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Hyundai's 2021 Kona has quickly become one of the most recognizable crossover models on the market. It's futuristic and refined, which stands out among some of its competition. It turns heads, satisfies any driver's power needs, and is pretty well-equipped.
Thanks to all its many awesome qualities, it is a pretty popular crossover choice while being in line with the likes of Kia's Seltos and Ford's EcoSport. Speaking of competition, we are going to assess how the Kona stands up against its competition.
Let's see how the 2021 Hyundai Kona squares up with its close rivals.
The 2021 Hyundai Kona Boasts Great Safety Features
The 2021 Hyundai Kona is a five-seater subcompact crossover. Like its competitors, it is also a front-wheel-drive, which is ideal if you are looking for an affordable ride that is light to handle. Both its exterior and interior are not a wow factor at first sight. Like its rivals, the Kona is fairly straightforward and features mostly basic features such as fabric seating, a steering wheel that can be tilted, manual air-conditioning, cruise control, and a push to start button. These features can also be found in rivals models, such as the Ford EcoSport and Kia Seltos.
However, when it comes to safety features, the Kona seems to come on top of most of the competition. For instance, the EcoBoost Titanium model of the Kona offers drivers hill-start assist, hill descent control, and a rear camera. These features are super effective for heightening and tightening the safety of the car.
On the other hand, the Ford EcoSport offers more basic safety features such as an anti-lock system, stability control, and six airbags. Although the Ford is safe, it isn't as safe and assistive as the Kona.
Beyond that, the Kona also features an eight-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. However, these features are kitted out into most of its rivals, so they aren't something that makes the Kona stand out. For instance, the Geely Coolray, another of the Kona's rivals, features a larger 10-inch touchscreen and leather-clad seating. Thus, its rivals might be able to offer more in terms of luxury features. Yet, quite importantly, they do not exceed the Kona's safety features.
It Boasts More Power Than Expected
The 2021 Hyundai Kona boasts much more power than customers might expect. The Kona has been kitted out with a 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine, which is capable of making up to 147 hp. Unlike other rival crossovers, like the Toyota Prius that can reach 99 hp, it's pretty impressive in the power department. The Kia Seltos almost reaches the Kona's horsepower performance by hitting a top horsepower of 146, yet it doesn't quite catch it.
If you want to enjoy even more power and speed, another Kona-specific feature is the NGS button on the steering wheel. Pressing this button gives you a hit of extra power (the full 290 hp) for 20 seconds. Not many of its rivals have this awesome feature. Thus, it makes this crossover stand out.
Another generous aspect of the 2021 Hyundai Kona is the brand's five-year warranty, which many other crossovers do not seem to offer.
The Kona Looks To Be More Affordable
The Kona boasts similar power to the likes of the Ford Puma ST yet the Kona is much more affordable. In comparison to the Ford Puma ST, the Kona retails for around $20,500 while the Ford model hit the market at around $33,500, according to Car And Driver. Saving almost half of the money, you can attain a similar ride and not upset your bank account. It seems like a steal in comparison to rival brands and models.
For the power, safety features, and all-around convenience, the $20,500 price point makes the 2021 Kona a great ride.
In our opinion, the 2021 Hyundai Kona is a great subcompact crossover for its price. There are not many other new crossovers in the market for less than $21,000.
Thus, its price point seems to be its selling point. If you are looking for a ride that is powerful enough for the city streets, safe, and easy to handle, then the 2021 Kona is right up your street. Yet, if you are looking for something with more luxury features and a premium feel, you might want to opt for its rivals, such as the Geely Coolray and Ford EcoSport.