2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of production, offered a nostalgic experience with its classic design elements. The standard model, finished in Magnetic Gray with Terra leather upholstery, presented a blend of old-school charm and luxury. Its exterior, reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, featured oversized headlights and taillights, with chrome accents adding a touch of flair. Inside, the Land Cruiser combined high-quality materials with a mix of Toyota and Lexus design elements, including a traditional hand-operated parking brake and a CD player, evoking a sense of time travel to the mid-2000s.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its modern appeal. The refreshed design included a longer body, revised fascias, and new LED lighting, giving it a sophisticated look. The interior boasted a more spacious feel with a horizontal layout, ambient lighting, and a rear USB port for added convenience. The introduction of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements and performance features, making the Kona appear more athletic and dynamic. The test vehicle, a Kona N Line in Blue Wave, impressed with its streamlined proportions and sporty accents, offering a well-finished interior that matched its price point.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra, delivering a quiet yet powerful performance. The eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system, with a two-speed transfer case, provided robust off-road capabilities. The Land Cruiser's Torsen limited-slip differential and Multi-Terrain Select traction assist ensured optimal power distribution and traction on various terrains. Despite its nearly 3-ton weight, the SUV offered a refined driving experience, with a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a diverse range of powertrains, catering to different performance preferences. The base SE and SEL trims featured a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter engine with a CVT, while the N Line and Limited trims boasted a 195-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with a seven-speed DCT. The new Kona N trim, with a 276-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and an N eight-speed wet DCT, delivered exhilarating performance with features like launch control and an electronic limited-slip differential. The Kona N Line, with its turbocharged engine and AWD, provided a spirited driving experience, with agile handling and a composed ride.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior, though dated, offered a luxurious experience with premium leather upholstery and heated, ventilated front seats. The spacious second-row bench seat featured heated cushions, while the third-row seat accommodated adults with some compromise on leg support. The Land Cruiser provided 16.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The split clamshell-style liftgate and tailgate facilitated easy access to the cargo area.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, despite its compact size, offered a comfortable front-seat experience with ample headroom and legroom. The rear seats, however, were less accommodating, with limited space and small door openings. The Kona's cargo space measured 19.2 cubic feet with all seats up, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While not spacious, the Kona's interior was well-designed for its size, though towing was not recommended.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Toyota Entune technology, lacking modern conveniences like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was straightforward, with large buttons and knobs for easy operation. The rear-seat entertainment system, though dated, offered DVD playback and HDMI connections. A 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system provided decent sound quality.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona introduced more advanced technology, with an 8-inch display standard on the base trim and a 10.25-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. The Kona offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with Hyundai Blue Link services. The N Line and above trims featured a digital instrument cluster and wireless device charging. The Kona's infotainment system was user-friendly, with seamless smartphone connectivity and a range of connected services.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked more advanced features like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping assistance. Crash-test ratings were unavailable for the Land Cruiser, but its robust build and 10 airbags provided a sense of security.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention warning. Optional technologies included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and high ratings from the IIHS, though its child-seat anchors received a "Marginal" rating.