2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was designed with a focus on maintaining a classic SUV aesthetic, featuring well-proportioned and chiseled styling that conveyed a rugged sense of purpose. It was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices starting at $30,898 for the base S FWD and reaching $43,748 for the Platinum trim. The Platinum trim, which we tested, offered upscale features such as diamond-pattern leather seats and a host of interior and exterior lighting enhancements. Despite its premium feel, the Rogue's design choices were conservative, ensuring broad appeal without taking significant design risks.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed as an electric vehicle first, which was evident in its modern and sleek appearance. The new Kona featured a single-piece grille reminiscent of the Ioniq 5 and a "seamless horizon" LED headlight design. The vehicle's increased length provided a more spacious interior, while the exterior showcased Hyundai's signature "parametric surface" design on the doors. The Kona's lineup included standard LED lighting and a range of wheel sizes, with the N Line trim offering body-coloured wheel arches for a sportier look. Inside, the Kona boasted a driver-oriented centre stack and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens, reflecting a significant update from its predecessor.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.5-litre four-cylinder in most trims, offering improved performance and fuel economy. The Rogue's CVT included paddle shifters and offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Auto, and Sport, with additional Off-Road and Snow modes for AWD versions. Despite its responsive performance in urban settings, the Rogue's engine exhibited some vibration and noise, and its highway passing power was limited. Fuel economy was slightly below expectations, averaging 8.1 L/100 km in combined driving. The Rogue's suspension and steering provided a balanced ride, though the steering felt somewhat lifeless.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the Essential and Preferred trims and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder for the N Line. The base engine delivered 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, while the turbo engine offered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The Kona's new 8-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous 7-speed DCT, and paddle shifters were included with the N Line. The Kona's handling was nimble, and its steering intuitive, though pickup was slightly slow even with the turbo engine. AWD was available for an additional fee, and fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain and trim level.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue offered a spacious and practical interior, making it a suitable replacement for a traditional family car. It comfortably accommodated four passengers, with the option to seat a fifth. The Platinum trim featured premium leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, though ventilated seats were not available. The Rogue's rear doors opened wide for easy access, and the cargo area provided up to 1,028 litres of space with the rear seats up, expandable to 2,064 litres with them folded. However, the rear seat comfort was lacking, and the key fob design was inconvenient in low light.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited from its increased length, offering 970 mm of rear-seat legroom and a significant boost in cargo capacity to 723 litres with the rear seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded. The interior featured a handy dash shelf and a wireless charging pad with a guardrail. The Kona's seating options included cloth, leatherette, and a leather/suede combination, with ventilated front seats available on the N Line with the Ultimate package. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard in Canada, enhancing comfort for occupants.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue's infotainment system featured a 9-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto. It also included a navigation system, a wireless charging pad, and a Bose premium audio system. However, the voice recognition technology was limited, and the system struggled with certain requests. The Rogue also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, though the latter was not tested with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona introduced 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's upgraded stereo system was provided by Bose, and it featured multiple USB-C ports for connectivity. The N Line offered dual 12.3-inch displays for a panoramic view, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were standard across the lineup. A digital key feature was also introduced, allowing for app-based vehicle access.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including 10 airbags, Safety Shield 360, and ProPilot Assist with Navi-link. The latter combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, providing a smooth and accurate driving experience. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received lower scores in certain crash tests.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona continued Hyundai's tradition of offering advanced safety features across its lineup. Standard features included Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. The Kona also offered adaptive cruise control and Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite, which provided smooth lane-keeping assistance. The N Line's Ultimate package added Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor, enhancing safety and convenience.