Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2024 Hyundai Kona

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Mazda CX-50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the Kona.

Both the CX-50 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, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-50 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona has not been tested, yet.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

The CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (187 vs. 147) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 132) than the Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 66 more horsepower (256 vs. 190) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 195) than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder AWD (24 city/30 hwy vs. 24 city/29 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Kona doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-50 has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-50 has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

	CX-50	Kona SE	Kona AWD/SEL/1.6T
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	11.2 inches	11.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-50 has larger standard tires than the Kona (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17). The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona (245/45R20 vs. 235/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The Kona’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Kona (110.8 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kona.

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Kona N Line (8.6 vs. 8.3 inches).

Passenger Space

The CX-50 has .3 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear legroom than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the Kona with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Kona doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-50 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona doesn’t offer a memory system.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-50’s front and rear power windows all 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. With the Kona’s optional power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

On a hot day the CX-50’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kona doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-50 Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-50’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Kona offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the CX-50 and the Kona offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona.

The CX-50 has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.