Compared: 2023 Hyundai Kona vs. 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer
With plenty of trim levels and options, these two subcompact crossovers are natural rivals.
Hyundai | Chevrolet
QuickTakes:
If you're on a budget but still want plenty of features and options, a subcompact crossover might be the perfect fit. The 2023 Hyundai Kona and 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer come in a variety of configurations, allowing either vehicle to possibly fit your needs without breaking the bank.
The Kona also comes in an electric version. For the purpose of this comparison, we'll look only at the gas-fueled versions of the Kona and Trailblazer.
Trailblazer Costs Less and Has Fewer Trim Options
You can get into the base SE model Hyundai Kona for as little as $24,000, the better-equipped SEL comes in at about $26,000. The more powerful N-Line is roughly $29,000, and the luxurious Limited trim is about $30,000. All-wheel drive (AWD) costs $1,500 more.
Hyundai also uses the Kona nameplate to serve a few niche audiences. Enthusiasts will fall for the high-performance Kona N making 276 horsepower and priced, at around $36,000, about the same as the Kona EV.
The base model Chevrolet Trailblazer LS, costs about the same as the Kona starting at around $24,000. The top-trim Trailblazer Activ and the RS, which differ mostly in styling, aren't that much more at around $28,000. Adding AWD will bump up the price between $1,500 to $2,000 more.
Hyundai
Kona Edges Out the Trailblazer in Features by Just a Little
Affordable and small, the Kona and Trailblazer are loaded with convenience and comfort features. Both cars come with standard automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, plus the convenience of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The middle and higher trim levels of both cars include features such as automatic climate control, heated seats, and leather seating surfaces.
The Trailblazer comes with larger standard wheels than the Kona, by one inch at 17 inches. Chevrolet buyers, however, have to pay extra to add adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, even for top-trim RS models. Those features come standard on the Kona Limited.
Chevrolet
A Perfect Match for Fuel Economy
The SE and SEL versions of the Hyundai Kona come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and managing 30/35/32 mpg city/highway/combined in front-wheel-drive (FWD) form, while AWD models return 28/33/30 mpg, according to the EPA. The N-Line and Limited models have a 195-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, which is rated for 29/35/32 mpg in FWD configurations, while AWD models are good for 27/32/29 mpg.
The base Chevrolet Trailblazer LS comes with a turbocharged 1.2-liter engine that can only be configured with front-wheel drive. This motor makes 137 horsepower and delivers 29/31/30 mpg. The 1.3-liter engine boosts the output to 155 horsepower and improves fuel efficiency to 29/33/31 mpg, while AWD models manage a slightly lower 26/30/28 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
