Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona NVS 2024 Lexus NX

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona N has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the NX.

Both the Kona N and the NX 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, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

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

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona N for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona N’s warranty.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 73 more horsepower (276 vs. 203) and 105 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 184) than the NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 36 more horsepower (276 vs. 240) than the NX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 1 more horsepower (276 vs. 275) than the NX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Kona N is faster than the NX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

The Kona N offers a standard 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 NX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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 NX doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Kona N stops shorter than the NX:

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 NX’s standard 60 series tires. The Kona N’s tires are lower profile than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona N has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the NX.

The Kona N handles at .95 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Hyundai Kona N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 1150 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

The Kona N is 1 foot, 5.6 inches shorter than the NX, making the Kona N easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona N has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The front step up height for the Kona N is 1.8 inches lower than the NX (16” vs. 17.8”). The Kona N’s rear step up height is 2.1 inches lower than the NX’s (16.1” vs. 18.2”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kona N easier. The Kona N’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The power windows standard on both the Kona N and the NX 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 NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the NX.

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

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Lexus NX by 31% during 2022.