2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

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 toward 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 too 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 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Up front, it sported Hyundai's new face, with a parametric grille hiding standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The side profile borrowed design cues from the Hyundai Elantra, featuring a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. The rear had toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model. Depending on the trim, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, with high-end trims featuring premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats and available sport combination and leather-trimmed seats. Horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic gave the interior a sense of spaciousness.

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 and drove with more confidence than its price tag suggested, feeling agile and engaging. Fuel economy for the base engine with FWD was 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, while the turbo engine with FWD achieved 28/32/30 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain delivered 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, making it more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. AWD was standard on the hybrid and available on ICE models. The Tucson Hybrid achieved 37 mpg city/highway/combined, while the ICE engine with FWD got 26/33/29 mpg. A plug-in hybrid version with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque was also announced, promising around 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with controls and displays within easy reach. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The Kona's cargo space was near the bottom of its segment, though the rear seats folded to expand the area. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, comparable to competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Standard features included a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. The new platform allowed for more passenger and cargo space, with the rear seats offering two inches more legroom than the RAV4. The Tucson's 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and significantly larger than the Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models, with a hands-free liftgate available on mid-grade trims and up.

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 use.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports as standard. Higher trims added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10.25-inch touchscreen was available, but required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded in a black plastic head unit with touch-sensitive controls, which could be challenging to use while driving. Steering wheel controls and voice commands were more heavily relied upon.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS 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 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. However, it came with the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, which included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert as standard. Optional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, parking collision avoidance assist, and remote parking assist. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.