2022 GMC Terrain vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its sophistication with a longer body, revised grille, and sporty character lines. The new alloy wheel designs and enhanced LED lighting added to its appeal. Inside, the Kona's interior was redesigned for a more spacious look, with ambient lighting adding a touch of elegance. The introduction of the N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements, making the Kona look more athletic. The N Line featured exclusive black seats with red stitching, while the Kona N boasted wide fenders and sporty accents. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line, impressed with its streamlined proportions and sporty details, such as the red accent stitching and "N" logos.

The 2022 GMC Terrain underwent updates to its front styling, wheel designs, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bold grille design, black alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, emphasizing its off-road capabilities. Our test vehicle, equipped with the AT4 trim, showcased a blacked-out treatment and a black leather interior. Despite its rugged appearance, the Terrain's interior materials and execution did not fully meet expectations for its price point. The pushbutton transmission controls and narrow storage tray were notable oversights. Overall, the Terrain's cabin, while comfortable, lacked the craftsmanship expected at its price level.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of powertrains, catering to different performance preferences. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower, paired with a CVT. The N Line trim, with its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, providing a spirited driving experience. The Kona N, with its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, boasted 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, offering an exhilarating ride. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line, impressed with its torquey engine and agile handling, making it a pleasure to drive in various settings.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. While the engine provided adequate power, it lacked the acceleration of the previously available 2.0-litre engine. The nine-speed automatic transmission helped keep the Terrain in the torque band, but the vehicle's performance was not particularly exciting. The Terrain AT4 offered FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control for added versatility. However, the Terrain's handling was not as engaging, and its off-road capabilities were limited by its ground clearance and suspension.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, despite its compact size, offered a comfortable front-seat experience with ample headroom and legroom. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges with limited space and small door openings. Cargo space was tight, with 544 litres available with all seats up, expanding to 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. Towing was not recommended for the Kona.

The 2022 GMC Terrain provided a roomy interior with power-adjustable front seats, heated features, and dual-zone climate control. The back seat offered generous legroom and support, with additional amenities like a rear USB charging port. The Terrain's cargo space measured 838 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,792 litres with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat could also be folded for longer items, enhancing its practicality.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona featured an 8-inch display with Bluetooth connectivity as standard, with higher trims offering a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a premium audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona's infotainment system was user-friendly, with Hyundai BlueLink providing connected services.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems, with the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the larger screen offering navigation and a Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was highly praised for its accuracy and responsiveness. The Terrain also featured a head-up display, park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing its technological offerings.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona came with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received high safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in all IIHS crashworthiness tests.

The 2022 GMC Terrain included the GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, with features like forward-collision warning 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's crashworthiness at the time of review.