The Hyundai Kona vs the Honda HR-V: Which Is Better
Both subcompact SUVs have a lot to offer, but the Hyundai Kona beats out the Honda HR-V slightly in almost every category.
Written by Allison Stone
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Subcompact SUVs are popular for their drivability, spaciousness, and versatility without totally tanking your gas mileage, but choosing between popular models can be difficult. If you’re shopping around for a subcompact SUV, you’ve likely come across the
Honda HR-V
and the Hyundai
Kona. From the outside, these two SUVs don’t seem so different. There is less than a thousand dollars separating them in price, and both will take up about the same amount of space in your driveway. So what exactly makes for a better model?
Researching a new car can so
Jerry
broke down the pros and cons of each model and determined which one is the better buy.Hyundai Kona vs Honda HR-V: specs
For comparison purposes, we will be looking at the 2021 Honda HR-V LX 2WD CVT and the 2021 Hyundai Kona SE Autio FWD. These are comparable models with basic trim levels, front-wheel drive, and 4-cylinder engines.
Both cars are relatively fuel-efficient for an SUV, but the HR-V does slightly better with mileage per gallon, getting 28 in the city and 34 on the highway. The Kona gets an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
The Honda HR-V has an MSRP of $21,220, but the average amount paid is $22,703. The Hyundai Kona is slightly more affordable with an MSRP of $20,500 and an average paid price of $21,235.
The HR-V is slightly roomier than the Kona. Both cars seat five, but the HR-V gives passengers a couple of extra inches of cargo space and leg room.
Both the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona have a touchscreen-based infotainment system, but only the Kona comes standard with smart device integration, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
When it comes to safety features, the Kona also has slightly more to offer including lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist.
Who’s the winner between the Hyundai Kona vs the Honda HR-V?
According to data provided on cars.com, the Hyundai Kona is a better buy in terms of price, U.S. News Scores, infotainment system, handling, and cabin styling.
The Kona loses points however when it comes to interior space, providing subpar cargo capacity and less spacious rear seats. The two cars are pretty similar in terms of performance, but only the Kona can be upgraded to a more powerful turbocharged engine.
The Honda HR-V boasts more space and sporty handling, but the list of features that come standard is underwhelming, and the infotainment system is unintuitive and distracting to use.
The engine is underwhelming, and it’s only a few thousand dollars to upgrade to Honda’s more powerful and spacious CR-V.
Saving on your car insurance with Jerry
Researching a new vehicle can be seriously time-consuming, but getting a good deal on car insurance doesn’t have to be. Save yourself time spent digging through insurance plans with
Jerry
. Jerry compares prices from major insurance carriers, all you have to do is download the app and start saving money today. The average Jerry user saves $887 annually.
4.7
