2022 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2021 Lexus NX carried forward the brand's signature design and styling attributes. The sharp design lines of the SUV’s sculpted exterior helped it retain a familiar appearance, similar to 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 a sportier touch with a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels with all-season or summer tires. Inside, the F Sport models featured exclusive quilted NuLuxe sport seats and optional Circuit Red interior color schemes, along with leather and wood trim options. The interior's material fit and finish were excellent, though the design of the gauge cluster and center stack showed their age.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, making it 1.6 inches longer than the 2021 model. The revised front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and new character lines gave the Kona a more sophisticated look. The interior saw improvements with a more horizontal layout, new ambient lighting, and a rear USB port. The addition of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements and performance features. The N Line featured exclusive black seats with red stitching and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N added wide fenders, a front lip spoiler, and N sport bucket seats. The refreshed proportions and new design elements gave the Kona a more streamlined and athletic appearance.

The 2021 Lexus NX was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission was adequate but not as smooth as the newer eight-, nine-, and ten-speed transmissions found in competitors. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds, with a relatively quiet ride except under hard acceleration. The F Sport models featured Active Sound Control to enhance the engine note electronically. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while the AWD model had similar numbers but a combined rating of 24 mpg. The NX had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed electronically limited to 124 mph.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions. The SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT. The new Kona N was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N also featured exclusive driving modes and performance enhancements. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with AWD, provided ample power and a pleasurable driving experience, with composed handling and minimal noise levels inside the cabin.

The 2021 Lexus NX offered a comfortable and upscale interior, with plenty of room for front-seat occupants and adequate legroom for two adults in the second row. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats had a 60/40 split-folding design. However, cargo space was limited, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The NX also featured a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while small, provided ample headroom and legroom for front-seat occupants, even with the optional sunroof. The N Line's front seats offered excellent support during spirited driving. Rear-seat occupants faced challenges with small door openings and limited head- and legroom. Cargo space was tight, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 45.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Towing was not recommended for the Kona.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a 10.3-inch screen available as part of the Navigation package. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Lexus Enform Destination Assist. The Lexus infotainment system was not user-friendly, and many functions were buried deep in menus. Other standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hotspot. The NX also offered a Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system and compatibility with the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech for the model year. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display with a six-speaker audio system and Bluetooth connectivity. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. The N Line and above trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information. An eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard on the Limited and Kona N. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base 8-inch screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona also offered Digital Key, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and wireless device charging.

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 safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA and came with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-following assistance, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Available technologies included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, Highway Drive Assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The Kona received five-star overall crash protection ratings from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash protection.