2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with updates to the grille and front bumper, and standard LED headlights across all trims. The addition of a gloss black spear with a chrome insert at the rear and a new 19-inch wheel design for the Touring trim modernized its look. The interior was enhanced with perforated leather upholstery, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting, giving it a more upscale feel. The Odyssey's design tweaks aimed to reduce brightwork, making it a more sophisticated minivan option.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Kona offered a funky and youthful design, appealing to a younger audience. Its front end featured a busy arrangement of lights and a playful grille, while the rear maintained a more traditional crossover shape. Inside, the Kona balanced fun with functionality, offering neat seat patterns and a straightforward layout. The interior was intuitive, with a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it user-friendly and engaging for drivers.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered driving modes such as Normal, Sport, Eco, and Snow, and included paddle shifters. The V6 engine featured variable cylinder management for improved fuel efficiency, with a combined consumption rating of 10.6 L/100 km. However, the lack of all-wheel drive was a disadvantage in snowy regions. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with well-weighted steering and firm yet comfortable suspension. The brakes, though improved, showed signs of fade under heavy use.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 195 horsepower. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbo engine came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Kona's handling was agile and engaging, with a comfortable ride on curvy roads. Fuel consumption for the base engine with FWD was rated at 7.9 L/100 km combined, while the turbo engine with AWD had a combined rating of 8.6 L/100 km. The dual-clutch transmission was less smooth at low speeds but improved at higher speeds.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a spacious and practical interior, with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with seats folded. However, removing the second-row seats for maximum cargo space was cumbersome.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with controls easily accessible. The rear seats offered good headroom but limited legroom, and the large rear door openings facilitated child seat installation. Cargo space was limited compared to competitors, though folding rear seats expanded the area. Small-item storage was ample, with large door pockets and a spacious centre console.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims added navigation, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Touring trim included an 11-speaker audio system and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, though it was not a touchscreen.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available features included SiriusXM radio, navigation, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a colourful and responsive interface. However, the 10.25-inch system did not support wireless smartphone connectivity.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories. However, blind-spot monitoring required an upgrade to the Touring trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional upgrades like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.