2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 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 some trims. This design leaned towards a youthful and fun aesthetic, appealing to younger buyers. The rear of the Kona was more subdued, adopting a standard crossover shape with a conventional lighting setup. Inside, the Kona maintained its playful attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, while higher trims offered leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and straightforward climate controls, making it intuitive and user-friendly.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition was a bold statement in black-on-black styling, with the Black Line treatment eliminating most chrome from its exterior. This gave the SUV a striking appearance, especially in Black Onyx, transforming it into a rolling black hole. Despite its modern touches, the GX's design felt dated, reminiscent of its first-generation predecessor. Inside, the cabin boasted Lexus's renowned quality, with smooth and refined materials. The GX offered a quiet ride, with the V8 engine's faint roar being the only notable sound. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner, adding to its luxurious feel.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model featured 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, they provided sufficient power for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was surprisingly agile, offering a fun and engaging driving experience. Fuel economy varied depending on the configuration, with the base engine and FWD achieving an EPA-estimated 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with its hefty curb weight of 5,126 pounds, was equipped with a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds. Despite its power, the GX's acceleration was leisurely, taking 7.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. The SUV's fuel economy was a modest 16 mpg in combined driving, requiring premium gas. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) enhanced its ride quality, making it stable and secure on various terrains. However, the steering was slow and heavy, and the brake pedal was touchy, affecting smooth driving in traffic.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with a view that was not particularly exciting. The optional sunroof did not significantly reduce headroom. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The Kona's cargo space was limited, ranking low in its segment, though the rear seats could be folded to increase capacity. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered an elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and clear visibility. Its tall, narrow, and short design made it maneuverable in various settings. The interior featured comfortable seats and ample padding, though some controls were outdated. The Black Line Special Edition included NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and triple-zone climate control. Rear-seat access was challenging due to narrow door openings, but once inside, passengers had ample legroom. The third-row seat was cramped and reduced cargo space, with a high load floor making loading difficult. The side-swinging tailgate further complicated access to the cargo area.

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 user-friendly, with a simple and responsive interface. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant advantages, especially for lower trims.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the outdated Remote Touch Interface. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. A CD player and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot, were also available. The stereo controls were awkwardly placed below off-roading controls, making them difficult to use. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. Lexus's Intuitive Parking Assist became standard, with optional surround-view and terrain-view cameras.

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 2022 Lexus GX, lacking crash-test ratings, relied on its standard Lexus Safety System+ for safety. This included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. However, the GX lacked some modern safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist and semi-autonomous driving aids.