Compare the2023 Hyundai KonaVS 2023 Cadillac XT4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Kona’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the XT4.

The Kona’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kona and the XT4 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	Kona	XT4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20%	28%
Neck Stress	207 lbs.	218 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/232 lbs.	181/231 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	217	350
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	77 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	59/27 lbs.	73/175 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	Kona	XT4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	109	114
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	196	204
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	35 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Kona is 1.3% to 3.1% less likely to roll over than the XT4.

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 XT4 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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 XT4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the XT4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT4 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the XT4’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT4.

There are over 47 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 4 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

	Kona	XT4
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.7 sec	23 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.6 sec	8.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	87 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better mileage than the XT4:

			MPG
Kona
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/35 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy
XT4
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Kona uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Kona has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Kona offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XT4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The Kona stops shorter than the XT4:

	Kona	XT4
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Kona handles at .85 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kona executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the XT4’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

Chassis

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Kona is 1 foot, 3.5 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Kona has .2 inches more front headroom and 2.4 inches more rear hip room than the XT4.

The front step up height for the Kona is 1 inches lower than the XT4 (16” vs. 17”). The Kona’s rear step up height is 1.4 inches lower than the XT4’s (16.1” vs. 17.5”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kona easier. The Kona’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

Ergonomics

The Kona has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Economic Advantages

The Kona will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Kona will retain 47.55% to 51.42% of its original price after five years, while the XT4 only retains 45.4% to 45.5%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Kona is less expensive to operate than the XT4 because it costs $455 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Kona than the XT4, including $93 less for a water pump, $326 less for a muffler, $82 less for front brake pads, $24 less for a starter, $291 less for fuel injection, $58 less for a fuel pump, $596 less for a timing belt/chain and $275 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Kona will be $7000 to $16366 less than for the Cadillac XT4.

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2019 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Kona SE higher than the Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury AWD.

The Kona was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The XT4 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue, and the XT4 has only been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XT4 has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Cadillac XT4 by almost three to one during 2022.

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