Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraxVS 2023 Hyundai Kona

Both the Trax and the Kona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Trax has a standard 760-amp battery. The Kona’s 640-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 Trax’s reliability 12 points higher than the Kona.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

The Trax’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

The Trax 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Trax higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Kona (5 to 7). This means the Trax produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Kona every 15,000 miles.

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

The Trax stops much shorter than the Kona:

For better traction, the Trax has larger standard tires than the Kona (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Trax RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona (245/45R19 vs. 235/45R18).

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

The Trax has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Kona doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Trax’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Kona (106.3 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

The front grille of the Trax offers available 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.

The Trax uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Kona doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Trax has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (98 vs. 94.1).

The Trax has .4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 3.5 inches more rear legroom than the Kona.

The Trax has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (25.6 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Trax has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (54.1 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

The Trax can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Trax can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Kona can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Trax’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Kona does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Trax’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 Trax’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Kona’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically. The Kona SEL/N Line/Limited’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to lower them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Trax’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Kona doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Trax’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

On extremely cold winter days, the Trax’s optional (except LS) 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 Trax was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Kona hasn’t been picked since 2019.

The Chevrolet Trax outsold the Hyundai Kona by 38% during 2023.