2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2024 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous image for a more modern and stylish design. It was longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor, drawing inspiration from the midsize Chevy Blazer. The Trax featured a bold grille, distinctive body lines, and a variety of wheel options, giving it a strong presence. Inside, the Trax offered a mix of materials, with higher trims featuring Evotex upholstery and unique design elements like a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic in mind, showcasing a sleek, modern look. It retained its recognizable silhouette but introduced new design elements like a seamless horizon LED headlight and a more substantial body cladding. The Kona's interior was updated with a driver-oriented centre stack and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens. The gear shift was moved to the steering column, creating more space between the driver and passenger.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Despite a decrease in power from the previous model, it offered improved acceleration, reaching 100 km/h faster than before. The Trax was available only in front-wheel drive, with a six-speed automatic transmission. Its handling was more car-like, with a wider track providing a stable feel, although it still exhibited some body roll.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its engine lineup, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the Essential and Preferred trims, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine for the N Line. The base engine delivered 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, while the turbo offered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The Kona featured a new 8-speed automatic transmission for the turbo engine and offered all-wheel drive as an option. Its handling was nimble, with intuitive steering, although the turbo's pickup was slightly slow.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered increased rear-seat legroom, but headroom decreased slightly in the second row. It provided a car-like driving position with excellent visibility. Cargo space increased to 725 litres with the seats up and 1,532 litres with them folded, making it competitive in its class.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited from its increased length, offering 970 mm of rear-seat legroom and improved headroom. Cargo capacity expanded significantly to 723 litres with the seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded. The interior featured practical storage solutions, including a handy dash shelf and a wireless charging pad with a guardrail.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw major infotainment upgrades, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on lower trims and an 11-inch screen on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, along with wireless phone charging. The digital instrument cluster was a standout feature, offering a modern design and easy readability.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen across all trims, except for the N Line with the Ultimate package, which required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Kona featured a Bose stereo system in higher trims and dual 12.3-inch displays in the N Line. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services and a digital key feature were also included.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered a range of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Teen Driver system was also standard, providing safety monitoring for young drivers.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona included advanced safety features like Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. Adaptive cruise control was standard from the Preferred trim, and the N Line's Ultimate package added Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist provided smooth lane-keeping capabilities.