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2024 Volkswagen Taos Review2021 Hyundai Kona vs Mazda CX-30
No two subcompact SUVs are as competitive as the Mazda CX-30 and the Hyundai Kona. So we compared them against one another and found a clear winner.
The Hyundai Kona or Mazda CX-30
Very few comparisons feature two vehicles that are as perfectly matched against one another as the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-30. These two subcompact SUVs have arrived on the scene and pole-vaulted the quality bar into the stratosphere. Both completely flip the script on rivals like the Honda HR-V and the Jeep Renegade that tend to induce boredom. They’re fun, they’re functional, and they’re perhaps the best two value propositions in their segment. Today we decide which one is the real king.
2021 Hyundai Kona vs Mazda CX-30 Specs
We’ll focus on the 2021 Hyundai Kona to begin with. It comes with a 147 horsepower 4-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower that is then sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is optional across the lineup and there’s a more powerful turbocharged engine that makes 175 horsepower and uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Depending on the configuration, it’ll get anywhere from 27 to 30 mpg combined.
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 is rightfully considered as a taller, slightly more spacious, and more luxurious CX-3. Back when it first came out, it only had one engine available, but now it can be had with either a base engine building 186 horsepower or a turbocharged version that reaches 250 horsepower. Both route power to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel-drive is standard on the CX-30, while all-wheel-drive is optional. The EPA rates the CX-30 between 25 and 28 mpg combined.
Both of these vehicles start just a bit above $21,000 and both come with a vast array of excellent standard safety features including driver attention warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. They’re also among the most attractive in this segment, so let’s dive into the drive and see what we come away with.
Driving Characteristics
These cars are both downright fun to drive in their base guise. Steering is sharp and responsive. Braking is also a strong component of both with confidence-inspiring results every time you stab the pedal. They’re easy to modulate and quick to respond without noticeable fade. The 2021 Hyundai Kona feels light and spritely. It’s especially great when whipping around corners or ripping down a twisty road.
Take it into traffic and it’s a bit more mortal. The dual-clutch transmission on the turbocharged Kona isn’t very refined at slower speeds and braking is harder to modulate in traffic than we expected. At speed, we’d give the Kona a B+ when it comes to steering feel as it does have just a tick of numbness when on center and conversely takes just a bit more energy to get it to respond to inputs. Still, it’s very hard to find another vehicle that is as capable as the Hyundai Kona whether the road is filled with twists, traffic, or soft-roading trails. It’s good on all of them.
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 of course makes the competition harder by putting the “Sport” in SUV. In the last decade, we’ve seen larger vehicles become capable of rocketing around racetracks with the same handling characteristics previously only held out to sports cars. The Mazda CX-30 is clear evidence of the technological advancements made over that time. If not for the taller driving position, we think people could be convinced that they were in a comfort-spec Miata, it’s just that good. Of course, that added height allows the CX-30 to go further off-road than its sports car cousin.
Interior Comfort & Quality
These cars are both well-built, but they do take different roads when it comes to the overall theme inside. The 2021 Hyundai Kona is the budget option in the Hyundai lineup and that’s obvious from the moment you get in. The seating is comfortable, but not particularly supportive. The seats themselves are about as drab as seats can get. Even the leather-wrapped chairs end up just looking too simple to be really attractive. For a car that’s this good in the twisties, we’d love some more lateral bolstering.
The center control stack and steering wheel are both simple and easy to use, but they feel very generic. After spending some time in other products from Hyundai like the Palisade and Sonata, the Kona feels decidedly down-market. Actual ride quality is good and only the worst roads seem to unsettle it. One other note, it’s very loud inside. Sound insulation is nearly non-existent and that’s a bit of a letdown.
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 on the other side of the coin feels like a sincerely cool place to be. The materials aren’t much better than in the Kona, but they are softer, sleeker, and laid out to look much more upscale. Seats are great in the front and nearly identical to the Kona in the back. That improvement up front encourages a bit more passionate driving and provides the right amount of support for longer drives.
The layout is also highly attractive with a bright and wide infotainment screen atop the dash. We love how the CX-30 has no trouble dealing with poor road conditions. The suspension underpinning this little vehicle seems to be ripped right out of a much more expensive vehicle. It’s quieter than the Kona too, only allowing in distracting road noise during drives in the worst of conditions.
2021 Hyundai Kona vs Mazda CX-30 Trims & Features
Hyundai sells the 2021 Hyundai Kona in six different trim levels. SE starts things out with 16-inch wheels, six speakers, a 7-inch infotainment screen that has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a safety suite that’s standard on all Kona’s featuring lane departure mitigation and forward collision mitigation. The next trim level up is SEL and it adds keyless entry, 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, roof rails, HD and satellite radio. It also tacks on rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. The SEL Plus bumps up the luxury with fog lights, an eight-speaker Infinity audio system, wireless charging for your devices, and a sunroof. The “Night” trim level of the Kona gets the turbocharged engine standard as well as LED headlights, black exterior trim, and 18-inch Rays wheels. The Limited trim gets different 18-inch wheels, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and chrome exterior trim. The Ultimate Kona has all the bells and whistles including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, integrated navigation, automatic wipers, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a head-up display.
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 is sold in five different trim levels. At the bottom of the rung is the 2.5 S which comes with an 8.8-inch infotainment system that has eight speakers and integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also has 16-inch wheels, LED headlights, and remote vehicle monitoring and control. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision mitigation. The Select trim level gets 18-inch wheels, tinted rear windows, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, blind-spot monitoring, and simulated leather upholstery. The Preferred trim level adds heated front seats, a sunroof, and power adjustability to the driver’s seat. Mazda will also sell you a trim level they call 2.5 Turbo, but in practical terms, it’s a Preferred trim level with the more powerful engine, standard all-wheel-drive, and roof rails. Above that is the Premium trim level with a power liftgate, leather upholstery, paddle-shifters, a Bose 12-speaker sound system, a heads-up display, and adaptive headlights. There’s also a 2.5 Turbo Premium trim which just adds the turbocharged engine to the Premium trim. At the top of the ladder is the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus which adds safety features like front and rear parking sensors, a traffic jam assist mode that combines the functionality of lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control under 40 mph, and a surround-view camera system.
Which Subcompact SUV is the One to Choose?
Buyers of either of these excellent SUVs will be happy at the end of the day, but each has a subset that will prefer one over the other. If long-term reliability is the most important factor, then it’s impossible to beat the incredible warranty and maintenance provided for the Hyundai Kona. Still, for those that don’t mind losing coverage after a few years, the Mazda CX-30 is more fun to drive, packed with more technology, and feels much more special inside.
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