2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design language, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling. The XC90 retained Volvo's recognizable boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but introduced softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more understated looks, respectively. The XC90's interior embraced "Swedish minimalism," featuring high-quality materials like matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery, creating a refined yet understated cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 1.6 inches and introducing revised front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and sporty new character lines. The Kona's sharp body lines were complemented by lower body cladding and new alloy wheel designs. Inside, the instrument panel and center console were separated to create a more horizontal layout, giving the interior a wider, more spacious feel. Ambient lighting for the front cupholders and footwells added sophistication, while a rear USB port increased convenience for back-seat passengers. The addition of the sporty N Line and even sportier Kona N trims brought unique styling elements and performance-oriented features, making the Kona look more athletic and racy.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, resulting in a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled to provide flexible performance, especially when relying on electric power alone. The XC90 excelled in ride quality and old-school luxury, with an optional air-suspension system and a quiet cabin. Most XC90 models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, except for the base FWD T5, which was rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions across its lineup. The lower SE and SEL trims featured a normally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The sporty N Line and Kona Limited trims came with a direct-injected, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), delivering 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The new-for-2022 Kona N was powered by a direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT, producing 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. The Kona N featured exclusive driving features like N Grin Shift, N Power Shift, and N Track Sense Shift, along with performance enhancements like launch control, a variable exhaust system, and high-performance brakes and tires. The Kona N Line with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and AWD provided more than adequate power and enjoyable driving dynamics, with composed handling and a quiet cabin.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The optional power moonroof and upright roof profile gave the interior a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, placing it near the bottom of the segment. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, despite its small size, 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, limited headroom due to the sloping roof, and compromised legroom. Hyundai claimed increased rear-seat legroom for 2022, but it remained tight. Cargo space was 19.2 cubic feet with all seats up, accommodating one large duffel bag or airport roller bag and a laptop case or purse. Folding down the rear seats provided 45.8 cubic feet of space, but towing with the Kona was not recommended.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports were standard. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display (HUD) were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, but the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the lack of front USB-C ports was a drawback.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech for the model year. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. The Limited and Kona N trims came with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information. An eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system was optional on the N Line and 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 only offered wired versions. The Kona also featured Digital Key, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims, and wireless device charging. Hyundai Blue Link provided connected services like remote engine start, remote locking/unlocking, and stolen-vehicle recovery.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models. It earned top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's standard safety features included 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 NHTSA awarded the 2022 Kona five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in all six crashworthiness tests. The Kona's optional forward collision-avoidance system received a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash protection and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crashes.