Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Hyundai Kona

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was priced at just over $50,000 for the base Hybrid LE, with the Limited trim and Platinum package reaching $61,800 in Canada. The vehicle's design was bold, with exaggerated forms and a new Cypress Green paint colour. The interior was characterized by oversized elements, such as a 12.3-inch touchscreen and large climate control knobs, but lacked elegance and quality. The mismatched textures and tones, along with reflections from the display, made the cabin visually overwhelming. Despite its quiet ride, the interior felt of dubious quality, with controls that sounded and felt inexpensive.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed as an electric vehicle first, evident in its sleek appearance. The new Kona featured a single-piece grille similar to the Ioniq 5 and a "seamless horizon" LED headlight. The vehicle's larger size offered more interior space, with a creased "parametric surface" on the doors and substantial black body cladding. Standard LED lights and varying wheel sizes 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, creating a refined and spacious interior.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, producing 243 combined horsepower. The electric motors assisted in acceleration and allowed for low-speed electric-only driving. However, the gas engine's 175 lb-ft of torque limited high-speed passing power, and towing capacity was questionable. The Highlander Hybrid offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with AWD and a Trail mode for light off-road use. Despite its focus on fuel economy, the Predictive Efficient Drive system was not very effective, with real-world fuel consumption at 8.2 L/100 km. The driving experience was uninspiring, with soft suspension and a noisy CVT, making it suitable for city and suburban use.

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 engine for the N Line. The base engine produced 147 horsepower, while the turbo offered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The new 8-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous 7-speed DCT. The Kona's handling was nimble, with intuitive steering, though pickup was slow even with the turbo. FWD was standard, with AWD available for an additional fee. Fuel economy varied by trim, with the N Line AWD consuming 9.7 L/100 km in the city. The Kona's performance was well-suited for both city and highway driving.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was designed to accommodate family life, seating seven or eight people depending on the configuration. However, the third-row seat was best for occasional use, and access was tight. The interior featured three-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and optional heated second-row captain's chairs. Storage was ample, with a dashboard shelf and rubber-lined cupholders, but the centre armrest storage console was complex and inconvenient. Cargo space was generous, with 453 litres behind the third row and up to 2,387 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length provided more rear-seat legroom and headroom, with 970 mm of legroom and 974 mm of front headroom. Cargo capacity expanded to 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 and a wireless charging pad with a "guardrail" to keep phones in place. Seating options included cloth, leatherette, and a leather/suede combination, with ventilated front seats available on the N Line with the Ultimate package. The Kona's interior was spacious and well-equipped for passengers and cargo.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid introduced new technology, with upper trims featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system. The system offered over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and various connected service plans. The Drive Connect service plan provided an Intelligent Assistant and cloud-based navigation. The Limited trim included a head-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system. While the infotainment platform was user-friendly, the graphics lacked contrast, making it difficult to see.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims except the N Line with the Ultimate package. The upgraded stereo system was provided by Bose, and the Kona featured USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. Dual 12.3-inch displays created a panoramic view in the N Line, and OTA update capability was standard. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services and a digital key feature were also included, enhancing the Kona's technological offerings.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with additional features on higher trims. The ADAS performed well in most situations, and the Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona offered advanced driver-assistance features, with Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance as standard. High-beam assist and adaptive cruise control were included from the Preferred trim, with additional features in the N Line's Ultimate package. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite provided smooth lane-keep assist, enhancing the Kona's safety capabilities.