The 2022 Hyundai Kona and the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer are two subcompact SUVs for the urban jungle. Here’s how they compare.
2022 Hyundai Kona
2022 Hyundai Kona Starting Price: $21,150 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Optional turbo engine; lively chassis; available all-wheel drive; available EV model; great warranty.
Below Average: Small cargo hold; tight rear seat; some advanced safety features not available on the 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 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Starting Price: $21,600 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Available AWD; roomy back seat; standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Below Average: Anemic 3-cylinder engines; no standard cruise control; unsettled ride.
Consensus: The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a stylish entry with advanced technology. Its turbo 3-cylinder engines are unusual but at least AWD is available.
Kona vs. Trailblazer: Emphasis on Style
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.
The 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 with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while upper trims get a 10.25-inch display.
A 147-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the SE and SEL, while a lively 195-horsepower turbo 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and is found in the sporty N Line and the Limited. A more potent 2.0-liter turbo with 280 horsepower comes with the Kona N. There’s also an all-electric Kona EV with more than 250 miles of range.
All-wheel drive is available with both the base 2.0-liter and 1.6-liter turbo 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.
Chevrolet Trailblazer
In Chevy’s roster of SUVs, the recently added Trailblazer slots just above the Trax in size and overlaps it in price. Unusually, both of the Trailblazer’s engines are 3-cylinder turbos. The base 1.2-liter makes 137 horsepower and comes with a CVT and front-wheel drive.
A larger 1.3-liter musters 155 horsepower and can be had with that same combo or with AWD and a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 1.3-liter would be our choice. In addition to the extra power, it offers better mileage: 29/33 mpg city/highway, although AWD drops that to 26/30 mpg.
The Trailblazer comes in four trims: LS, LT, Activ, and RS. All versions get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. An 8-inch touchscreen, inductive charging, and adaptive cruise control are available.
Sharply styled outside, the Trailblazer’s cabin is surprisingly roomy, though some materials feel inexpensive. Cargo volume is 25/54 cubic feet (rear seatbacks up/folded), and the front passenger seatback can fold flat, allowing long items to fit inside.
Similarities
Tidy dimensions; available AWD.
2022 Hyundai Kona Advantages
Turbo engine’s acceleration; more fun to drive; available EV; long warranty; NHTSA 5-Star safety.
2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Advantages
More rear-seat legroom; cargo space; wireless smartphone connectivity.
Which One is Right for Me?
The 2022 Hyundai Kona comes in a wide range of models, from economical to electric. In between, there are a couple of performance versions in the Kona N and N Line trims. The Kona is fun and, better yet, affordable.
The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a city-sized subcompact SUV with good fuel economy and a roomy interior given its small footprint.
Ready to buy a Hyundai Kona or a Chevrolet Trailblazer? Shop for one on sale now you
| 2022 Hyundai Kona | 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter I4 | 1.2-liter I3 turbo |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 32 mpg (30 city/35 hwy) | 29 mpg (28 city/31 hwy) |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo I4; EV; 7-spd automatic; AWD | 1.3-liter I3 turbo; 9-spd automatic; AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 inches | 103.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 164.0 inches | 173.5 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 71.2 inches |
| Height | 61.0 inches | 64.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 36.8 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.8 inches | 38.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.5 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 35.2 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.5 inches | 55.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.5 inches | 53.8 inches |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 94.1 cubic feet | n/a |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 19.2/45.8 cubic feet | 25.3/54.4 cubic feet |
Keyword: 2022 Hyundai Kona vs. 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Comparison