2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that combined mild and wild styling elements. Its front end featured a busy array of lighting, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on some trims. This playful design appealed to younger buyers. The rear, however, was more subdued, adopting a standard crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with leather available on higher trims. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and intuitive physical climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, rode on a new platform and was offered in a long-wheelbase version in North America, providing two rows of seating and expanded cargo space. Its front showcased Hyundai's new design language, with a parametric grille hiding LED lights that formed a unique shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile borrowed design cues from the Hyundai Elantra, featuring a silver D-pillar for a floating roof effect. The rear boasted toothy LED taillights, helping it stand out among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim, the Tucson rode on 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, with high-end trims featuring premium fascias, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior was well-appointed, with stain-resistant cloth seats standard and leather-trimmed seats available on higher trims. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered design contributed to a spacious feel.

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, 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 handled confidently, offering an engaging driving experience with a balance of comfort and composure. Fuel consumption ratings for the base engine with FWD were 8.6/7.0/7.9 L/100 km city/highway/combined, while the turbo engine with AWD achieved 9.0/8.0/8.6 L/100 km.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with two powertrain variants: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and an electric motor. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, making it more powerful than the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Tucson Hybrid's AWD system performed well in off-road testing, similar to Subaru's reactive AWD system. Fuel consumption for the ICE engine with FWD was 9.1/7.1/8.2 L/100 km city/highway/combined, while the hybrid achieved 6.3/6.6/6.4 L/100 km. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even more power and efficiency, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque.

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

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, comparable to competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available. The new platform provided more room for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering 90 millimetres more legroom than the RAV4. The Tucson's 1,095-litre cargo space was competitive, with a 60-40 split-folding rear bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available features 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 controls. Wireless smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage, though the larger touchscreen did not support it.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a fully digital instrument cluster, and additional USB outlets. The larger screen was embedded in a black plastic head unit, with touchpoints for climate and media controls. While responsive, the lack of physical buttons made it challenging to use while driving, requiring reliance on steering wheel controls and voice commands.

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, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety suite, with standard forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, and rear occupant alert. Available features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 5-year/100,000-kilometre limited warranty for the Tucson.