2023 Acura MDX vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its overall sophistication. The vehicle was extended by 4 centimetres compared to the 2021 model, and it featured a revised grille, updated front and rear fascias, and improved LED lighting. The sporty new character lines, contrasted by lower body cladding, gave the Kona a more refined appearance. New alloy wheel designs further complemented the exterior styling changes. Inside, the instrument panel and centre console were separated to emphasize a more horizontal layout, creating a wider and more spacious look. Ambient lighting in the front cupholders and footwells added a touch of elegance. The introduction of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements, such as body-colour cladding and rocker panels, enhancing the vehicle's athletic appeal. The Kona N Line featured exclusive black seats with red stitching, a black headliner, and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N boasted wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a double-wing roof spoiler.

The 2023 Acura MDX, particularly in the Type S Ultra trim, aimed to deliver a blend of luxury and performance. The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, featuring subtle design elements like chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and 21-inch wheels. The Type S Ultra trim included quilted leather, aluminum interior trim, and a Sport Appearance package. However, some design choices, such as the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made it challenging to use certain controls. The MDX's body design, with its tapering at the doors, sometimes gave the impression of a massive dent. Despite these minor issues, the MDX Type S was fundamentally an attractive luxury SUV, though it occasionally struggled to meet the high expectations set by its price point.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a diverse range of powertrains, catering to different performance preferences. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. For those seeking more excitement, the N Line trim came with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque through a seven-speed DCT. The Kona N, the most performance-oriented variant, boasted a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. This setup included exclusive driving features like N Grin Shift and N Track Sense Shift, enhancing the driving experience. The Kona N Line, with its turbocharged engine and AWD, provided ample power and agility, making it a pleasure to drive in various settings. The vehicle's low ride height and centre of gravity contributed to its composed handling, while noise levels inside the cabin were impressively low for its price point.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out with its turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This was a significant increase over the standard 3.5-litre V6, but the Type S also weighed more. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which could direct up to 70 percent of engine output to a single rear wheel. The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with multiple driving modes, including an exclusive Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the performance upgrades didn't always work harmoniously, leading to issues like an indecisive transmission and poor brake pedal modulation. The MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive driving experience, with its performance falling short of expectations, especially considering its fuel consumption and price point.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, offered commendable comfort for front-seat occupants. Headroom and legroom were ample, even with the optional sunroof, and the front seats provided good support. However, rear-seat passengers faced challenges due to small door openings and limited head- and legroom. The Kona's cargo space was tight, with 544 litres available with all seats up, expanding to 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. Despite claims of improved rear-seat legroom and cargo space, the Kona remained limited in these areas, making it less suitable for carrying multiple passengers or large loads.

The 2023 Acura MDX excelled in functionality, offering three rows of seats and a spacious cargo area. The Type S Ultra trim featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, wrapped in quilted leather. The second-row seat could slide to create more space for third-row passengers, though the third row was best suited for children. The MDX's interior design prioritized style over storage space, with limited storage options in the centre console. The cargo area, however, was generous, with 461 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,107 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,021 litres with both rear rows down. The MDX's hands-free liftgate and underfloor storage bin added convenience for loading and unloading cargo.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona introduced more tech features for the 2022 model year. The base Essential trim came with an 8-inch display, while the N Line and Kona N offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information. The Kona N Line with the Ultimate Package and the Kona N featured an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base 8-inch screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona's infotainment system was user-friendly, and Hyundai BlueLink provided connected services like remote engine start and stolen-vehicle recovery.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen wasn't touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the centre console. The TTI design, while innovative, had drawbacks, such as taking up valuable console space and partially blocking the wireless charging pad. The MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-In, and a range of infotainment features, including SiriusXM satellite radio and AcuraLink connected services. The top-tier ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers delivered impressive sound quality. The MDX also included a 10.5-inch head-up display with navigation instructions and driving assistance status.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a basic set of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests. However, it didn't achieve Top Safety Pick status due to a "Marginal" rating for child-seat anchors.

The 2023 Acura MDX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including a collision mitigation braking system, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The MDX also featured rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The MDX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it earned four-star protection ratings for the driver and front passenger in the frontal-impact test.