2021 Hyundai Tucson vs Kona

When shopping for a Hyundai crossover, the 2021 Tucson and Kona may appear nearly identical at first glance. However, these two models offer their own distinct advantages to buyers who value innovation, superior customer service, and long warranties. Beyond their outer appearances lies an array of distinguishing features that make each one worth considering before making your next vehicle purchase.

SUVs have seen a meteoric rise in popularity, becoming the modern family vehicle many aspire to own. Offering plenty of room for passengers and cargo, these models are often chosen by buyers due to their affordability and practicality. While both the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Hyundai Kona boast these qualities, there's some differentiation between them that gives customers even more options: Tucson maintains efficiency while adding personalized attributes; Kona adds even more customization options.

In general, the Hyundai Tucson and Kona are similar. But in certain details that set one model apart, these crossovers offer stark contrast. Discover how each can benefit your lifestyle in our comparisons below. We take into account style, power, comfort, and safety attributes of each model to outline their pros and cons for buyers' consideration.

Size and Styling

Crossovers are a class of vehicles that offer an SUV look but are slightly smaller in size. Their improved handling and agility make them ideal for quick trips or commuting, depending on where you live. Though both vehicles appear similar in size, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson offers more passenger space and cargo capacity inside its cabin. The Hyundai Kona offers 94.1 cubic feet of passenger room and 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Hyundai Tucson tops that with 102.2 cubic feet of passenger area and 31 cubic feet of cargo room. While these numbers may seem significant on paper, getting inside these models can make a big difference when it comes to passenger comfort and cargo accommodations.

Futuristic styling on the outside of these models draws in buyers who appreciate modern design. But, each model places emphasis on what matters most to them - for the Tucson and Kona this means more conventional looks. Though ready for any adventure and equipped to do so, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson blends in well with other standard crossovers from other brands. Its bold front grille gives it a shorter stature and squatter appearance than expected, yet its body-colored trims and accents create an overall seamless appearance that is both classy yet conservative.

On the other hand, the 2021 Hyundai Kona takes on a sportier aesthetic with black accents, light placement and rear spoiler that give it an appearance resembling a sports car in a crossover layout. Its sleek headlights at the front draw your eye upward toward its contoured hood. Finally, its sloped roof leads back towards a structured rear end that gives it much like a compact hatchback model but with more interior space.

Drivability

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Hyundai Kona offer distinct driving experiences due to their respective amounts of horsepower. Both crossovers start off with four-cylinder engines in their base models, offering drivers an exciting choice between these two crossovers. Yet the Tucson's entry-level four-cylinder can produce 164 horsepower while the Kona's basic engine only produces 147 horsepower. Furthermore, both Hyundai crossover models also offer an optional secondary four-cylinder engine to boost power production even further. For the 2021 Hyundai Tucson, an upgrade to this engine allows for 181 horsepower generation; on the other hand, for the 2021 Hyundai Kona only 175 horsepower can be generated. While this may not seem like much of a difference when your crossover is being pushed to its limit, it will become noticeable over time.

At this point, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Hyundai Kona begin to stand out. Their performance is evident in their ride quality and comfort levels; the 2021 Kona stands out for its quick power changes and sharp turns of direction; agile yet adept, this crossover makes for great city navigation. While fun to drive, the 2021 Kona also feels a bit spunky too. In comparison, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson feels stronger and better controlled; though it produces more horsepower than its rival, passengers enjoy a smoother journey thanks to ample suspension across all models of this crossover.

Crossovers have become a top choice for car buyers when it comes to style and fuel economy, with the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and Kona both providing excellent options. While both models offer more interior space than standard sedans, the lower-powered Kona gives an average mpg of 33 while its more powerful sibling provides 25 with base engine configurations.

Comfort, Choices and Performance

The interiors of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Hyundai Kona differ significantly. While the Kona's cabin exudes playful vibes, the Tucson channels refinement and user-friendliness into its cabin. The Hyundai Kona elevates its small space with plenty of personality through convenient features and high quality materials. Comfort and convenience are built-in, such as contoured seats and cruise control; additionally, eye-catching details like grained leather steering wheel or bold seat stitching add visual interest that elevates its look even further.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson is more mature and sophisticated, beginning with some standard features in its base model. Cloth seats come standard but can easily be upgraded to leather with integrated heating/ventilation capabilities. The interior of the Tucson has been described as European-styled due to its monochromatic tendencies; beige or black are your main color schemes within the cabin on this model - perfect for those who appreciate a clean and sophisticated aesthetic.

Though the 2021 Hyundai Tucson has seen impressive improvements over its 2021 Kona counterpart, the latter offers more technological amenities. By emphasizing providing top notch technology, the 2021 Kona puts an emphasis on simplicity. Its large touchscreen infotainment system can be upgraded from 7.0-inch to 8.0-inch with simple shortcuts for enhanced user friendliness. Furthermore, drivers gain access to navigation and real-time traffic updates, plus their vehicle stats are displayed directly through an inclusive head-up display.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offers many of the same attributes as its larger sister, but in a more subdued form. A 7.0-inch infotainment screen comes standard for this model while an upgrade to an 8.0-inch is available as an option. Higher trim levels of the Tucson even get in-dash navigation as well. Other than that, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are provided but this is the extent of app integration offered by this model.

Safety

Both the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and Kona offer outstanding safety feature options. Both have been evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, earning them five-star safety ratings. Their extensive array of standard driver-assistive safety components likely played a role in earning this impressive recognition from NHTSA - which explains why many buyers consider both models when shopping for crossover vehicles.

Some models reserve driver-assistive safety features for higher trims, but not the 2021 Hyundai Tucson or 2021 Hyundai Kona. Both models come with standard features like automated emergency braking and lane keeping assist; the 2021 Kona takes it further by offering automatic high-beam headlamps as an optional upgrade, while the Tucson offers adaptive cruise control integration as a potential upgrade option.

When purchasing a vehicle, safety features should not be the only thing taken into account. Every model's crashworthiness should also be taken into account; IIHS conducts crash testing and rates each model on safety characteristics and mitigation. The 2021 Hyundai Kona was awarded with an impressive Top Safety Pick+ accolade by the IIHS; on the contrary, its headlights weren't up to par and its LATCH car seat anchor system wasn't particularly user-friendly either.

Which Model to Buy?

Before making your choice on which crossover vehicle to purchase, research all aspects that will benefit you in owning one. After all, purchasing a new crossover is an investment and should be carefully assessed for compatibility with your lifestyle before signing the papers. In this text we have attempted to highlight some major distinctions between the 2021 Hyundai Kona and Tucson; although we've touched upon many major details here, each buyer must still thoroughly assess each option for themselves.

Overall, either of these models would make an excellent purchase. Although each has its own strengths, their similarities allow us to conclude they both represent reliable, stylish, and capable crossover models. The 2021 Hyundai Tucson is slightly more powerful, bolder, and mature than its smaller counterpart; capable of off-road travel when necessary and featuring a sophisticated interior design. With more passenger space and cargo area, this crossover would be ideal for larger families or those who travel frequently.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offers more personality than its sister model, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson. Though designed with simplicity in mind, its innovative tech features elevate comfort and convenience inside its cabin. Offering better fuel economy, this sedan was made for those who are always on-the-go or commute frequently to work or school. Plus, its sporty style gives it a youthful aesthetic as well.

In general, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Hyundai Kona are fierce rivals with their distinctive similarities making it nearly impossible to choose between them. If we had to pick one, however, the 2021 Hyundai Kona would be our pick. Unless you need extra space or power from the Tucson, this model offers more versatility and modern features at a cheaper cost; plus it boasts better fuel economy too! Combined with its cheaper cost across all models, the 2021 Hyundai Kona represents an unbeatable value.