2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a small SUV that combined a playful and unique exterior with a more subdued rear design. Its front end featured a busy array of lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on certain 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 a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and intuitive climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse presented itself as a more traditional SUV, albeit with a modern twist. It underwent a light restyle for the model year, featuring new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with updated colour choices. The Traverse RS trim, in particular, showcased blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, adding a touch of sophistication. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with contrast stitching, a black headliner, and gloss black trim. While hard plastic surfaces were prevalent, the interior layout was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear for reduced glare. The Traverse's design demonstrated a level of styling restraint that was becoming rare in the SUV market.

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 Essential and Preferred models, 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 the dual-clutch transmission was less smooth at low speeds. The Kona's handling was surprisingly agile, offering a fun and engaging driving experience. Fuel consumption ratings for the Kona varied, with the base engine and FWD achieving 8.6/7.0/7.9 litres per 100 kilometres city/highway/combined.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, came with a single engine option: a 3.6-litre V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse's tow rating was 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped, and it offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided ample power for the Traverse's size, and the SUV returned a fuel economy rating of 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, absorbing smaller road imperfections while maintaining a pleasant ride quality. On the highway, it excelled, though road and wind noise were noticeable. The Traverse's handling was predictable, with the V6 drivetrain, Active Return Assist steering, and Duralife brakes performing well in mountainous terrain.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with a view that was not particularly exciting. The optional sunroof did not significantly impact headroom. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-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 near the bottom of its segment, though the rear seats could be folded to expand the space. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious centre console area.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a more spacious interior. However, choosing RS, Premier, or High Country trims meant sacrificing a second-row bench seat, reducing capacity to seven passengers. The Traverse RS featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors facilitated access to the third-row seat. The Traverse's all-black cabin was comfortable, with generous legroom and headroom for second-row passengers. The third-row seat accommodated adults, though it was less comfortable than some rivals. The Traverse excelled in storage space, with a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space behind the third-row seats measured 651 litres, expanding to 1,637 litres with the seats folded flat, and a maximum cargo volume of 2,781 litres.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment system 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 system. Hyundai's infotainment software was simple, colourful, and responsive, with easy navigation and wireless smartphone connectivity for most models.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LS model, with an 8-inch high-definition display on other trims. The Traverse Premier and High Country trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. Both infotainment systems supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Traverse RS trim included a Bose premium sound system, though it was not particularly impressive. The Chevrolet Infotainment System 3 technology was excellent, with responsive voice recognition. The Traverse's available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera enhanced visibility and safety.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features included forward-collision avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on AWD grades, with optional upgrades for lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

For 2022, the Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the Traverse LS added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims featured adaptive cruise control, an automatic emergency braking system for higher speeds, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received Good ratings from the IIHS in most categories but was rated Acceptable in the new side impact test and Poor for its LED headlights and seatbelt reminders. NHTSA ratings for the 2022 Traverse were not available at the time of writing.