2022 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

There's no shortage of SUVs on American roads, and that gives you plenty of options to find an agile and compact SUV that meets all your needs. Honda and Hyundai have two of the most popular subcompact SUVs in the segment: the HR-V and the Kona. Which model is better overall? That's best answered by slating the 2022 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Hyundai Kona in a race that just might surprise you!

Honda's reputation in the automotive industry is far above that of Hyundai, and that speaks volumes to how the race starts between the 2022 HR-V and the 2022 Kona. Known for building reliable vehicles that can easily log hundreds of thousands of miles, Honda is a brand associated with reliability, durability, longevity, and value. This makes the HR-V a great investment, with its low starting price of $21,870 only bettered by its high resale value.[a] Spending $21,150 on the 2022 Kona is a bigger risk considering that Hyundais don't hold their value as well and fetch far less as trade-ins.

This initial investment pushes the 2022 Honda HR-V ahead of the 2022 Hyundai Kona with ease, but will the HR-V manage to keep its lead? Despite the Kona offering slightly more horsepower and torque in its multi-engine lineup, it's hard to beat the reliability and capability of a Honda powertrain and the efficiency that it delivers. The HR-V's spaciousness, along with its expansive suite of safety, driver-assist, and cutting-edge connectivity features, make it a far more lucrative investment in your future behind the wheel than what you'll find in the Kona.

There's no question that Honda is a pioneer in the automotive industry, and subcompact SUVs like the 2022 HR-V prove as much. The HR-V is built using Honda's exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering or ACE body structure. This structure enhances your safety behind the wheel, ensuring the HR-Vs stability on the terrain at hand so that you have the confidence and control you need to explore the road ahead.

Your confidence extends even further when you opt for the HR-V with Honda's Real Time AWD and Intelligent Control System. The system actively monitors the HR-V's wheels for spin or slippage, sending power to the wheel or wheels that need it most. This gives you greater control when you're driving in inclement New York weather or navigating uneven terrain.

As far as power, you'll find the HR-V is a solid performer with its 1.8-liter engine delivering 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. Where it truly shines, however, is its efficiency and its ability to keep more money in your wallet. The HR-V averages an estimated 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway on front-wheel-drive models.^[b] This is, in large part, due to Honda's renowned continuously variable transmission that provides smooth and responsive shift patterns to optimize the HR-V's performance and handling.

Looking at the 2022 Hyundai Kona, you won't find anything comparable to the HR-V's ACE body structure, but you will find an all-wheel-drive option that adds to the SUV's versatility. The Kona's multi-engine lineup includes a 2.0-liter engine and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. The latter is only found on the most expensive N Line and Limited trims, leaving the 2.0-liter to be the primary engine of the Kona. With 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, this engine provides nearly identical output to Honda's powertrain. However, Hyundai's continuously variable transmission isn't as refined, and you'll also miss out on the HR-V's responsive steering and agility.

The entire purpose of a subcompact SUV is to offer more spaciousness and capability than a sedan without sacrificing efficiency, handling, and performance. The 2022 Honda HR-V does this exceptionally well and once again takes the lead over the 2022 Hyundai Kona with its spacious cabin that offers plenty of room for both passengers and cargo. How exactly do the models compare?

The 2022 HR-V measures 170.4 inches in length and 63.2 inches tall compared to the 2022 Kona, which measures 165.6 inches long and 61 inches tall. These differences may seem insignificant, but mere inches can make a world of difference in the spaciousness of an SUV. This difference is apparent in the HR-V's 100.1 cu.ft. of passenger space and 58.8 cu.ft. of cargo space, which is significantly larger than the Kona's 94.1 cu.ft. and 45.8 cu.ft., respectively.

You and your passengers will experience the difference that a few inches can make when you compare the room you have in the front and second rows. This is particularly true for the backseat passengers, as the HR-V offers four more inches of legroom than the Kona. This additional room makes a significant difference, especially when paired with the HR-V's rear reclining seats that add another level of comfort that's noticeably absent on the Kona.

Honda manages to make the HR-V more attractive and cargo-friendly with its second-row Magic Seat. The HR-V's 60/40 split-folding second row isn't new to the industry, but Honda's Magic Seat certainly is. Honda extends the versatility of the HR-V by allowing you to not only fold down the seat backs to haul longer cargo but also fold the seats up to accommodate taller items. The Kona doesn't offer anything comparable to the Magic Seat and isn't considered cargo-friendly. Car and Driver reported that it held only 14 carry-on suitcases compared to the HR-V, which accommodated 22 bags.

At first glance, technology seems to level the playing field between the 2022 HR-V and the 2022 Kona as both Honda and Hyundai prove their commitment to innovation. This commitment is readily apparent in the fact that both models come equipped with expansive touchscreen displays that are home to smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, putting your favorite apps in an intuitive and familiar layout at your fingertips. This convenience is designed to keep you connected and informed when you're behind the wheel without sacrificing your focus on the road ahead.

Honda and Hyundai also go the distance to ensure your safety when you're in the driver's seat with a host of cutting-edge safety and driver-assist tools across both lineups. These tools are engineered to extend your visibility, optimize your focus, and minimize the potential for collision. On the HR-V, the suite is known as Honda Sensing, and on the Kona, it's known as Hyundai SmartSense. Many features overlap, but when combined with the HR-V's exclusive ACE body structure, the HR-V undoubtedly gains the advantage.

The HR-V's Honda Sensing suite offers a Collision Mitigation Braking System that constantly monitors the road ahead and, when it senses a collision is imminent, will automatically apply the brakes to minimize the impact and bring the HR-V to a stop. The HR-V also comes with a Road Departure Mitigation System and a Lane Keeping Assist System that provide steering assistance and help you keep the HR-V safely in its lane. These tools are especially helpful when you engage Adaptive Cruise Control, which constantly monitors the traffic ahead and adjusts your cruising speed as needed to maintain a safe distance.

In the Kona's SmartSense suite, you'll find many similar features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. However, unlike the HR-V, only the top-trim Kona Limited comes standard with many of these features. This makes the price of the Kona even higher and, with its lower resale value, means a more expensive investment than the 2022 HR-V.

Do you love everything the Honda brand stands for and everything a subcompact SUV like the 2022 HR-V has to offer? For Ralph Honda, the HR-V makes our job easier because it encompasses Honda's remarkable ability to give drivers exactly what they want and need. In this case, it's a spacious and capable SUV that's affordable, efficient, and versatile.

Just as Honda is committed to its customers, so are we. Here at Ralph Honda, we're dedicated to putting the excitement back into the car-buying experience. After all, it's not every day that you get behind the wheel of a new Honda and, when you do, it should be fun! That starts by understanding that we're not like most dealerships who rely on high-pressure sales tactics or sales tricks to upsell you a model that you don't want or need. Instead, we share your passion for the Honda brand and are here solely to build a relationship with you, one that proves we're always on your side and ready to handle all your automotive needs.

By building a lasting relationship with you, our business ethics become clear. We operate on transparency and integrity, which means that what you see is exactly what you get. Our sales team will help you narrow your search and learn more about your options, while our finance team will explain our transparent pricing so that you know exactly what you're paying and what you're getting. From there, our certified service technicians are happy to oversee all your routine maintenance needs and repairs with the same honesty and integrity you've come to expect. This is what it means to invest in Ralph Honda, where you're always a priority.

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^[a] MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $1,225 destination charge and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $395 charge for premium colors.
^[b] 28 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg rating for 2WD trims. 27 city/31 highway/29 combined mpg rating for AWD LX. 26 city/31 highway/28 combined mpg rating for AWD Sport, EX and EX-L. Based on 2022 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.