What Changes When You Step Up From Kona to Tucson

Two Hyundai SUVs share a showroom floor, a grille family, and the same warranty paperwork. One tucks into a tight downtown spot with inches left over. The other holds a stroller, a cooler, and two duffel bags without anyone folding a seat.

• The Kona measures 171.3 inches long and holds 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, while the Tucson stretches to 182.7 inches and holds 41.2 cubic feet.
• Kona shoppers pick between a 147-horsepower 2.0L and a 190-horsepower 1.6L turbo, and every gas Tucson trim runs the same 187-horsepower 2.5L.
• Front-wheel drive is standard on both models, with HTRAC all-wheel drive available on every trim in either lineup.

What Separates a Small SUV From a Compact One

Hyundai builds the Kona as a subcompact crossover and the Tucson as a compact, and those labels show up on the tape measure. The Kona rides on a 104.7-inch wheelbase and measures 171.3 inches long. Tucson adds almost a foot of length at 182.7 inches, riding on a 108.5-inch wheelbase. Cargo room follows the same pattern. Behind the rear seats, you get 25.5 cubic feet in a Kona and 41.2 in a Tucson. Drop both rear benches, and those numbers grow to 63.7 and 80.3 cubic feet.

Anyone weighing Hyundai Kona vs. Tucson should think about parking, too. Kona swings around inside a 34.8-foot turning circle. Tucson needs 38.6 feet to do the same thing, which you feel in a crowded garage.

Two Engines Split the Kona Lineup

Kona SE and SEL Sport use a 2.0L four-cylinder rated at 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 132 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission. Move up to SEL Premium or Limited, and a 1.6L turbo takes over, producing 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm, through an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters. That turbo changes the personality of the car on an on-ramp. Hyundai does not rate any Kona for towing.

One Engine Runs Every Gas Tucson

Shopping Tucson trims is simpler because the powertrain never changes. All six gas trims run a 2.5L four-cylinder rated at 187 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 178 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, backed by an eight-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC. Your decision comes down to wheels, seats, and screens instead of speed. Tucson also pulls up to 2,750 pounds with trailer brakes, so a small utility trailer or a pair of jet skis stays on the table. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid Tucson models sit in their own lineups with separate pricing and mileage.

Hyundai Kona vs. Tucson Trim by Trim Comparison

Fuel Economy and What Each Choice Costs You

Kona SE earns EPA ratings of 29 city, 34 highway, and 31 combined with front-wheel drive, and the SEL Sport shifts that spread to 28/35/31 without Idle Stop & Go. Both turbo trims settle at 26/31/28. Every gas Tucson posts 25/33/28 with front-wheel drive, so a base Kona saves you three combined mpg while a turbo Kona ends up dead even with it. Adding all-wheel drive costs a few mpg on both, and the gap between them shrinks a little more.

Matching the Right Size to Your Week

Drivers who commute alone, park on the street, and haul groceries rarely run out of room in a Kona. Add car seats, a dog crate, camping gear, or a small trailer, and the Tucson earns its extra length fast. Price muddies things in the middle of both lineups, since a loaded Kona Limited sits close to a Tucson SEL Plus. Decide whether you would rather have ventilated seats and a Bose system in a smaller package or a cargo hold. The Hyundai Tucson rates at 41.2 cubic feet, compared with the Kona’s 25.5.

Why Buy Your Next Hyundai SUV From Gates Hyundai

We stock both models in Richmond, so you can climb from a Kona into a Tucson on the same afternoon and feel the difference yourself. Sitting in each one answers questions no spec sheet can, like whether the Kona’s back seat fits your kids or whether the Tucson’s cargo floor swallows your golf bag. Our sales team walks through trim differences without steering you toward the biggest window sticker, and our finance staff works with a wide range of credit situations. Bring your trade, drive both, and let your own tape measure settle it.

Tags: 2026 Hyundai Kona trims, 2026 Hyundai Tucson trims, Hyundai Kona vs. Tucson, Hyundai SUV comparison, Kona cargo space, Kona Limited features, subcompact SUV vs compact SUV, Tucson towing capacity
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