Compare the2022 Volkswagen TaosVS 2022 Hyundai Kona

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Kona’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos offers optional Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Kona doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Taos and the Kona 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 10th.

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (158 vs. 147) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Taos FWD 8-speed Auto gets better fuel mileage than the Kona N Line/Limited FWD Auto turbo 4 cyl. (28 city/36 hwy vs. 27 city/32 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Taos’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Kona doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

For better stopping power the Taos’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

For better traction, the Taos has larger standard tires than the Kona (215/50R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Taos S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona SE’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kona SE. The Taos SEL 4Motion’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Kona N Line/Limited.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Kona (105.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

The Taos has 5.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (99.5 vs. 94.1).

The Taos has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

The Taos’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kona has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Taos’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona’s optional power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Kona doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL AWD keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kona doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Taos’ optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kona doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Taos SEL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Taos and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.