2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that blended mild and wild styling. Its front grille was flanked by lighting features, with additional lights above and fog lights beneath on some trims. This busy look leaned more towards playful than business, appealing to younger buyers. The rear design was more subdued, featuring 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 well-organized interior featured a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making the layout simple and intuitive.

The 2021 Lexus NX carried over familial design and styling attributes, with sharp design lines that made it resemble the smaller Lexus UX and larger Lexus RX. Standard features included power-folding outside mirrors and 17-inch wheels. The NX F Sport variant added sportier elements like a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels. Inside, the F Sport models featured quilted NuLuxe sport seats with exclusive color schemes, including Circuit Red. The material fit and finish were excellent, with a familiar gauge cluster and a 4.2-inch multi-information display. However, the center stack showed its age with an outdated design and limited small-item storage.

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. The Kona handled confidently, feeling agile and engaging, with a smooth and planted ride on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied, with the base engine and FWD returning 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, while the turbo engine and AWD delivered 26/29/27 mpg.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 22/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined, while the AWD model achieved 22/28/24 mpg. The NX featured an adaptive-suspension system and three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. The F Sport variant included Active Sound Control and a G-Force meter, though the latter was more of a gimmick. The NX had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed of 124 mph.

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. The rear seats offered good headroom but limited legroom, making it less comfortable for taller passengers. The Kona's cargo space was near the bottom of its segment, with rear seats that folded to expand the space. However, small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and adequate legroom for rear passengers. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats had a 60/40 split-folding design. The NX offered 17.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, expanding to 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. These numbers were among the smallest in its class. The NX included a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats. Engine noise was present, but road and wind noise were minimal, maintaining a typical Lexus quiet cabin.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment 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. The infotainment system was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and access features.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 10.3-inch screen available as part of the Navigation package. The package also included predictive traffic information, ETA calculation, and fuel station guidance. New for 2021, the system added HomeLink and Lexus Enform Destination Assist. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hot spot. The Lexus Premium Audio system had eight speakers, with an optional Mark Levinson 14-speaker system. The NX was compatible with the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app and included a 10-year subscription to Lexus Enform Services Connect.

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 NX came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Optional features included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The NX received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, with "Superior" front crash-prevention technology and an "Acceptable" LATCH system ease of use. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Lexus backed the NX with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.