2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that combined mild and wild styling elements. Its front grille was flanked by multiple lighting features, including fog lights on some trims, creating a busy yet playful look aimed at younger buyers. The rear design was more subdued, featuring a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it simple and intuitive to use.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV-like styling. It featured a macho front end and cleverly re-engineered sliding doors that tucked into the body, giving it an assertive profile. The interior was designed to avoid the typical minivan feel, offering an uncluttered front cabin and ample storage throughout. The second and third rows provided roomy, comfortable seating, with available captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench that folded into the floor. The Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying large items and offering power-operated sliding doors and tailgate for added convenience.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model featured 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 well, offering a fun and agile driving experience, though the dual-clutch transmission could be less smooth at low speeds. Fuel economy varied, with the base engine and FWD achieving 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, while the turbo engine and AWD delivered 26/29/27 mpg.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna continued with its hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna employed an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT), offering smooth and efficient power delivery. Handling was impressive for a minivan, thanks to the Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform. Fuel economy was a standout feature, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models getting 35 mpg. The Sienna's battery pack was tucked under the front seats, and it came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

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

The 2022 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and versatility. It could carry a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, and the sliding second row added flexibility for loading cargo. Cargo measurements were 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The third-row bench folded easily into the floor, and each row had ample storage cubbies and cupholders. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate with foot-motion triggers added convenience for busy families.

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 user-friendly, with a simple, colorful, and responsive interface.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna offered a wealth of standard and available technology features. A 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa was standard, along with SiriusXM, USB ports, and Bluetooth. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sienna included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker JBL audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a head-up display. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror and Smart Key System.

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 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also featured 10 airbags, multiple LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the cargo space wall for safety and convenience.