amazon Alexa integration, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Qi-compatible wireless charging were standard. The MDX also featured CabinTalk for communication with rear passengers, a head-up display on the Platinum Elite grade, and a WiFi hotspot with over-the-air updates.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with "Good" scores in all crash test areas, 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 grades 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 2022 Acura MDX received a "Top Safety Pick +" rating from the IIHS, with top marks in every category. The NHTSA had not yet rated the 2022 model, but Acura aimed for improved ratings over the 2020 model's five stars. The MDX featured a higher percentage of high-strength steel and an advanced safety structure. The front end was redesigned for pedestrian safety, with impact-absorbing elements. A low-speed braking control system operated between 1 and 10 km/h, providing warnings and autonomous braking if necessary. The AcuraWatch suite of safety features was standard, including collision mitigation emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more.