Compare the2023 Jeep RenegadeVS 2023 Hyundai Kona

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

Safety

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The Jeep Renegade has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Renegade has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Kona doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Renegade Limited offers optional Park Assist with Rear Stop 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Renegade. But it costs extra on the Kona.

The Renegade Limited offers optional ParkSense to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Kona doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

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

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 Jeep Renegade is safer than the Hyundai Kona:

	Renegade	Kona
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	161 lbs.	246 lbs.
Hip Force	328 lbs.	611 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	625 lbs.	744 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Renegade the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 184 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Renegade’s warranty.

Reliability

The engine in the Renegade has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Kona have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

Engine

The Renegade’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 30 more horsepower (177 vs. 147) and 78 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Renegade’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 195) than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Renegade has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Kona doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Renegade	Kona
Front Rotors	12 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.95 inches	10.3 inches

The Renegade stops much shorter than the Kona:

	Renegade	Kona
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Renegade has larger standard tires than the Kona (215/60R17 vs. 205/60R16).

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

The Renegade Trailhawk offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Kona; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Jeep Renegade has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Renegade has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Renegade flat and controlled during cornering. The Kona 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Renegade’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Kona doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Renegade has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona (8 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Renegade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Renegade Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 2 inches higher than on the Kona (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Renegade (except Trailhawk) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Kona doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Renegade has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (100.1 vs. 94.1).

The Renegade has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The Renegade has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (50.8 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Renegade. The Kona doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Renegade has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Renegade uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Renegade’s 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 Renegade’s front power windows 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. The Kona SEL/N Line/Limted’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

The Renegade’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kona’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Renegade offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Kona doesn’t offer cornering lights.

On extremely cold winter days, the Renegade’s 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 Renegade’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.

The Renegade’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Kona SE doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

The Renegade offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Renegade Limited’s optional Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Kona doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Renegade owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Renegade with a number “5” insurance rate while the Kona is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Renegade will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Renegade will retain 52.53% to 58.07% of its original price after five years, while the Kona only retains 47.55% to 51.42%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Renegade is less expensive to operate than the Kona because typical repairs cost much less on the Renegade than the Kona, including $52 less for a water pump, $91 less for a muffler, $13 less for fuel injection and $251 less for a power steering pump.