Compare the2025 Hyundai KonaVS 2024 Lexus UX

The Kona Limited has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Kona and UX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kona has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The UX’s Rear Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Kona and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Kona is much safer than the UX:

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 UX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” 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 UX’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 Lexus covers the UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (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’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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 8th.

The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (190 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lexus UX:

Both the Kona SE and the UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Kona SEs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Kona’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (12.4 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons).

The Kona stops much shorter than the UX:

For better traction, the Kona N Line/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (235/45R19 vs. 225/50R18).

The Kona N Line/Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona N Line/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Kona has a standard space-saver spare (not available on 1.6T FWD) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

The Kona Limited AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 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 UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 500 pounds less than the Lexus UX.

The Kona is 5.7 inches shorter than the UX, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Hyundai Kona amounts to more than styling. The Kona has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .302 Cd. That is lower than the UX (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Kona get better fuel mileage.

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

The Kona has 10.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (101.2 vs. 90.4).

The Kona has 2.7 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

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

The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (25.5 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Kona uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Kona and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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 UX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Lexus UX by almost seven to one during 2023.