2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic in mind, evident in its sleek, grille-less front that mirrors the Ioniq 5. The "seamless horizon" styling, with a single LED headlight strip, gave it a modern, futuristic look. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained its recognizable silhouette, with new angular black body cladding and a creased "parametric surface" on the doors. The rear featured a continuous taillight strip, and the vehicle came standard with LED lighting and varying 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, enhancing the overall modern feel.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern touches like angular headlights, aligning it visually with other Land Rover models. Its interior, however, leaned more towards durability and adventure-readiness, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with added soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles—90, 110, and 130—each offering various trims. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, featured a County visual package with vintage graphics and white wheels, emphasizing its throwback appeal. Standard features included alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and a panoramic glass roof, with options for premium leather upholstery and additional climate control features.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, featuring a 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 boasted a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were available on the N-Line and Limited trims, and as an option for the SEL. During a test drive in Maryland, the Kona Limited and N-Line demonstrated nimble handling and intuitive steering, though acceleration was slightly sluggish even with the turbo. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,500, affecting fuel economy slightly.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, generating 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, delivered 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active 4WD. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable choice for rugged terrains.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length significantly improved rear-seat legroom, now at 38.2 inches, and cargo capacity, which expanded to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet when folded. The cabin featured a handy shelf on the passenger's side and a wireless charging pad with a "guardrail" to secure devices. The Kona offered cloth seats on lower trims, with leather/suede combinations for higher trims, and introduced ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard on the Limited trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and practicality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity differed by model, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet of space with seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 78.8 cubic feet in its two-row configuration, while the two-door Defender 90 provided up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, enhancing durability and ease of cleaning.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on lower trims, and an OTA update promised for higher trims. The Kona included wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a Bose stereo system. Dual 12.3-inch screens were optional on higher trims, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were standard across the lineup.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender's infotainment system was straightforward, with home buttons for easy navigation. It also included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system, providing a balance of refinement and utility.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was equipped with standard safety features like 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 offering 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.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included standard driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were noted to be overly sensitive, but could be deactivated if needed. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by major safety organizations.