Hyundai Kona vs Suzuki Vitara - The better crossover

Hyundai Kona and Suzuki Vitara, both are 5-seater SUVs that have got some interesting design and features. While the Vitara has been around in the Philippines for quite some time now, Kona is newer and younger and sits at the entry-level in Hyundai’s SUV offerings. The Suzuki Vitara price starts at Php 913,000 for its base model and there are three models in total. The top-end model will set you back by Php 1.1 million. On the other hand, the Hyundai Kona price is Php 1.12 million and is available in only a single variant. Let us do a quick comparison of these two cars.

Styling

Being younger than the Suzuki Vitara, the Kona is much dynamic-looking. It also comes in 10 different color options - Red, Phantom Black, Acid Yellow, Blue Lagoon, Ceramic Blue, Chalk White, Dark Knight, Lake Silver, Tangerine Comet, and Velvet Dune - which include some funky shades as well. Hyundai has incorporated a new separated headlight design in the Kona. This isn’t the first time that we’re seeing such a setup but it is still a bit too much to digest instantly. This design is what sets the Kona apart from its rivals. The LED DRLs are placed above the projector type headlights. The side profile is maintained by the stylish alloy wheels and roof rails. The rear features two-piece combination tail lights.

Suzuki Vitara carries a more conventional design approach. It might not be as striking as the Kona but it is still a handsome car. The projector LED headlamps are nicely designed and the LED DRLs are located next to the fog lamps in the bumper. The dual-tone color options help to Vitara to have a more modern visual appeal.

Interior

Unlike the exterior, the interior of the Hyundai Kona is pretty basic and a bit boring. There is a lot of hard scratchy material all around. The all-black theme will bore you soon. There is a floating-type radio display with a mono LCD screen. It supports AUX, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. The air conditioning is manual. As far as space is concerned, there is a decent amount both in the front and rear rows. However, the boot space isn’t that great but you do get foldable rear seats.

The interior of the Vitara feels more comfortable and feature-laden when compared to that of the Kona. The seats are well bolstered and provide good support. Even the rear passengers have got a good amount of space. The boot space is 375litre and can be increased by using the 60:40 split configuration of the rear seats. The dashboard is nicely put. There is a round clock situated in the middle of the two centre AC vents. Below it is a large 10-inch capacitive infotainment audio system with Android OS and supports Bluetooth, WiFi, and USB connectivity. It is also equipped with GPS Navigation.

Engine and variants

The Kona is available in only a single variant - 2.0 GLS 6A/T. The Kona specs have a 2.0-litre Atkinson engine which produces a max power of 149 PS at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 180 Nm at 4500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

On the other hand, the Suzuki Vitara variants include three models - GL AT, GL PLUS AT, and GLX AT. All of them are powered by the same 1,586 cc 4-cylinder engine that churns out 115 hp at 6000 rpm and 156 Nm of peak torque at 4400 rpm. The transmission available here is a 6-speed automatic unit with paddle shifters.

Safety features

The list of safety features in the Hyundai Kona isn’t that long as we’d have liked it to be. There are a number of airbags (dual front, side, and curtain), ABS, immobilizer, and tire pressure monitoring system.

The Suzuki Vitara comes with a similar number of airbags, ABS, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold control, brake assist, parking sensors at both front and rear, reverse camera, pedal release system, etc. Of course, availability of most of these features depends on the variant you’re buying.

The Hyundai Kona should appeal more to the younger generation of the population as it is much more modern-looking than the Vitara. Whereas the Vitara has been around for quite some time now and has proved its worth and would be appreciated by the more mature people. Do let us know which one is your favorite among the two.