2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. The new standard LED headlights flanked a hexagonal grille, giving the Pacifica a more muscular aesthetic compared to its previous elegant design. The rear featured an all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents, were also introduced.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by offering a blend of practicality and luxury, especially in the Pinnacle trim. The Pinnacle featured a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents, and real metal surrounds. Quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats added to the upscale look. The Pacifica also boasted well-weighted doors and advanced sound-deadening technology for a quieter ride.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV with a blend of mild and wild styling. The front grille was flanked by lighting features, with additional lights above and fog lights below, creating a busy yet playful look aimed at younger buyers. The rear was more subdued, featuring a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration.

Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being too whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather options. The interior layout was simple and intuitive, featuring an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls. The compact interior was well-organized, making it easy to navigate and use.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options. The traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivered 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid option combined a V6 engine with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, automatically activating when needed to improve traction and deactivating to enhance fuel efficiency. The hybrid model had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with AWD available for an additional $1,400.

The Kona's turbo engine and dual-clutch transmission provided a sporty feel, though it was less graceful at low speeds. The Kona handled confidently, offering agility and engagement, while maintaining comfort and composure on curvy roads. Fuel economy for the base engine with FWD was 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and 25/30/27 mpg with AWD. The turbo engine with FWD achieved 28/32/30 mpg, and 26/29/27 mpg with AWD.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats were roomy, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seats with in-floor storage bins. The second-row under-console storage slid outward, providing additional space for charging cords, tissues, and other items.

The second- and third-row seats offered ample legroom, with the Stow 'n Go feature allowing seats to tumble into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica's cargo area was spacious, with the Pinnacle trim offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with an optional sunroof that didn't significantly reduce headroom. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom, though large rear door openings made loading and unloading children easier.

The Kona's cargo space was limited compared to competitors, though the rear seats folded to expand the area. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a clean design and quick responsiveness. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an optional second-row in-seat entertainment system offering games and multiple ports for external devices.

The Pacifica's sound system options ranged from a standard six-speaker setup to 13-speaker Alpine and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. The Pinnacle trim included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came with an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen system.

Hyundai's infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and use. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant benefits, especially for lower trim levels, providing navigation, streaming audio, and voice controls.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lockout, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with "Good" scores in all crash test areas and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.