Honda HR-V vs Hyundai Kona

The Honda HR-V starts from $32,900 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai Kona opens at $32,500. That makes the Hyundai Kona the more affordable entry point by $400.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $36,190 and $35,750 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Honda HR-V by roughly $1,710 in fuel alone.

Both the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 82% for the Honda HR-V and 80% for the Hyundai Kona.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Honda HR-V packs more ADAS features with 3 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 2 in the Hyundai Kona.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Honda HR-V and 7 in the Hyundai Kona.

The Honda HR-V features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Hyundai Kona gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Honda HR-V stands out with ambient lighting that you will not find on the Hyundai Kona. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Honda HR-V lines up producing 96kW and 172Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.2 seconds.

The Hyundai Kona lines up making 110kW and 180Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.9 seconds.

The Hyundai Kona has the clear power advantage at 110kW vs 96kW. In the real-world sprint, the Honda HR-V is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Honda HR-V measures 4,345mm long on a 2,610mm wheelbase, 5mm shorter than the Hyundai Kona at 4,350mm (2,660mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Hyundai Kona generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 339L in the Honda HR-V and 361L in the Hyundai Kona, giving the Hyundai Kona a 22L advantage.

For towing, the Hyundai Kona leads with a 1,300kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,539/year for the Honda HR-V and $1,881/year for the Hyundai Kona. That is a $342 annual difference in favour of the Honda HR-V.

Estimated annual total: $1,539 (Honda HR-V) vs $1,881 (Hyundai Kona). The Honda HR-V saves you roughly $342 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years (Honda HR-V) vs 5 years (Hyundai Kona). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Honda HR-V)—.