2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV with a blend of 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 style 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 interior layout was simple and intuitive, with an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls.

The 2022 Kia EV6, in contrast, was sportier and svelte, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. It had a lower and wider visual stance, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were stretched to the chassis corners, giving the body hips similar to a Porsche 911. The headlights traced a V-shaped pattern, and the wedgy profile looked blade-sharp with an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler. The interior boasted dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash, and the hockey-puck shifter and digital controls added to the futuristic feel. The EV6's design was car-first, computer-second, making it enjoyable to drive.

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. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbo engine had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,400. The Kona's engines provided ample power for city and highway driving, though the dual-clutch transmission was less graceful at low speeds. The Kona handled confidently, feeling agile and fun to drive, with a balance of comfort and composure on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied, with the base engine and FWD returning 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and the turbo engine with AWD delivering 26/29/27 mpg.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, tested at launch, featured two electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. With a 77-kilowatt-hour battery, this 4600-pound car accelerated to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The top-power GT trim, arriving in fall 2022, promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of under 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller 58 kWh battery and a 167 hp motor, which was less recommended. The dual-motor GT-Line offered impressive torque distribution, with the rear motor driving the wheels until full power or cornering demanded front motor activation. The EV6's regenerative braking had over eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving. However, cold weather affected its driving range, with our test revealing only 65 percent of Kia's 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging performance varied, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW but often limited by available chargers.

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 large rear door openings facilitated child seat loading, though large rear-facing seats could be problematic for taller front passengers. The Kona's cargo space was limited, with only the Mazda CX-3 offering less in its segment. However, small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented core functions, such as pop-out door handles and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shared a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating when driving. The low floor provided generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. The cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 when folded. RWD models offered a small front trunk, while AWD models had an electric motor occupying the space. The EV6 had a towing capacity of 2,300 pounds and an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

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. The infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and access features.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was similar to other Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis models, being simple and quick to adjust settings. It required a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel showed vehicles in surrounding lanes and a 3D bar graph of power and speed. The 360-degree cameras were sharp, and the head-up display used augmented reality for navigation. Standard tech included HDA, blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, dual 12-inch screens, and a wireless charger. Higher trims had a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

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 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies but came with impressive standard safety tech. The HDA system included lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added front parking sensors, automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise with "machine learning."