Volkswagen Golf vs. Hyundai KONA
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Volkswagen Golf and Hyundai KONA contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Volkswagen Golf and the Hyundai KONA.
When we compare the Volkswagen Golf's and the Hyundai KONA's specifications and ratings, the Volkswagen Golf has the advantage in the areas of fuel efficiency and resale value. The Hyundai KONA has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and interior volume. The Volkswagen Golf and Hyundai KONA have the same base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Volkswagen Golf's and the Hyundai KONA's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.
Pricing: A used 2021 Volkswagen Golf ranges from $14,517 to $22,997 while a used 2021 Hyundai KONA is priced between $13,543 to $22,900.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Volkswagen Golf loses 41.7 percent of its value and the Hyundai KONA loses 42.2 percent of its value. This means the Volkswagen Golf retains 0.6 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Hyundai KONA.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the base engine of both the Volkswagen Golf and the Hyundai KONA makes 147 horsepower. The Golf is rated to deliver an average of 33 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 515 miles. The KONA is rated to deliver an average of 30 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 436 miles. This gives the Volkswagen Golf the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Hyundai KONA. Both models use regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Hyundai KONA, a crossover/subcompact SUV, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front leg room, rear shoulder room, and cargo space. The Volkswagen Golf, a compact car, has the advantage in the areas of front shoulder room, rear head room and rear leg room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the Volkswagen Golf has higher safety ratings than the Hyundai KONA, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.67 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
23195
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
21197
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
15295 - 28695
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
20500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Subcompact SUVs)
22058
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Subcompact SUVs)
18750 - 29100
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
18641
Price Range:
14517 - 22997
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
19841
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
11819 - 28783
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
22
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
59755
# Good or Great Deals:
9
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
17985
Price Range:
13543 - 22900
Category Avg Price:
(Subcompact SUVs)
19173
Category Avg Price Range:
(Subcompact SUVs)
16252 - 24096
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
379
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
62492
# Good or Great Deals:
162
Volkswagen Golf Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.1 / 10
Reliability:
7.9 / 10
Retained Value:
8.4 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Hyundai KONA Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.3 / 10
Safety:
9.7 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Volkswagen Golf
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
13.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
7.8
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
4.8 - 13.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.133
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Hyundai KONA
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Subcompact SUVs)
7.2
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Subcompact SUVs)
5.1 - 9.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.9188929339555512
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
2.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
1.1 - 12.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.1335523577196613
Typical Category Recalls:
(Subcompact SUVs)
2.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Subcompact SUVs)
1.1 - 9.8
Volkswagen Golf Rankings
Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 13Ranking
7 out of / 37Ranking
7 out of / 37Ranking
10 out of / 17Ranking
12 out of / 37Ranking
13 out of / 37Ranking
14 out of / 37Ranking
25 out of / 37Ranking
25 out of / 37Ranking
26 out of / 37Ranking
32 out of / 37Hyundai KONA Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 21Ranking
4 out of / 21Ranking
6 out of / 21Ranking
7 out of / 21Ranking
8 out of / 21Ranking
8 out of / 14Ranking
9 out of / 56Ranking
9 out of / 21Ranking
10 out of / 67Ranking
10 out of / 21Ranking
14 out of / 21Ranking
15 out of / 67Ranking
21 out of / 67Ranking
31 out of / 67Ranking
36 out of / 67Ranking
38 out of / 67Ranking
41 out of / 67Ranking
43 out of / 67Ranking
55 out of / 67Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Volkswagen Golf Trim Levels
TSI
Hyundai KONA Trim Levels
Limited, NIGHT, SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Ultimate
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.67 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
147 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
184 foot-lbs @ 1400 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.050 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
147 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque:
132 foot-lbs @ 4500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.051 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
29 / 39 / 33
Range (city/hwy):
383 / 515 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
27 / 33 / 30
Range (city/hwy):
356 / 436 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
Available
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.9 inches
Cargo Space:
17.4 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
42.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
110.9 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.5 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.5 inches
Cargo Space:
19.2 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
45.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
113.3 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2945 lbs
Width:
70.8 inches
Height:
58.2 inches
Length:
167.6 inches
Wheelbase:
103.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.4 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2890 lbs
Width:
70.9 inches
Height:
61 inches
Length:
164 inches
Wheelbase:
102.4 inches
Ground Clearance:
6.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
205/55R16
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
205/60R16
Exterior Colors
Black
Deep Black Pearl
Blue
Silk Blue Metallic
Gray
Platinum Gray Metallic
Silver
White Silver Metallic
White
Pure White
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Ultra Black
Blue
Surf Blue
Gray
Galactic Gray / Thunder Gray
Silver
Sonic Silver
White
Chalk White / Lunar White
Red
Pulse Red
Interior Colors
Beige
Beige
Black
Titan Black
Gray
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black
Gray
Gray/Black
