2020 Hyundai Kona vs 2020 Jeep Renegade

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It offered a purposeful yet expressive design, available in primary trims like Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with special editions ranging from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport started at $25,210, while the High Altitude trim, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. The High Altitude trim featured extra-cost paint, trendy dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, despite the luxurious details, the interior was dominated by hard plastic, making it look inexpensive and unimaginative.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona, larger than the Ford EcoSport, looked exciting with its sleek, sporty, and dramatic exterior. It featured tiered lighting up front, a tall grille, and chunky matte plastic trim, making it appear taller and wider. The slim LED running lamps, headlights spaced to the car's edges, and optional fog lights created a visually stimulating effect. The fender creases, black trim, and two-tone wheels added to its premium vibe. Limited and Ultimate models came with larger wheels and additional gray trim, while the SEL had a unique black-painted roof and pillars. However, the interior couldn't match the exterior's emotion or quality, with hard, dull plastics and lackluster finishes. The fit and finish were steps below competitors like the CX-30, C-HR, and HR-V.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission was standard with both engines, with FWD on base models and AWD on higher trims. The turbocharged 1.3-liter engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, making the Renegade feel energetic, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy resulted in uneven powertrain response. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The driving dynamics were less than ideal, with a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin, making highway driving a chore. The Trailhawk trim was the best version for off-roading.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona's 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine produced 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) provided strong acceleration and quick response. The standard engine was a 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with optional AWD. The Kona's steering was fast and direct, and the suspension was tight and stable, offering minimal roll. The AWD models had an independent rear suspension, providing better handling. The Kona averaged just under 29 mpg, with EPA estimates of 26 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined for the 1.6T AWD. The 2.0 AWD returned 26/30/28 mpg.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's boxy exterior design made the interior feel larger, with a far-away windshield, thick and curved windshield pillars, and vertical side glass. The panoramic glass roof added to the sense of space. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat made it easy to get comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear-seat occupants. Cargo volume was limited, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona had seating for four, with a scalloped roof for more headroom and average rear legroom. However, it had one of the smallest cargo holds, with 19 cubic feet of space and 46 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Competitors like the Honda HR-V, Buick Encore GX, and Jeep Renegade offered more cargo space. The Kona's controls were easy to use, and the infotainment system was simple and fast. However, it lacked the utility of a true crossover, feeling more like a small hatchback.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound quality. The Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona, except for the base SE, had a good list of standard features. The SE had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SEL added proximity entry, auto/up down windows, vanity mirrors, heated front seats, heated mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tinted rear windows, blind-spot monitoring, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an engine anti-theft immobilizer. The SEL Plus included an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless charging, an eight-way power driver's seat, an eight-speaker Infinity stereo, and Blue Link connectivity. The Limited had leather upholstery, and the Ultimate had a sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, auto high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group with adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and commendable scores from the IIHS, but it did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona scored five out of five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests, with maximum ratings for driver and passenger in the frontal and side tests. It scored four out of five stars in the rollover risk test. The IIHS rated the Kona a 2020 Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in six crash tests, optional LED headlights, and a top Superior rating for forward emergency braking. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist and a driver attention monitor. Pedestrian detection was only available on the Ultimate trim.