Hyundai Kona Coasts Past Its Competition from Kia
The compact SUV market has never been hotter, and with more choices than ever before, many drivers find themselves choosing between the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Seltos. Though both have similar statures and on-paper specifications, the Hyundai Kona is a favorite vehicle of shoppers at our Hyundai dealership in Tennessee thanks to its robust powertrain, eco-friendly options, and one-of-a-kind modern style.The Hyundai Kona – Designed for Thrill
The Hyundai Kona sets the pace for assertive design among its compact SUV peers with a racing-inspired front end led by dynamically angular headlights and an attractive mesh grille reminiscent of the Hyundai Tucson.The chunky design that dominates the Kia Seltos seems somewhat dated by comparison, with flashy silver-painted accents that draw unflattering attention to its yesteryear aesthetic.
The Hyundai Kona – Peppy Performance
Two available four-cylinder gasoline powertrains characterize the Hyundai Kona lineup, including a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter engine and a turbocharged 195-horsepower 1.6-liter engine. Thanks to the Kona’s low assertive stance, it’s able to power through corners and devour straightaways with formidable performance for a compact SUV.With a higher ride height and a suspension that doesn’t feel quite as responsive, the Kia Seltos feels less nimble than its size might suggest. It also features an available pair of 2.0-liter and turbocharged 1.6-liter engines that output 146 and 175 horsepower respectively – notably less than the Hyundai Kona.
For the environmentally considerate driver, the Hyundai Kona is also available with a fully electric plug-in powertrain with an EPA-estimated 258-mile range. The Kia Seltos, on the other hand, doesn’t offer any hybrid options.
The Hyundai Kona – Interior Excellence
Inside, the Hyundai Kona exudes comfort and minimalist sophistication with a familiar and intuitive array of media, climate, and steering wheel controls that makes the Kia Seltos, with a button-filled console, seem unbearably cluttered by contrast.Both SUVs feature options for eight-inch and 10.25-inch touchscreen displays, but only the all-new Kona offers a cutting-edge heads-up display that projects an extension of the driver display cluster onto a transparent pane by the windshield.