2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Land Rover Defender was a standout in the SUV market, outselling its sibling, the Land Rover Discovery, by a significant margin. Despite sharing similar size and price points, the Defender's boxy, classic Land Rover design appealed more to customers than the Discovery's Ford-like appearance. The Defender's design was a nod to the old LR4, with its square-jawed face, rectangular hood, and doors set parallel to the ground, creating a rugged, classic truck aesthetic. The vehicle's design was further enhanced by tasteful accents reminiscent of the original 1980s Defender, such as the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and a full-size wheel mounted on the hatch. The Defender offered a variety of accessory packages and trims, including the X trim with a two-tone hood and the V8 model with a blacked-out appearance, available in three body styles: 90, 110, and 130. Inside, the Defender prioritized function and durability, with a basic and barren interior that maintained its hardcore character, despite its high price tag.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle (EV) focus, evident in its modern and sleek appearance. The new Kona featured a grille resembling the Ioniq 5's, with a single-piece design and a "seamless horizon" styling treatment, dominated by a skinny LED headlight at the front. Despite its increased size, the Kona retained a recognizable silhouette, with new design elements like the creased "parametric surface" of the doors and substantial black body cladding. The Kona lineup came standard with LED lighting and offered different wheel sizes across trims. Inside, the Kona's cabin was updated with a driver-oriented center stack, a relocated gear shift, and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens. The interior updates provided a more spacious and comfortable environment for passengers, with improved storage solutions and refined controls.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled in off-road performance, showcasing its impressive grip, wheel articulation, and clearance. Equipped with air suspension, the Defender could tackle challenging terrains with ease, although most owners would not fully utilize its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Defender's performance was less impressive, with noticeable friction in the drivetrain, excessive body roll, and wind noise. The vehicle's turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines provided strong performance, with the V8 delivering 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, while the turbocharged four-cylinder engine was less powerful at 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy varied across engines, with the V8 being the least efficient.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE and SEL trims, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The N-Line and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Kona offered paddle shifters for a more engaging driving experience. During a test drive, the Kona's turbo engine provided adequate performance, with intuitive steering and nimble handling. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost, affecting fuel economy ratings.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered exceptional versatility as an everyday SUV, with unmatched seating configurations. The Defender 90 could seat six with an optional jump seat, while the 110 offered an optional third row, and the 130 provided a standard third row for up to eight seats. The Defender's large glass areas, including "alpine lights," enhanced visibility, and various roof options were available. Cargo space varied across models, with the Defender 130 offering up to 77 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender could be equipped with off-road or all-season tires, and a range of accessories, including a metal roof rack, console refrigerator, and more, were available.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited from its increased length, providing more rear-seat legroom and headroom. Cargo capacity improved significantly, with 25.5 cubic feet of storage space with rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded. The Kona Limited featured a power hands-free liftgate for easy access. Inside, the Kona offered enhanced storage solutions, including a handy shelf on the dash and a guardrail for the wireless charging pad. The Kona's seating options included cloth seats for lower trims and a leather/suede combination for higher trims, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard on the Limited trim.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro software, with a standard 10-inch screen and an optional 11.4-inch screen. Both screens were user-friendly, with the larger screen offering better legibility. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, and navigation. The Defender S trim added heated power seats and a Meridian stereo, while higher trims offered additional features like air suspension, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona introduced a 12.3-inch infotainment system touchscreen display as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on lower trims. An OTA update was promised to add wireless connectivity to higher trims. The Kona featured a new Wi-Fi hotspot, a Bose stereo system, and multiple USB-C ports. Higher trims offered dual 12.3-inch screens for a panoramic view, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were standard across the lineup.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. It came with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with standard Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist and adaptive cruise control were standard on higher trims, with the Limited trim adding Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, enhancing safety and convenience.