2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that blended mild and wild styling. Up front, it featured a busy look with multiple lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on some trims. This playful design targeted younger buyers. The rear styling was more subdued, with a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being overly whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, featuring an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls, making the layout simple and intuitive.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling reflected its long market presence, retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn’t see any styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim. Despite not being originally designed around the spindle grille, the GX’s styling was coherent and distinctive, appealing to SUV shoppers with its tough, aggressive look. However, the interior didn’t meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had 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 was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,400. While neither engine was particularly powerful, both provided ample power for city and highway driving. The dual-clutch transmission, though not smooth at low speeds, improved the car's sporty feel at higher speeds. The Kona handled with confidence, feeling agile and engaging, yet comfortable and composed on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied slightly depending on the drivetrain, with the best figures being 28/32/30 mpg for the turbo engine with FWD.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was a throwback to older SUVs, with plenty of grunt from the V8 but a noticeable weight of 5,130 pounds at higher speeds. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph took 7.8 seconds. Merging and overtaking required careful planning, and stopping the SUV needed advanced preparation. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, lacking the smoothness of modern unibody SUVs. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added further enhancements for rugged terrain. The GX had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

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 sufficient support for spirited driving. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The large rear door openings facilitated loading and unloading children, though large rear-facing car seats could be problematic for taller front passengers. The Kona’s cargo space was limited, ranking near the bottom of its segment, but the rear seats folded to expand the space. Small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics showed its age. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel’s odd angle, combined with the tall seating position, felt bus-like. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, though forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage spaces were small, including the center-console bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX featured analog controls for climate and seat heaters, which were easier to use than touchscreen-based systems. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, with a power-folding third row available on higher trims. However, the third row was best for children, and accessing it was challenging. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, significantly less than competitors like the Land Rover Discovery.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with a solid list of tech and entertainment features, including 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. The infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and use.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features due to its older design. Standard features included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Two USB ports were provided for the first two rows, but the third row had none. An available 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was a highlight. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions, with a separate display for time and temperature using a seven-segment format. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, providing a straightforward interface.

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. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars overall. 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.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features found in other Lexus and non-luxury Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.