2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2023 Honda Pilot underwent a complete redesign, presenting a more rugged and substantial appearance. Its upright grille and boxier styling not only made it look larger but also increased its dimensions, being 3.4 inches longer, up to 1.5 inches wider, and 0.8 inches taller than its predecessor. These changes complemented the all-terrain-capable TrailSport model, which included off-road enhancements like a one-inch taller ride height, unique 18-inch wheels, chunky all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates. The interior took a more conventional styling route, maintaining attractiveness and functionality, with materials quality meeting elevated class standards. Overall, the new Pilot emphasized function over form, offering a tidy and utilitarian aesthetic.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed as an electric vehicle first, evident in its appearance. The grille resembled the Ioniq 5’s, with a single-piece look typical of electric powertrains. The Kona featured the “seamless horizon” styling seen on the new Sonata, with a single skinny LED headlight dominating the front. Despite its nearly 6-inch increase in length, the Kona retained a recognizable silhouette, with new visual elements like the creased “parametric surface” of the doors and substantial black body cladding. The interior saw significant updates, including a driver-oriented center stack and a gear shift moved to a stalk on the steering column, enhancing space. The most noticeable update was the curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens, with revised vents, climate controls, and dash.

The 2023 Honda Pilot was powered by a new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all models and standard on the Elite and TrailSport trims. The Pilot offered quick initial acceleration and adequate power, with a soft brake pedal for smooth stops. It cornered well for a three-row SUV, prioritizing comfort over sporty driving. The TrailSport trim increased ground clearance by an inch and added all-terrain tires, enhancing off-road capabilities without sacrificing on-road comfort.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE and SEL trims and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder for the N-Line and Limited trims. The base engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, while the turbo engine delivered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission was replaced with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,500. The Kona offered intuitive steering and nimble handling, with EPA fuel economy estimates slightly reduced for AWD models.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional compared to other new Honda vehicles, offering a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. The entry-level LX and Sport trims featured a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a nine-inch display. The Pilot provided ample storage and convenience features, including a large rubberized shelf, cupholders, and a wide center console bin. The stowable second-row center seat allowed for a useful center pass-through, and the Pilot offered abundant space in the second row, with a maximum cargo capacity of 114.3 cubic feet.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length enhanced rear-seat legroom to 38.2 inches and cargo capacity to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded down. The Kona Limited featured a power hands-free liftgate, and the cabin offered a handy shelf on the passenger’s side of the dash. The Kona's seating options included cloth seats for SE and SEL trims, a leather/suede combination for N-Line, and H-Tex leatherette for Limited. Ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard for the Limited trim, with heated front seats available starting with the N-Line trim.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's EX-L trim and higher offered a larger infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims included a multi-view camera system, head-up display, and a fully digital instrument panel. The infotainment system featured quick responses and a logical layout, with additional features like Honda's CabinTalk, navigation system, Bose premium audio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch infotainment system touchscreen display standard across the lineup, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on lower trims and an OTA update promised for higher trims. The Kona included wireless device charging, a new Wi-Fi hotspot, and a Bose stereo system. Dual 12.3-inch screens created a panoramic view in the curved housing, and OTA update capability was standard. Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services were included for the life of the vehicle.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had not yet received crash test results from the NHTSA, but Honda expected top scores. It received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard Honda Sensing safety features included forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, and more. Higher trims added low-speed automatic braking and parking sensors, with surround-view and multi-view camera systems on TrailSport and Elite trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona included standard Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist was standard, with adaptive cruise control on N-Line and Limited trims. The Limited trim featured Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist suite offered Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, with smooth lane-keep assist and a clear inventory of driver-assistance features.