Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona NVS 2022 Infiniti QX50

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 N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The QX50 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kona N’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 QX50 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kona N and the QX50 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Kona N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The QX50’s 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona N 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Infiniti covers the QX50. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the QX50 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona N for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Infiniti doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the QX50.

There are over 4 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona N’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kona N has a standard 150-amp alternator. The QX50’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. With 19 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Infiniti.

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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 80 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 5 places higher in reliability than Infiniti.

The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (276 vs. 268) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 280) than the QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Kona N’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The QX50 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Kona N’s brake rotors are larger than those on the QX50:

The Kona N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the QX50’s standard 55 series tires. The Kona N’s tires are lower profile than the QX50’s optional 45 series tires.

The Kona N has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The QX50’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Kona N has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX50’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hyundai Kona N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 850 pounds less than the Infiniti QX50.

The Kona N is 1 foot, 6.8 inches shorter than the QX50, making the Kona N easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front step up height for the Kona N is 1.2 inches lower than the QX50 (16” vs. 17.2”). The Kona N’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the QX50’s (16.1” vs. 17.7”).

The power windows standard on both the Kona N and the QX50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona N is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona N’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Infiniti only offers heated mirrors on the QX50 Luxe/Essential/Sensory/Autograph.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Kona N has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The QX50 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Kona N was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The QX50 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.