2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 showcased a design that was both familiar and fresh. Its styling was characterized by a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with the cabin positioned towards the rear wheels, embodying the subtle seductiveness typical of Mazda's vehicles over the past decade. However, the CX-50 introduced a rugged aesthetic with its blistered and boxed fender swells, bold lower body and wheel arch cladding, and faux skid plates. The oversized air intake and vent designs added a performance edge without being visually offensive. When combined with the standard black grille, mirror caps, and optional 20-inch alloy wheels, these elements created an appealing exterior. The introduction of the CX-50 Meridian Edition later in the model year added exclusive features like all-terrain tires and a roof-mounted load platform.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle (EV) focus, evident in its appearance. The grille resembled that of the Ioniq 5, with a single-piece look that signified its electric powertrain roots. The Kona featured a "seamless horizon" design with a single LED headlight dominating the front. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained a recognizable silhouette, with new design elements like the creased "parametric surface" on the doors and more substantial black body cladding on the base trims. The N Line trim, however, sported body-coloured wheel arches. Standard LED lighting and a rear taillight spanning the vehicle's width added to its modern look. Inside, the Kona's cabin was updated with a driver-oriented centre stack, a relocated gear shift, and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. The base GT model featured a 187 hp Skyactiv 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It delivered fuel consumption figures of 9.7 L/100 km in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 8.9 combined. For those seeking more power, the GT Turbo trim provided a turbocharged version of the same engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp depending on the fuel type, with torque ranging from 310 lb-ft to 320 lb-ft. This variant offered a towing capacity increase from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. The turbo engine's fuel economy was slightly higher, averaging 10.4 L/100 km city, 8.1 highway, and 9.4 combined. The CX-50's driving experience was smooth, with minimal turbo lag and a firm ride quality, making it feel more like a sporty station wagon than an SUV.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the Essential and Preferred trims, producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, generating 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, now mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Kona's front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. Fuel economy for the Essential trim with AWD was 8.8 L/100 km city, 8.1 highway, and 8.5 combined. The N Line AWD consumed 9.7 L/100 km city, 8.3 highway, and 9.1 combined. The Kona's handling was nimble, with intuitive steering, though acceleration was slightly sluggish even with the turbo engine.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50's interior was well-equipped for comfort, featuring power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The front seats were comfortable for long drives, though they could benefit from more side bolstering. The rear seat offered ample space for adults, with nearly 90-degree opening rear doors for easy access. Cargo space was 889 litres with the rear seats up and 1,595 litres with them folded, though the load floor was narrow between the wheel wells.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length translated to more interior space, with rear-seat legroom at 970 mm and headroom at 974 mm front and 972 mm rear with the sunroof. Cargo capacity was significantly improved, offering 723 litres with the rear seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded. The cabin featured a handy shelf on the passenger's side of the dash and a wireless charging pad with a "guardrail" to keep devices in place. The Kona offered various seating materials, with ventilated front seats available on the N Line with the Ultimate package.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system featuring a 10.25-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, the system lacked touchscreen control for its native interface, requiring the use of centre console buttons, steering wheel controls, or voice recognition. Touchscreen functionality was available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The CX-50 also offered a 12-speaker Bose sound system and an Active Driving Display with blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims except the N Line with the Ultimate package. The Kona featured a Bose stereo system, dual 12.3-inch displays for the N Line, and OTA update capability. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services and a digital key feature were standard, enhancing the vehicle's technological offerings.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, though it fell short of the Top Safety Pick+ designation due to some headlight configurations and night-time pedestrian collision avoidance results. It offered a comprehensive package of driving assistance systems, including active blind-spot monitoring and Traffic Jam Assist. However, the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with a robust suite of safety features, including standard Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist and adaptive cruise control were standard from the Preferred trim, with the N Line's Ultimate package adding Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist provided smooth lane-keep assist, enhancing the Kona's safety credentials.