2026–27 Hyundai Kona vs Hyundai Tucson: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Kona — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–2.5 across 6 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($25,350 vs $29,200) and better 5-year value retention (51% vs 48.8%). Choose the Tucson if fuel economy comes first (38 mpg vs 31 mpg best EPA combined).
Scorecard: Kona 4 pts · Tucson 2.5 pts across 6 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Kona | 2026 Tucson | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $25,350 | $29,200 | Kona |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.97 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 51% | 48.8% | Kona |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 31 mpg | 38 mpg | Tucson |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 201 hp | 268 hp | Tucson |
| Max towing (1) | — | 2,750 lb | No data |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | — | 38.7 cu ft | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 5 | 10 | Kona |
| Weighted points | 4 | 2.5 | Kona |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Tucson — 38 mpg vs 31 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: it's a wash — Kona 5 vs Tucson 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Kona — $25,350 vs $29,200 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $20,877 for the Kona vs $22,862 for the Tucson.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Kona — 51% vs 48.8% (5-year value retained).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Kona starts at $25,350 and tops out at $41,150; the Tucson runs $29,200 to $48,300 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Used, the median asking price is $20,877 for the Kona and $22,862 for the Tucson (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Kona: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Tucson: 0.97 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 21th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Kona 5, Tucson 10.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Tucson 2016 (avoid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Kona | 2026 Tucson | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $25,350 | $29,200 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $41,150 | $48,300 |
| Horsepower | 133–201 hp | 187–268 hp |
| Max torque | 195 lb-ft | 271 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 26–31 mpg | 26–38 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | — | 2,750 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | — | 38.7 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Kona lists for a median $15,750 — 51% of today's median new price of $30,896. A 5-year-old (2021) Tucson lists for a median $17,499 — 48.8% of today's median new price of $35,830.
Shop both
- See 17,805 new 2027 Hyundai Konas for sale →Median listed price $29,207 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See new 2026 Hyundai Tucsons for sale →
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Hyundai Kona
More on the Hyundai Tucson
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Kona better than the Tucson?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Kona — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–2.5 across 6 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($25,350 vs $29,200) and better 5-year value retention (51% vs 48.8%). Choose the Tucson if fuel economy comes first (38 mpg vs 31 mpg best EPA combined).
Which is more reliable, the Kona or the Tucson?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Kona and 10 for the Tucson.
Which holds its value better, the Kona or the Tucson?
The Kona: a 5-year-old example lists for 51% of the new price, versus 48.8% for the Tucson, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Kona or the Tucson?
The Kona starts lower: $25,350 vs $29,200 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Kona or the Tucson?
The Tucson: up to 38 mpg combined vs 31 mpg for the Kona (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026–27 Hyundai Kona vs Hyundai Tucson: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/hyundai-kona-vs-hyundai-tucson, updated November 8, 2026.