2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 GMC Terrain

The 2021 Hyundai Kona presented a unique and playful exterior design that appealed to younger buyers. Its front end featured a busy arrangement of lights and a distinctive grille, while the rear was more subdued with a traditional crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun vibe with neat seat patterns and a well-organized layout. The interior was intuitive, with a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, offering a balance of whimsy and practicality.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Terrain underwent updates to its front styling, wheel designs, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level added a bolder grille, black alloy wheels, and a steel skid plate for off-road protection. The interior featured a black leather finish, but the quality of materials and execution did not fully meet expectations for its price range. The pushbutton transmission controls were not intuitive, and the storage tray was too narrow for a smartphone. Despite these drawbacks, the Terrain offered a range of comfort features and storage solutions.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 195 horsepower. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Kona's handling was agile and engaging, providing a fun driving experience. Fuel consumption ratings were competitive, with the turbo engine and AWD achieving 9.0/8.0/8.6 L/100 km city/highway/combined.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission helped maintain torque, but the engine lacked rapid acceleration. The Terrain AT4 offered multiple driving modes, including FWD, AWD, and Off-Road, but torque steer was an issue in FWD mode. The Terrain's ride was smooth on highways, but off-road performance was limited by its ground clearance. Fuel economy was rated at 9.6/8.3/9.0 L/100 km city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with controls easily accessible. The rear seats offered good headroom but limited legroom, and cargo space was below average for its segment. However, small-item storage was generous and well-placed.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior with power-adjustable front seats, heated features, and dual-zone climate control. The back seat was spacious, with ample legroom and a rear USB charging port. Cargo space was generous, with 838 litres behind the second row and 1,792 litres with the rear seats folded. The Terrain also featured numerous storage solutions throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, though it lacked wireless smartphone connectivity. The system was user-friendly and responsive.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems, with the larger 8-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system was highly effective, and the Tech Package added useful features like a head-up display and surround-view camera system.

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, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Optional upgrades included lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. The Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Terrain received mostly "Good" crash-test scores from the IIHS, but a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain at the time of review.