2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 1.6 inches compared to the 2021 model. The updated front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and new character lines gave the Kona a more sophisticated appearance. The sporty new body lines were complemented by lower body cladding, and new alloy wheel designs rounded out the exterior changes. Inside, the instrument panel and center console were separated to emphasize a more horizontal layout, creating a wider, more spacious look. New ambient lighting for the front cupholders and footwells added a touch of sophistication, while a rear USB port increased convenience for back-seat passengers.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe announced its presence with subtle visual cues like a "4xe" badge and sky blue tow hooks and accents. The primary difference from a regular Wrangler was the power port at the left base of the windshield. When the battery pack had enough juice, the Wrangler 4xe moved silently except for the pedestrian notification system's whine, turning heads as it navigated Yosemite National Park. Our test vehicle, a Firecracker Red Rubicon trim, was well-equipped with over $13,000 in options, bringing the price to $66,690. Inside, the Wrangler 4xe retained the classic Wrangler look with blue seat stitching, charging indicator lights, and special PHEV gauges. The interior featured more soft-touch materials than expected, including leather seats and padded upper door panels.

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 came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT. The new Kona N boasted a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with AWD, had more than adequate power and was a pleasure to drive, both in the city and on the highway. The Kona's handling was composed, and the noise levels inside the cabin were quieter than expected for its price point.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This setup provided an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving and a total of 370 miles of driving range. The Wrangler 4xe offered three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save. In Hybrid mode, the Wrangler 4xe delivered 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in six seconds. During our test, the Wrangler 4xe averaged 20.8 mpg on a road trip to Yosemite, with the battery recharging during downhill coasting. The Wrangler 4xe's steering had noticeable on-center slop, making high-speed driving on narrow roads a bit nerve-wracking. Despite its quirks, the Wrangler 4xe provided a unique driving experience with its silent electric mode and off-road capabilities.

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

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe required some effort to climb into due to high door sills and narrow rear openings. Once inside, the driving position was classic Wrangler, with a high seating position and clear view over the hood. The center console offered limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat passengers had air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and MOLLE-style storage straps. Cargo volume measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window could be inconvenient in tight parking situations.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech for 2022. 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 Limited and Kona N trims came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information. 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 on higher trims. Hyundai Blue Link provided remote engine start, remote locking/unlocking, stolen-vehicle recovery, and voice-controlled destination search.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available and useful during our road trip. The Alpine sound system could overcome wind noise on the freeway, but loud volumes made conversation difficult. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed its age in load time, responsiveness, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the five blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard allowed for easy viewing of charging status.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features, including 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 gave the Kona five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS awarded it "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. The Kona's 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. However, the child-seat anchors received a "Marginal" rating.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group (blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors) and the Advanced Safety Group (adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights). The blind-spot warning system was particularly useful due to the Wrangler's narrow side mirrors. The IIHS rated the Wrangler's LED headlights as "Marginal" and the standard headlights as "Poor." The Wrangler received a "Marginal" rating for small-overlap, frontal-impact protection for the driver, with the vehicle tipping over in two tests. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler Unlimited a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.