Compare the2023 Hyundai KonaVS 2022 Fiat 500X

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Kona are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 500X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist optional in the Kona as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Kona’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

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 500X and is only available on 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus.

The Kona has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 500X’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus offers a rear cross-path warning system and it costs extra.

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 500X doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kona and the 500X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and rear parking sensors.

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 500X’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 500X’s (7 vs. 5 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. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500X.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Kona has a standard 640-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Kona’s reliability 23 points higher than the 500X.

The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (195 vs. 177) than the 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better mileage than the 500X:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Kona uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 500X 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 500X doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Kona stops shorter than the 500X:

For better traction, the Kona N Line/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500X (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Kona’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the 500X (102.4 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 500X.

The Kona SEL AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kona executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the 500X Trekking (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 500X’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Fiat 500X.

The design of the Hyundai Kona amounts to more than styling. The Kona has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the 500X (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Kona get better fuel mileage.

The Kona has 2.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (94.1 vs. 91.7).

The Kona has .5 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

The front step up height for the Kona is 3.4 inches lower than the 500X (16” vs. 19.4”). The Kona’s rear step up height is 3.5 inches lower than the 500X’s (16.1” vs. 19.6”).

The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (45.8 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

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 500X’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

The Kona’s cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in every dimension:

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 500X doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Kona has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Kona has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Kona has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Kona (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Kona is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The 500X doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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 500X only retains 36.13% to 38.37%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Kona is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost much less on the Kona than the 500X, including $28 less for a water pump, $40 less for front brake pads, $268 less for fuel injection and $273 less for a fuel pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Kona will be $599 to $10667 less than for the Fiat 500X.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The 500X has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Fiat 500X by almost 73 to one during the 2021 model year.