2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that combined mild and wild styling elements. Its front end featured a busy array of lighting, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on some trims. This playful design appealed to younger buyers. The rear, however, was more subdued, adopting a standard crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with leather available on higher trims. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and intuitive climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 inherited styling elements from other Genesis models but maintained a unique appearance. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback look. The ribbed detailing added muscle to its profile, combining SUV bulk with sleek, car-like elements. The Sport Prestige models had unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. The interior had an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with most controls housed in a thin elliptical pod. The design was minimal, with a perched touchscreen and hidden air vents, creating a baroque spaceship feel. The GV70 offered a wide array of interior color options and luxurious materials, with Nappa leather upholstery and suede seat inserts in the Sport Prestige model.

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, they provided ample power for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was surprisingly confident, offering agility and engagement, with a balance of comfort and composure on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain, with the base engine and FWD achieving 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 featured a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode sharpened throttle response and held high revs for quick overtakes. However, the GV70's chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of competitors like the Acura RDX and BMW X3. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled on highways, but its firm ride and lack of solidity detracted from its luxury feel.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with controls easily accessible to both front passengers. The seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The Kona's large rear door openings facilitated child seat installation, though large rear-facing seats could be problematic for taller front passengers. Cargo space was limited, with the Kona near the bottom of its segment, but small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided comparable headroom to competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and BMW X3. Legroom was adequate, and rear-seat visibility was good. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing the GV70 in the middle of the segment. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, a covered storage cubby with USB ports was included. The Sport Prestige model's front seats were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

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 software was simple, colorful, and responsive, with easy navigation and minimal clicks required to access features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant benefits, especially for lower trims.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality with pinch-and-zoom capabilities. Higher trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 included a digital-key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation, driver profiles, last-mile guidance, and valet mode, free for three years.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the 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.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, being a new model, lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. It came standard with lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also featured eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist impressed with smooth control inputs but struggled with curves.