Compare the2025 Hyundai KonaVS 2024 Cadillac XT4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Kona have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Cadillac XT4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Kona’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 XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kona and the XT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The XT4 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XT4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the XT4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT4 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the XT4’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT4.

There are over 48 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 52 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 5 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better mileage than the XT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Kona uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Kona has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT4. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Kona SE/SEL has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Kona stops shorter than the XT4:

The Kona Limited AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kona Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the XT4’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (8.1 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Kona N Line/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the XT4 (8.3 vs. 6.7 inches).

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 700 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Kona is 9.6 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Kona N Line AWD is quieter than the XT4 Sport AWD:

The Kona has .5 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Kona’s rear seats recline. The XT4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

The Kona Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Kona second among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The XT4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Cadillac XT4 by over three to one during 2023.