The Hyundai Kona and the Volkswagen Taos are two urban-friendly small SUVs that offer high style and good value. Here’s how they compare.
2022 Hyundai Kona
2022 Hyundai Kona Starting Price: $20,950 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Optional turbo engine; lively chassis; available AWD; EV model; great warranty.
Below Average: Small cargo hold; tight rear seat; some advanced safety features not available on base trim.
Consensus: The 2022 Hyundai Kona is a spunky urban runabout with a zippy turbo engine option. In addition to a long warranty, Hyundai offers three years’ complimentary maintenance.
2022 Volkswagen Taos
2022 Volkswagen Taos Starting Price: $22,995 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: 7- and 8-speed automatics instead of a CVT; good passenger space; standard digital instrumentation.
Below Average: Active-safety features cost extra on the base car; S model’s small touchscreen; pricey top trim.
Consensus: The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is VW’s smallest SUV. Although small outside, it’s roomy inside. Just one engine is offered, a 1.5-liter turbo I4.
Kona vs. Taos: City-Sized SUVs
Hyundai Kona
The 2022 Hyundai Kona lives up to its name with its caffeinated exterior styling, nimble handling, and available turbo engine. The look might not be to everyone’s taste, but it helps the Kona stand out in the crowd despite its small stature.
Overall length is shorter than most of its rivals, which is great for street parking. However, rear-seat legroom is tight, and the cargo hold is on the small side. At this low price point, cabin materials are basic, and the interior has little of the expressive design found outside. Switchgear is user-friendly, though, as is the 8-inch infotainment system, which comes with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while upper trims get a 10.25-inch display.
A 147-horsepower 2.0-liter base engine pairs with a continuously variable automatic (CVT) in the SE and SEL, while a lively 195-horsepower turbo 1.6-liter gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and is found in the sporty N Line and the Limited. An even more potent 2.0-liter turbo with 276 hp arrives in the Kona N this fall. There’s also a Kona EV with more than 250 miles of range.
All-wheel drive is available with either engine. EPA combined estimates are 32 mpg with FWD and 30 mpg (2.0L) or 29 mpg (1.6T) with AWD.
Forward collision warning is standard, but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are missing from the base model. Lane-keep assist is optional on all but the Limited and EV, where it’s standard. Hyundai’s long warranty coverage and 3-year/36,000-mile free scheduled maintenance are pluses.
Volkswagen Taos
The Taos is a new entry and VW’s smallest crossover. Although its design apes the look of the big-boy Atlas, the Taos is nearly a foot shorter than a Tiguan. Despite the small footprint, the blocky design yields good interior space.
The seats are pleasantly up off the floor, and it provides adequate room for adults, front and rear. Cargo space is pretty good, too, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats (24.9 with AWD); folding the seatbacks expands that to 65.9 (60.2 with AWD).
A 1.5-liter turbo I4 is the sole engine and makes a credible 158 horsepower. With front-wheel drive, it’s paired with an 8-speed automatic, while the AWD version gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. EPA combined estimates are 31 mpg (FWD) and 28 mpg (AWD). Acceleration is sprightly around town, slightly less so on the highway. The suspension tuning is firm yet still comfortable, but the overboosted steering is a let-down.
Taos comes in S, SE, and SEL trim levels. Forward-collision warning with automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control all cost extra on the S. The SE adds the first three but still charges extra for the latter two. All are included on the SEL.
All Taos trims get a digital instrument cluster, an unusual feature in this class. The infotainment display is just 6.5 inches in the S, other trims get an 8-inch unit as well as wireless smartphone mirroring and wireless charging.
Similarities
Fuel economy; exterior size; available AWD.
2022 Hyundai Kona Advantages
Lower pricing; turbo engine’s acceleration; high-tech features; available EV; long warranty; NHTSA 5-star safey.
2022 Volkswagen Taos Advantages
Passenger and cargo space; more powerful standard engine; more responsive transmission.
Which One is Right for Me?
The 2022 Hyundai Kona offers a much broader model range with the sporty N Line and an available EV. It represents good value with more standard features and a long warranty.
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasts plenty of interior passenger and cargo space to go along with its European-inspired handling.
Ready to buy a Hyundai Kona or a Volkswagen Taos? Shop for one on sale now near you
| 2022 Hyundai Kona | 2022 Volkswagen Taos | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter I4 | 1.5-liter turbo I4 |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 158 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 184 lb-ft @ 1,750 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | 8-spd automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 32 mpg (30 city/35 hwy) | 31 mpg (28 city/36 hwy) |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo I4; 7-spd automatic; AWD; EV | 7-spd automatic; AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | n/a |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 inches | 99.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 164.0 inches | 161.3 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 69.5 inches |
| Height | 61.0 inches | 64.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 36.8 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 40.7 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.8 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.5 inches | 40.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 35.2 inches | 37.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.5 inches | 56.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.5 inches | 55.2 inches |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 94.1 cubic feet | 99.9 cubic feet |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 19.2/45.8 cubic feet | 27.9/65.9 cubic feet |