Compare the2023 Hyundai KonaVS 2023 Honda CR-V

The Kona SEL/N Line/Limited has standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The CR-V doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Kona and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 230 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CR-V has not been tested, yet.

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the CR-V. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CR-V ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CR-V’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the CR-V (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Kona has a standard 640-amp battery. The CR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 24th.

The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (195 vs. 190) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better mileage than the CR-V:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Kona uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CR-V requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Hyundai Kona as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Honda CR-V is only certified to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV) standards.

The Kona stops much shorter than the CR-V:

The Kona N Line/Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V’s 60 series tires.

The Kona has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Kona has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Kona handles at .85 G’s, while the CR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kona executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the CR-V EX-L AWD (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the CR-V’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 600 pounds less than the Honda CR-V.

The Kona is 1 foot, 7.2 inches shorter than the CR-V, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom and 2.7 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V.

The Kona has a higher standard payload capacity than the CR-V (915 vs. 850 lbs.).

The Kona has a higher maximum payload capacity than the CR-V (930 vs. 850 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Kona and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The CR-V’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Kona (except SE). The Kona’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The CR-V doesn’t offer a navigation system.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The CR-V has never been chosen.