Compare the2023 Volkswagen TaosVS 2023 Hyundai Kona

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Kona’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos offers optional Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Kona doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (158 vs. 147) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Taos’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

	Taos	Kona	Kona AWD/1.6T
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	10.7 inches	10.3 inches	11.2 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the Kona:

	Taos	Kona
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Taos has larger standard tires than the Kona (215/50R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Taos S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona SE’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kona SE. The Taos SEL 4Motion’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Kona N Line/Limited.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Kona (105.5 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona (7.6 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Taos has 5.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (99.5 vs. 94.1).

The Taos has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

The Taos’ cargo area is larger than the Kona’s in almost every dimension:

	Taos	Kona
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34.3”/65.2”	28.6”/61”
Max Width	48.5”	48”
Min Width	40”	40”
Height	37”	30”

Ergonomics

The Taos’ 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 Taos’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona SEL/N Line/Limted’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos’ driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kona’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Kona doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Taos’ headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Kona’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Kona doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kona doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Taos’ optional 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 Taos SEL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Taos and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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