Just bought a new Kona Limited AWD 3 weeks ago. Chose the Kona over the Tucson because we are retired and just didn’t need the additional room of the Tucson. Also preferred the Kona because it is more garage friendly. We are amazed by how smooth and refined it rides and steers. We are still learning a new smart technology feature that it has every time we drive it. It has so many it would be impossible to cover them all in a review video. There’s a lot to learn in order take advantage of all the features offered. Hyundai offers a fantastic owners support network and how-to videos. Even though we live in Florida we got the AWD rather than FWD for 2 reasons. One reason is because the AWD has independent multi-link rear suspension instead of the torsion beam suspension on the FWD. The multi-link has a much smoother ride. The second reason is the Limited AWD comes with a spare tire and the Limited FWD has a 12V air inflator pump and a can of fix-a-flat. We have been reviewing and studying Kona vs Tucson for months before making our decision.

@CarsMadeSimple

7 ай бұрын

Awesome! This is great to hear. Thanks for taking the time to watch and provide feedback!

@thecalendarninja

7 ай бұрын

Good choice 👍🏼 I did the same and went with the Kona Limited even though the Tucson was tempting. I feel the tech and features, digital screens, full 360 view camara, as well as a few other things make the Kona feel more premium especially for the driver and passenger if not having back seaters too often.

@Steve_in_NJ

6 ай бұрын

Good to know that the AWD version DOES include an actual spare tire! I'm driving a 2022 Kona Limited FWD and would get AWD next time as I'm driving in NJ. Only wish that a hybrid was an option as the MPG is lower than the previous Kona because they use the same engine in a bigger crossover.

@tedrik1346

2 ай бұрын

How did you adapt to that humongous black wheel cladding that extends into the doors!? We wanted to purchase the N model because it has the body colored fender surrounds but would be stuck with the dark interior with orange contrast. Only the Limited has the features we want..especially the light gray interior. Decisions! We are also retired.

@CRM6214

2 ай бұрын

@@tedrik1346 For us, just like you, only the Limited had the features we wanted. We never thought the design of the wheel cladding was a negative. We considered other brands in the subcompact category but none could match the features and technology of the Kona Limited. We love our Kona and are constantly impressed by all the smart technology it has. If I may offer some friendly advice, please don’t let a minor personal taste design issue influence your decision.

Awd Tuson Limited is great and love my heated and cool seats and the big panoramic sun roof !!

The way you compared the boot size was very useful.

@CarsMadeSimple

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback!

I bought my awd limited kona today. Ive been shopping for a while and wss dead set on a model y plaid but i finally checked out the kona limited and i was sold. You get a lot for the money and it drives so well. I was lucky enough to find the neon yellow one i wanted with absolutely every option. With my health its probably my forever daily. I have other fun cars but i really needed a comfortable smallish car and this is it.

@Dreampiece.

3 ай бұрын

I sold my paid off 2023 Model 3 and bought the 2024 Kona Limited. The Kona is a much better car overall. I will be switching to PHEV if they give it to the new Kona model or they do a refresh on the Tucson PHEV to match the new Kona tech.

@radlink14

2 ай бұрын

Mind sharing how much you got it for pretax/fees?

@mjc8248

2 ай бұрын

@radlink14 I'll see if I can find my paperwork tomorrow. I paid cash and added the 10yr bumper to bumper warranty since it has so many electronics. I paid exactly 40k out the door, but I'll look and see if I have my paperwork here or if I took it to storage with the rest of my documents.

@mjc8248

2 ай бұрын

I called, and they looked it up for me. Before the extended warranty, add-ons, and fees, I paid $35,190. I added crossbars, full carpeted mats, and mudguards, along with some other Hyundai merch. There weren’t any dealer extras other than the extended warranty that goes to 100k.

@radlink14

2 ай бұрын

@@mjc8248 thanks so much for sharing

This was a great comparison get eating the Tucson today for the extra room

I like the tech better in the Kona it feels more premium to me for people who don’t need extra space for passengers. I think it looks a bit more modern too, especially the better navigation system screen that is unique to the Kona with the full 360 top down view cam.

Got my 2024 Kona Limited back at the end of September. Took it on vacation and it did great with me and two passengers. Sadly, the last night of vacation it was rear ended and now it's in the shop getting the entire rear end replaced. Only one payment and 2500 miles. 😭

@CarsMadeSimple

6 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that! Hopefully everything is made as good as possible.

I love my 2024 Kona Limited. It has plenty of room for my needs. I have a friend who is 6' 3" tall and he is very comfortable in the front passenger seat and his 5' 5" wife fits behind him in the rear seat with leg room left over. He is impressed by the Kona too, even with the ride and interior noise. I came from a 2021 Sonata Limited and have no regrets. The only features I slightly miss from the Sonata are the auto wipers and auto high beam (I just discovered that the auto high beam does work, it was user error 😕)

@CarsMadeSimple

7 ай бұрын

Great to hear! The Kona actually has Auto High Beam as standard equipment. Make sure to get that turned on as it is very handy. It doesn't have rain sensing wipers unfortunately.

Do either car have easy entry/exit feature where the seat slides back to make easier exit or forward when getting in?

@thatkingdavid1819

5 ай бұрын

No

I don't care for all the flat black trim on the outside of the Kona. The Kona front end is just blah. I would take the Tucson without question. I don't mind if it is not the new style with updates or not. The inside of the Kona is also blah. Thanks for the side-by-side review of these two vehicles. It sure opened my eyes as to which vehicle I want.

@Steve_in_NJ

6 ай бұрын

Kona is now same design as the Ioniq 5 Series and the new Elantras and Sonatas will also look like this.

@markpaternoster4983

6 ай бұрын

Kona is a better streamlined car, with by far more advanced tech, including ota updates, a big plus. Kona really isn't much smaller than the tucson, and better equipped and cost less. Kona in my mind is a no brainer!!

@tedrik1346

2 ай бұрын

Love the Kona except for the humongous black cladding around the wheels that extend into the doors..has a nicer interior than the Tuscon, imo. I never liked the shape of the Tuscon since the 2022 redesign.

@anjuma31

2 ай бұрын

In Scotland I'm getting the Hyundai Kona N Line S hybrid 74 plate. What a car.

The Tucson is great but me having no back seat passenger very often i feel like the Kona is my car better tech for the younger crowd and the Tucson feels more like grandma and grandpa's minivan

@thecalendarninja

7 ай бұрын

I really am a bit dissatisfied because i fell in love with the looks and interior on the beautiful N line (i bought one) 4 days ago but I’m bringing it back today because i realized I’d rather have the Limited due to not wanting to miss out on all of the new tech and features. I could only be fully satisfied if I could have the Nline be fully loaded like the N line Ultimate 😢 that we can’t get in this country.

The four dots equal an "H" in Morse Code :)

@CarsMadeSimple

7 ай бұрын

That's awesome! Thanks for the info!

@Steve_in_NJ

6 ай бұрын

Hopefully, no engine fires, or else that Morse code will be a S.O.S.

When it gets dark outside, the Kona 24 turns the maps screen dark. Can I turn that off? When its dark. I can't see the roads on the screen. It makes maps useless...

@CarsMadeSimple

2 ай бұрын

Yes, you can set the screen brightness to not dim when the lights or ambient light is lower. You can also make it so the theme does not change with day/night and stays on the white theme all the time.

wish there is Kona hybrid in US

Kona all the way. I like buttons!

I drove my new Kona home last night and discovered it has no spare tire. I texted my salesman and he said Hyundai did away with the spare to give the car a better fuel economy. Obviously that's not true! Any suggestions?

@CarsMadeSimple

6 ай бұрын

So it appears that the N-Line and Limited FWD come only with the inflator kit while all other versions (both FWD and AWD) include a temporary spare.

@Charhartman1988

6 ай бұрын

@CarsMadeSimple Ok, thanks! I feel better that at least I wasn't lied to. Thanks for replying.

@Koky1111

4 ай бұрын

I just bought a Kona 2 Days ago and have spare tire,I love my Kona,

I really want the new Kona, but car is already paid off and don't want another car payment.

Tucson ❤❤

I don't like the design of the Kona. The Tucson looks much more modern!

@Koky1111

4 ай бұрын

I completely disagree The Kona looks like a space craft, love my new Kona,Also Tucson is good looking.

@Koky1111

3 ай бұрын

What,I just kidding that is your choice,Tucson is good looking but to big for a pair of 81 years young couple.

@tedrik1346

2 ай бұрын

​​​@@Koky1111we are also closing in on 80 and I'm so glad I saw that you purchased a Kona (wife was insisting it was for younger people). I just can't get past the huge black cladding around the wheels that extends into the doors (Limited).. but have no choice if we want the light gray interior. The N trim does have the body colored wheel surrounds which has as more luxurious look but then no choice for the light gray interior. Also, can't decide between light gray and misty green. Decisions!

30k plus for Hyundai's entry level SUV is ridiculous, no matter how you spin it. Entry level crossover, and it's over 30k. WOW.

@CarsMadeSimple

6 ай бұрын

The entry level Kona is $25,435. For the money, you are getting significantly more than sub compact SUV's offered just a few years ago. Gone are the days of fully loaded, subcompact SUV's costing less than $30k.

@markpaternoster4983

6 ай бұрын

In addition the fully loaded limited easily out performs many other small suvs especially in the added tech department. I would actually consider it a better car and price point than Honda hrv, nussian kicks, crosstalk, etc.. compare price to what you get!!!!!

@1011skarn

5 ай бұрын

@@CarsMadeSimple you can buy a 2023 Tucson with under 15k miles for that. Why in the world would you get a smaller SUV for more money? Love the new design, but at that price I'm waiting for the used market on them unless I get another Tucson first.

@CarsMadeSimple

5 ай бұрын

@@1011skarn You can't really compare used vs new in a fair manner. A used Kona is going to be less than a new Kona just like a used Tucson will be less than the new Tucson.

@lilryznvert5594

Ай бұрын

Are we forgetting the Hyundai venue?

they look the same size, i dont think tuscon is bigger, atleast on youtube

@Steve_in_NJ

6 ай бұрын

Tucson is bigger: Kona is 171.3" versus Tuscson being 182.3" as Kona is subcompact, Tucson a compact, like RAV4 and Forester.