2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a more traditional SUV styling, characterized by its tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, aligning well with the rest of the Volvo lineup. It featured distinctive “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille, with gasoline models offering a white contrasting roof for a retro touch. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also sported a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a unique rear bumper, and an exclusive Sage Green Metallic colour. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a coherent and pleasing design.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV with a playful design aimed at younger buyers. Its front featured a busy grille flanked by multiple lighting elements, while the rear had a more subdued crossover shape. The interior mirrored this playful attitude without being overly whimsical, offering neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with leather available on higher trims. The well-organized interior included an infotainment system touchscreen and physical climate controls, providing a simple and intuitive layout that complemented the Kona's compact size.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 model delivered 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the T5 variant offered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for all-wheel drive, producing a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It housed a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds. The T5 and T4 models achieved 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 180 km/h. The XC40 Recharge emphasized luxury and comfort, offering excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability, with a towing capacity of 900 kilograms.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided two powertrain options. The base model featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-litre engine produced 195 hp and 195 lb-ft, 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 AWD as standard. The Kona's engines offered sufficient power for city and highway driving, though the dual-clutch transmission was less smooth at low speeds. The Kona handled confidently, providing a fun and engaging driving experience, with fuel consumption ratings of 8.6/7.0/7.9 L/100 km for FWD models and 9.2/7.8/8.6 L/100 km for AWD models with the base engine.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both in its Recharge and gasoline variants, offered no difference in passenger or cargo space. However, it was not particularly spacious, with less legroom and headroom compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was limited due to powertrain hardware. Despite this, Volvo incorporated clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the centre console and a bag hook in the glovebox door. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins, and a wireless charging pad was optional.

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, though large rear door openings facilitated child seat installation. The Kona's cargo space was limited, ranking low in its segment, but the rear seats folded to expand the area. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious centre console.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, offering Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, with the ability to sync personal Google accounts. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model also supported OTA updates for software-controlled vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob present.

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 features included SiriusXM, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment software was simple, colourful, and responsive, with easy navigation and wireless smartphone connectivity, though the larger touchscreen did not support wireless features.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 gasoline model received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. It came with standard safety features like lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model included Volvo’s latest sensor suite, capable of future updates for advanced driver aids.

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, and automatic emergency braking. Optional upgrades offered lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors.