Compare the2026 Jeep CherokeeVS 2025 Hyundai Kona

The Jeep Cherokee has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Cherokee. But it costs extra on the Kona.

The Jeep Cherokee’s optional 360-degree camera has integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Hyundai Kona lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the Cherokee and the Kona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Jeep Cherokee weighs 790 to 1290 pounds more than the Hyundai Kona. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are almost 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (210 vs. 147) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 132) than the Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (210 vs. 190) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 195) than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Cherokee gets better mileage than the Kona:

Regenerative brakes improve the Cherokee’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Kona doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Cherokee has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona’s standard fuel tank (13.7 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Cherokee’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

For better traction, the Cherokee has larger standard tires than the Kona (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cherokee Overland has standard 20-inch wheels. The Kona’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Kona doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Jeep Cherokee has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 8.3 inches longer than on the Kona (113 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kona.

The Cherokee uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Kona doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Cherokee has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (107.4 vs. 101.2).

The Cherokee has .3 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front hip room and .8 inches more front shoulder room than the Kona.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (33.6 vs. 25.5 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (68.3 vs. 63.7 cubic feet).

The Cherokee has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona has no towing capacity.

When different drivers share the Cherokee Overland, the memory system makes it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Kona doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Cherokee’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Kona’s optional windows’ rear windows don’t close automatically.

The Cherokee’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Cherokee’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited.

The Cherokee Limited/Overland’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Kona offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Cherokee and the Kona offer available heated front seats. The Cherokee Overland also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona.

The Cherokee has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited.

Both the Cherokee and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Cherokee has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Cherokee Overland has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.