Used car safety, rank #169 of 188
Hyundai Kona 2WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Hyundai Kona 2WD, a small SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Hyundai Kona 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 95 per million registered vehicle years against a small SUVs average of 38, which is 150% above the class average. That places it #169 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 13.2/100.
What the Hyundai Kona death rate means
At 95 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Hyundai Kona 2WD is 150% worse than the small SUVs average of 38. The 95% confidence interval is 53 to 137, entirely above the class average, so the gap is unlikely to be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 59 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Hyundai Kona. Its 95% confidence interval is 30β89. It is no higher than the Hyundai Kona's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest small SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Hyundai Kona 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug-in hybrid 4WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug-in hybrid 4WD | 2021-23 | 5 (0 to 15) | 76.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Escape hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 6 (0 to 17) | 75.7 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4WD | 2022-23 | 7 (0 to 22) | 74.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota RAV4 hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 15 (7 to 23) | 63.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD | 2020-23 | 17 (4 to 29) | 60.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Mazda CX-5 4WD | 2020-23 | 17 (8 to 27) | 60.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Tucson 4WD | 2022-23 | 20 (2 to 38) | 57.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Tucson 2WD | 2022-23 | 21 (0 to 45) | 56.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Kona 2WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 95 (53 to 137) | 13.2 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small SUVs: 38 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Hyundai Kona
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Hyundai Kona we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hyundai Kona | TSP+ | 91.7 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 13.2 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Hyundai Kona 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Park outside
1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
2 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering fuel system, gasoline, power train.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump, control/drive module
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, pump Park outside
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Hyundai Kona 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Hyundai Kona 2WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 95 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Hyundai Kona 2WD, 150% above the class average (38 for small SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 13.2 out of 100 and rank #169 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Hyundai Kona 2WD driver death rate?
95 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 53 to 137. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Hyundai Kona died at a rate of 59 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Hyundai Kona 2WD compare with other small SUVs?
The small SUVs class averages 38 driver deaths per million; the Hyundai Kona 2WD sits at 95. Among the 9 small SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug-in hybrid 4WD with a death rate of 5.