Hyundai Kona vs Tucson: Youthful Subcompact Or Unpretentious Compact?

Many car manufacturers are meeting the increasing demand for SUVs with various styles and variations, and Hyundai is no exception.

Within their SUV lineup are the Kona and Tucson. The Tucson is a Hyundai classic, making its first debut all the way back in 2004 and picking up many awards along the way. Meanwhile, the Kona is a smaller SUV that first hit the roads in 2017.

Both remain popular choices among car buyers, especially those who seek value bang for buck and extensive warranty coverage. But which Hyundai crossover SUV fits your needs better? We will explore that question by comparing these two SUVs to each other and examining what they offer.

Quick Summary

The Hyundai Tucson is the next size up from the subcompact Hyundai Kona. It offers significantly more room for cargo, slightly more performance, and comes with more standard features. However, the Kona sports a more inspired exterior which is more up-to-date than the outgoing Tucson.

Hyundai Kona driving up a road
Kona
Hyundai Tucson front 3/4 view
Tucson

Styling – Exterior

As a smaller subcompact, the Hyundai Kona goes with a sporty, funky aesthetic that doesn’t try to come off as a typical SUV. There’s definitely an adventure-ready, rugged look to the car as well, with black panelling and fenders which contrast with the rest of the vehicle’s paint job. The Kona also follows Hyundai’s newer designs, with the same slit-style headlamps that you can find on the new Hyundai Palisade.

The outgoing Hyundai Tucson looks more like a traditional SUV. As it approaches the end of its cycle, the SUV looks incredibly bland, so if style is a concern you might want to wait for the upcoming makeover. But if you hate attention when you stop at the red light, you’ll love it.

Hyundai Kona rear view
Kona
Hyundai Tucson rear view
Tucson

Styling – Interior

Both models have comfortable cabins with decent amounts of room for their respective size class.

Like its exterior, the Hyundai Kona’s interior has a bit of funk to it, with cute round air vents and slightly retro-esque infotainment setup.

The Hyundai Tucson’s interior, on the other hand, is instantly forgettable, but is at least fully functional and well thought out.

Hyundai Kona interior
Kona
Hyundai Tucson interior
Tucson

Passenger Space and Practicality

Both models have a seating capacity of 5 people and feature virtually identical amounts of room for the driver and front passenger, but the Tucson comfortably beats the Kona when it comes to rear seat leg and hip room.

The Hyundai Kona has listed cargo space of 19.2 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 45.8 cubic feet when they’re folded down The Hyundai Tucson features a substantially higher amount of cargo volume – 31 cubic feet with seats up and 61.9 cubic feet when they’re folded down.

Hyundai Tucson cargo space after seats folded down
Hyundai Tucson with rear seats folded

Performance

Both models operate as you might expect from small SUVs. Both have extremely similar turning diameters (34.8 inches for the Kona, and 34.9 inches for the Tucson), and feature front-wheel drive, 6-speed automatic transmissions, and 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines. All-wheel drive is optional for both models.

Neither car offers a particularly thrilling drive, but the Kona can be had with a turbocharged, 175-horsepower engine that has a satisfying amount of oomph to it. There’s also the Kona Electric, but that’s almost a completely different car altogether, so we won’t go any deeper into that.

Fuel Economy

As you might expect from a smaller vehicle, one significant advantage the Kona has over the Tucson is superior fuel efficiency. It has a combined fuel economy of 30 MPG across all models (27 City & 33 Highway on lower-priced trims, 28 City & 32 Highway on pricier trims).

Despite having a similar 2.0-liter Inline-4 engine, the Tucson gets a lower combined economy of 25 MPG (23 City & 28 Highway).

Technology and Features

Both 2021 models feature Smart Cruise Control, but the Hyundai Tucson’s version comes with automatic stop and go, which deactivates cruise control if the car slows to below 6 MPH or less. If the car in front moves within 3 seconds after deactivating, it re-activates itself. The Kona lacks this stop and go feature.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Kona features a HUD display that reflects on the windshield, something which isn’t offered by the Tucson.

Pricing

The Kona base model SE starts at $20,400 and the SEL trim starts at $22,200. Both have different safety features, while the SEL trim has a Proximity Key with a push-button remote starter. The Limited and Ultimate Kona trims carry a special 175-hp 1.6L Turbo GDI engine with the same overall fuel economy of 30 MPG. The Limited starts at $26,200 and the Ultimate starts at $28,050.

The Tucson base model SE features Forward Collision Detect and starts at $23,700. The Value trim has BlueLink connectivity, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and a remote start proximity key, which starts at $25,150. The SEL and Sport trims start at $26,100 and $28,250, respectively. The Limited trim comes with a heated steering wheel and a surround view monitor, starting at $29,400. The Ultimate trim comes with pedestrian detection and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & go, with a $32,050 starting price.

Overall, choosing the Hyundai Kona will save you around $4000 compared to a similarly equipped Hyundai Tucson. Of course, it will also be cheaper to run, which could amount to something significant if you drive a lot.

Safety

Hyundai has been making sure all newer vehicles come with safety options that keep everyone on the road safe, and the 2021 models are no exception.

Both models come with the following safety features – Forward-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection (FCA-Ped), Blindspot Collision Warning, High-Beam Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) systems, and Driver Attention Warning (DAW) that alerts you if it detects distracted or inattentive driver patterns.

Both models received 5-star US NHTSA crash testing scores. The Kona and the Tucson have the same standard safety features, so they’re practically tied in this category.

Verdict

Choosing between the Hyundai Kona and Hyundai Tucson basically comes down to whether you want a nimble subcompact SUV in the Kona, or a slightly more spacious compact SUV in the Tucson.

However, in its current state, the Tucson is approaching the end of its lifecycle and it is therefore not a great time to buy. The all-new Tucson is already available in many parts of the globe, but Americans will have to wait till 2022.

Of course, there’s also more to think about thanks to the Hyundai Venue, another subcompact SUV that offers excellent value for money. We’d highly recommend visiting your local Hyundai dealership and discussing your needs with an expert to really narrow down your choice.

Comparison Table

2021 Hyundai Kona2021 Hyundai Tucson
Trim
Price$20500$23700
Performance
Engine2.0L Inline-4 Gas2.0L Inline-4 Gas
Horsepower147 hp @ 6200 rpm161 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm150 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Transmission6-Speed Automatic6-Speed Automatic
DrivetrainFront-Wheel DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Handling
Steering TypeRack-PinionRack-Pinion
Rear SuspensionTorsion BeamMulti-Link
Rear Wheel SizeP205/60HR16P225/60HR17
Front SuspensionStrutStrut
Front Wheel SizeP205/60HR16P225/60HR17
Turning Diameter (ft.)34.834.9
Fuel Economy
MPG/MPGe - Hwy3328
MPG/MPGe - City2723
MPG/MPGe - Combined3025
Gas Tank Size (gallons)13.216.4
Cruising Range - Hwy (miles)435.6459.2
Size and Weight
Height (in.)61.064.8
Length (in.)164.0176.4
Weight (lbs)28903309
Max Width (in.)70.972.8
Wheelbase (in.)102.4105.1
Interior Dimensions
Seating Capacity55
Front Seat Leg Room (in.)41.541.5
Front Seat Head Room (in.)39.639.6
Front Seat Hip Room (in.)53.355.6
Front Seat Shoulder Room (in.)55.557.1
Rear Seat Leg room (in.)34.638.2
Rear Seat Head Room (in.)37.839.2
Rear Seat Hip Room (in.)52.254.5
Rear Seat Shoulder Room (in.)54.555.5
Infotainment Features
HD RadioNot AvailableNot Available
MP3 PlayerStandardStandard
WiFi HotspotNot AvailableNot Available
Satellite RadioNot AvailableNot Available
Bluetooth ConnectionStandardStandard
Entertainment SystemNot AvailableNot Available
Premium Sound SystemNot AvailableNot Available
Auxiliary Audio InputStandardStandard
Smart Device IntegrationStandardStandard
Hard Disk Drive Media StorageNot AvailableNot Available
Interior Trim
Cloth SeatsStandardStandard
Vinyl SeatsStandardStandard
Leather SeatsStandardStandard
Premium Synthetic SeatsStandardStandard
Bucket SeatsStandardStandard
Sun/MoonroofNot AvailableNot Available
Leather Steering WheelNot AvailableNot Available
Woodgrain Interior TrimNot AvailableNot Available
Comfort Features
A/CStandardStandard
Rear A/CNot AvailableNot Available
TelematicsNot AvailableNot Available
Seat MemoryNot AvailableNot Available
Seat-MassageNot AvailableNot Available
Keyless EntryStandardStandard
Keyless StartNot AvailableNot Available
Cruise ControlStandardStandard
Multi-Zone A/CNot AvailableNot Available
Power LiftgateNot AvailableNot Available
Climate ControlNot AvailableNot Available
Head-Up DisplayNot AvailableNot Available
Power Mirror(s)StandardStandard
Automatic ParkingNot AvailableNot Available
Navigation SystemNot AvailableNot Available
Power Driver SeatNot AvailableNot Available
Cooled Rear Seat(s)Not AvailableNot Available
Hands-Free LiftgateNot AvailableNot Available
Heated Rear Seat(s)Not AvailableNot Available
Remote Engine StartNot AvailableNot Available
Cooled Front Seat(s)Not AvailableNot Available
Heated Front Seat(s)Not AvailableNot Available
Power Passenger SeatNot AvailableNot Available
Remote Trunk ReleaseNot AvailableNot Available
Heated Steering WheelNot AvailableNot Available
Adaptive Cruise ControlNot AvailableNot Available
Navigation from TelematicsNot AvailableNot Available
Universal Garage Door OpenerNot AvailableNot Available
Steering Wheel Audio ControlsStandardStandard
Safety Features
ABSStandardStandard
Brake AssistStandardStandard
Night VisionNot AvailableNot Available
Rear Parking AidNot AvailableNot Available
Traction ControlStandardStandard
Stability ControlStandardStandard
Blind Spot MonitorNot AvailableNot Available
Cross-Traffic AlertNot AvailableNot Available
Lane Keeping AssistStandardStandard
Tire Pressure MonitorStandardStandard
Lane Departure WarningStandardStandard
Airbags
Knee Air BagNot AvailableNot Available
Driver Air BagStandardStandard
Seatbelt Air BagNot AvailableNot Available
Passenger Air BagStandardStandard
Rear Head Air BagStandardStandard
Rear Side Air BagNot AvailableNot Available
Front Head Air BagStandardStandard
Front Side Air BagStandardStandard
Warranty
Basic5 Years / 60,000 Miles5 Years / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion7 Years / Unlimited Miles7 Years / Unlimited Miles
Drivetrain10 Years / 100,000 Miles10 Years / 100,000 Miles
Maintenance3 Years / 36,000 Miles3 Years / 36,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance5 Years / Unlimited Miles5 Years / Unlimited Miles