2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a small SUV that combined playful and unique styling with practicality. Its front end featured a busy array of lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on certain trims. This design was more playful than business-like, appealing to younger buyers. The rear of the Kona was more subdued, with a standard crossover shape and lighting. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with leather available on higher trims. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it intuitive and user-friendly.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX 460's styling reflected its long tenure on the market, retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The GX's exterior was tough and aggressive, appealing to SUV shoppers with its distinctive look. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury SUV standards, with wood trim that felt like plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Despite this, the GX offered standard semi-aniline leather, but the overall interior experience felt dated compared to newer luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on Essential and Preferred models, with all-wheel drive available, while higher trims came with standard AWD. The Kona's engines provided sufficient power for city and highway driving, though the dual-clutch transmission was less smooth at low speeds. The Kona handled with agility and confidence, offering a fun driving experience with a balance of comfort and composure. Fuel consumption ratings were competitive, with the base engine and FWD achieving 8.6/7.0/7.9 L/100 km city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-litre V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's performance was reminiscent of older SUVs, with the V8 providing ample grunt at low speeds but struggling with the vehicle's 2,349 kilograms (5,178 pounds) at higher speeds. Merging and overtaking required careful planning, and stopping the SUV demanded more effort than modern vehicles. The GX's body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen centre differential, standard 4WD with low range, and off-road features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select. The GX offered 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and a towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms (6,500 pounds).

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with controls and displays easily accessible. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers found good headroom but limited legroom, and large rear-facing car seats could pose challenges for taller front passengers. The Kona's cargo space was limited, ranking low in its segment, though rear seats could be folded to expand the area. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious centre console.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics showed its age, with an upright dashboard and high centre console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position felt bus-like. Visibility was excellent due to the dashboard shape and boxy profile, though forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage options were limited, with small centre-console bins and cupholders. The GX featured three rows of seating for seven, but the third row was best for children and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited with the third row up, and even with seats folded, it offered less space than competitors like the Land Rover Discovery.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with a solid array of tech features, including an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered additional tech like SiriusXM radio, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a colourful and responsive interface. Wireless smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage, though the larger touchscreen did not support it.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It offered Bluetooth and two USB ports for the first two rows, but none for the third row. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was standard. The infotainment system felt outdated, with graphics reminiscent of the 1990s and limited functionality. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, providing a straightforward interface compared to screen-centric luxury SUVs.

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 assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and cruise control. AWD models added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional upgrades included lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 did not have crash-test ratings from the NHTSA or IIHS. It came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera were standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.