The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Refined demeanor
- Interesting exterior
- Spacious cabin
- Great infotainment
Dislikes
- Why no hybrid?
- Why no Kona N?
- Interior’s not as jazzy as exterior
- Top Limited isn't a good value
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Hyundai Kona looks great and serves up a big interior, though we wish there was a thrifty hybrid version.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Hyundai Kona? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV that compares well with the Mazda CX-30, Subaru Crosstrek, and Chevy TrailBlazer, as well as the related Kia Niro.
Is the 2025 Hyundai Kona a good SUV?
It’s a stylish, comfortable, and refined choice with good tech. We rate the range at 6.0 out of 10 overall, though it’s worth noting that the Kona Electric is not scored separately. If it was, its 261-mile range would help it do better than gas-only models. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Hyundai Kona?
The Kona is basically unchanged for 2025 following last year’s redesign.
Still downright playful but a bit more grown-up, the Kona is a small crossover SUV with futuristic styling. Its blunt front end features a thin LED light strip and a low-mounted grille, except on all-electric models that have limited air intake needs. From the side, most versions have chunky unpainted plastic for a rugged look, but the Kona EV and sportier versions have more color-matched trim.
The Kona’s cabin features plenty of screenage and an uncluttered look with good materials.
Base SE and SEL versions of the Kona have a modest 147 hp underhood, which goes to the wheels via a somewhat mild-mannered CVT. They’re not quick, but they’re adequate and smooth. The 190-hp turbo-4 in the N Line and Limited offers up more power, but its 8-speed automatic has been tuned for rapid upshifts, which means it takes some effort for power to spool up. The Kona Electric offers a system output of 201 hp, which is pretty good—but not lightning fast.
All Konas have a decent ride and reasonably sharp handling, but even the N Line lacks any sort of true performance credentials. The Kona N of years past has left little influence on the current lineup.
Konas have decent front seats and a surprisingly spacious second row, especially in Electric models with their almost flat floor. The cargo area is also quite good for a small SUV that stretches a modest 172-or-so inches long overall. Cloth and synthetic leather upholstery are available.
Safety testers are mixed on the Kona’s crashworthiness, though all models have a good level of features including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors. A surround-view camera system, parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control make an appearance as you work your way up the lineup.
Fuel economy varies by trim and powertrain, topping out at 31 mpg combined, though most models are in the upper 20s. The Kona Electric boasts a decent range estimate of 261 miles.
How much does the 2025 Hyundai Kona cost?
The base Kona SE checks in at around $25,500 with a good level of standard features, including a large 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, crash-avoidance tech, and a great warranty. Mid-level versions don’t require too much of a splurge, either, though upward of $32,000 for a turbo places the Kona in contention with some snazzier rivals.
Where is the 2025 Hyundai Kona made?
Most are made in South Korea, though the Kona Electric is sourced from the Czech Republic.
2025 Hyundai Kona Styling
The 2025 Hyundai Kona looks like little else on the road.
Is the Hyundai Kona a good-looking car?
It’s unusual, but also interesting. Whether its darling lines and smorgasbord of details are cohesive is up to you. We like its extravagance well enough to give it a point, bringing the 2025 Kona to a 6 on the TCC scale.
There’s some consistency to the design, at least in terms of its details. Thin, Robocop-like light bars front and rear look neat, but what’s between them can get pretty busy. Most versions have unpainted wheel arches so large that they border on comical. They come painted on the N-Line and Electric versions, which helps. All Konas have alloy wheels for a dressy look, though the available 19-inchers are awfully big for such a small vehicle.
The cabin is more in line with modern Hyundai norms, including the option for a pair of 12.3-inch screens integrated into a single workspace-like panel fronting drivers. Otherwise, the cabin is somewhat conventional—right down to the limited number of colors Hyundai offers.
2025 Hyundai Kona Performance
The 2025 Hyundai Kona is no thrill machine in most configurations.
The 2025 Hyundai Kona has a refined feel, but the base inline-4 is a dullard. It’s a 4 here due to its relative slowness; models with the turbo-4 or the Kona Electric would win back that point for acceleration.
Is the Hyundai Kona 4WD?
It can be, though the Kona Electric is front-wheel drive only. And no Kona is even remotely an off-roader, though the $1,500 upcharge for all-wheel drive may add some winter-weather confidence.
How fast is the Hyundai Kona?
The base version isn’t particularly quick. Its 2.0-liter inline-4 is rated at a modest 147 hp, which goes to the wheels through a CVT. That’s not exactly a recipe for thrills, but the base Kona can keep up with traffic well enough.
The too expensive 1.6-liter turbo-4 in the N Line and Limited trims is better, putting a hearty 190 hp to the wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s still no rocket, especially since the transmission can be hesitant to click down a cog or three for more power. The gearbox has been tuned to deliver rapid upshifts in the name of fuel economy, which comes at the detriment of power delivery.
Base and turbo versions of the Kona have a comfortable, if somewhat unremarkable, ride quality. They smother the road below, but they’re far from entertaining. To be fair, we’ve only driven all-wheel-drive Konas; those with front-wheel drive make do with a less-sophisticated twist-beam rear axle that likely results in a less-impressive ride. All-wheel-drive models have a multi-link rear suspension that shrugs off bumps pretty well.
We’re much more impressed overall with the Kona Electric, though even its 64.8-kwh battery pack and 150-kw front motor deliver a somewhat modest 201 hp. Still, quick acceleration and regenerative braking accessed through steering wheel paddle shifters plus a one-pedal mode make it a sufficiently likable EV. Sure, it’s light on rapid acceleration like some electric cars, but the Kona Electric is reasonably priced and quite refined. Oh, and it can output 1.7 kw, which is enough to run small appliances. In a blackout, it’ll have no problem keeping your mobile phone and laptop juiced up.
2025 Hyundai Kona Comfort & Quality
Hyundai has found a way to accommodate four adults in reasonable comfort in the 2025 Kona.
The 2025 Hyundai Kona has a reasonably comfortable cabin with good rear-seat legroom and a big cargo area. It’s a 7.
The front seats are good enough, with power adjustment on most versions and nice cloth or synthetic leather seats with contrasting stitching. Heated and cooled front seats are available.
Rear-seat riders have surprisingly good space. A six-footer can sit behind another six-footer, while a third person can even squeeze in on Kona Electric models with their flat(ish) floor.
Behind the rear seat backs—which recline, a rarity in the class—the Kona can lug 25.5 cubic feet of stuff. That’s good for a vehicle this small, and it’s even better that the folding rear seats open up a hefty 63.7 cubic feet.
Interior materials are in line with pricing at the bottom end of the lineup, but the $35,000-plus Limited is outclassed by near-luxury competitors at its price point.
2025 Hyundai Kona Safety
The IIHS and the NHTSA disagree about the 2025 Hyundai Kona’s safety.
How safe is the Hyundai Kona?
That depends on who you ask.
While the NHTSA says it’s a four-star model, the IIHS rates it a Top Safety Pick+. Those two cancel each other out, but we toss in a point for standard crash-avoidance tech including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, automatic high-beams, and active lane control The SEL Convenience trim adds adaptive cruise control, while top-end models have a surround-view camera system and remote parking capability.
2025 Hyundai Kona Features
The 2025 Hyundai Kona is a high-value choice.
The 2025 Hyundai Kona can be a decent value, especially when you consider its 5-year/60,000-mile warranty and three years of included maintenance. We rate the range at a 9 thanks to that warranty, the big touchscreen, good safety tech, and overall value.
The base Kona SE is no slouch for around $25,500 with its 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and proximity key.
Which Hyundai Kona should I buy?
The mid-level Kona SEL is a decent enough value for $27,000 or so with its 18-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable driver’s seat, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The SEL Convenience trim level adds adaptive cruise control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated front seats, and a host of other minor details for a reasonable $2,000 or so.
The cheapest way into a turbo Kona is to go for the $32,000 N Line, which is outfitted a little nicer than the SEL with its sunroof and 19-inch alloy wheels.
How much is a fully loaded Hyundai Kona?
The gas-fueled Kona Limited runs about $35,000 with its turbo engine, synthetic leather seats that are heated and cooled up front, power sunroof, Bose audio system, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The Kona Electric comes in around $42,000, and it’s worth noting that it’s not currently eligible for federal rebates—though it may qualify for local incentives.
2025 Hyundai Kona Fuel Economy
The Hyundai Kona offers reasonable fuel economy, but the EV variant stands out.
Is the Hyundai Kona good on gas?
Front-drive models with the 2.0-liter inline-4 are best with estimates as high as 28 mpg city, 35 highway, 31 combined, while all-wheel-drive models take a fairly hefty hit to 27/29/28 mpg in most setups. That’s enough for a 4 on the TCC scale.
Turbo models haven’t been rated for 2025, though last year’s models were in the 26 to 28 mpg combined range.
The Kona Electric offers a 261-mile range, which is quite good given its reasonable price point.
