2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2021 Hyundai Kona presented a unique and playful design, appealing to younger buyers with its funky small SUV styling. The front of the vehicle featured a busy arrangement of lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on certain trims. This playful exterior was complemented by a more subdued rear design, adopting a standard crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with options for leather upgrades on higher trims. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and intuitive physical climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a new seven-passenger model, distinct from the existing Grand Cherokee. It was an extended-length version of the upcoming 2022 redesign, featuring a third-row seat and increased cargo volume. The Grand Cherokee L's styling was a strong selling point, resembling a smaller version of the more expensive Wagoneer models. Its design was unmistakably Jeep, with a signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches. Available in multiple trims, the Grand Cherokee L offered a range of features, with the Summit trim showcasing quilted leather, real wood trim, and advanced technology. Despite some interior material shortcomings at higher price points, the redesigned interior marked a significant improvement over previous models.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. An optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. While neither engine was particularly powerful, both provided sufficient power for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was surprisingly confident, offering an engaging and fun driving experience. Fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain, with the base engine and FWD achieving an EPA-estimated 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, generating 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or a choice of three 4WD systems, with a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available on higher trims, produced 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. However, this upgrade reduced fuel economy to 17 mpg combined. The Grand Cherokee L's V6 engine provided brisk acceleration, though it was loud when revved. The eight-speed transmission was generally well-behaved, but sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel economy. The SUV's Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain off-road modes enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its smooth ride and capable handling made it comfortable for daily driving.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered 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 enjoyed good headroom, though legroom was limited. The Kona's cargo space was near the bottom of its segment, with only the Mazda CX-3 offering less. However, the rear seats could be folded to increase cargo capacity, and small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L prioritized comfort, especially in the Summit trim, which featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment. A four-zone automatic climate control system provided air vents in all three rows, though the dashboard vents were small and struggled to cool the cabin quickly. The second row offered captain's chairs or an optional bench seat, with ample legroom and comfort. The third row was surprisingly comfortable for adults, with large windows providing a good view. Cargo space behind the third row measured 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 84.6 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Optional features included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was simple, colorful, and responsive, with easy navigation and minimal clicks required to access features.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response times and an improved user experience. Available with 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreens, the system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services like a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system also featured a natural voice-recognition system with a programmable wake phrase. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system provided excellent sound quality, though its logo clashed with the interior design. Additional technology included a digital instrumentation panel, digital rearview mirror, thermal-imaging night vision system, and Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with "Good" scores in all crash test areas, and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. While effective, the steering assist felt artificial, and lane changes were overly responsive. The system was expected to become hands-free in the 2022 model year. Intersection Collision Assist, standard on Summit models, detected threats at intersections and applied brakes if necessary. The Grand Cherokee L offered a comprehensive package of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review, but improvements were expected over the previous model.