GMC Terrain vs 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 contrasted with 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 2022 GMC Terrain also saw updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The AT4 trim also included a steel skid plate under the front end to protect vital mechanical components. Our test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, the blacked-out AT4 treatment, and a black leather interior. It was equipped with the Tech Package, Infotainment Package II, GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, a Skyscape panoramic sunroof, and a three-year subscription to OnStar services, bringing the MSRP to $41,810, including the $1,395 destination charge.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions across its lineup, with FWD or AWD options. The SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT, producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The N Line and Limited trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed DCT, delivering 195 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque. The new Kona N was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an N eight-speed wet DCT, producing 276 hp and 289 pound-feet of torque. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, seven-speed DCT, and AWD, provided more than adequate power and was a pleasure to drive. The Kona's handling was composed, and the noise levels inside the cabin were quieter than expected for a car at this price point.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which provided great acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission did a decent job of keeping the Terrain in the torque band once the SUV was rolling. The Terrain AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance and a good ride on pavement, but it struggled off-road. The sport-terrain tires didn't offer much grip when taking curves or corners with speed, and the overall driving experience was dull. The Terrain AT4's powertrain met expectations for fuel economy, with an official EPA rating of 26 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's front seats provided ample headroom and legroom, even with the optional sunroof. The N Line's front seats did an excellent job of holding occupants in place when the road started to bend. However, rear-seat occupants faced small door openings, limited headroom due to the sloping roof, 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 with the Kona was not recommended.

The 2022 GMC Terrain's interior was roomy for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. Our Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat offered plenty of legroom and foot room, with softly padded front seatbacks. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The Terrain also had a large storage bin underneath the trunk floor and a foldable front passenger seat for long items.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech for the 2022 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 offered Digital Key, supported via a dedicated smartphone app, and Hyundai Blue Link, a suite of connected services complimentary for three years.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two different infotainment systems. The SLE trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims featured a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems offered Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. Our test vehicle had the larger screen and the Infotainment Package II upgrade, which included connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, responding quickly and accurately to various prompts. The Terrain also featured a new-for-2022 Tech Package option, which included a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's driver aid menu included standard 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 with stop-and-go capability, blind-spot warning with collision avoidance, Highway Drive Assist, rear cross-traffic alert with collision avoidance, and Safe Exit Warning. The NHTSA awarded the 2022 Hyundai Kona five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave it the highest-possible "Good" ratings in all six crashworthiness tests.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with a GMC Pro Safety Package as standard equipment, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, available with SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims, added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the 2022 Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, but it received a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of this review.