2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, distinguished itself with a unique styling approach. Its sloping roofline gave it a "crossover coupe" appearance, reminiscent of more upscale models like the BMW X2, X4, and X6. Although this design choice slightly compromised rear visibility, it was deemed acceptable. The front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with thin daytime running lights above and real headlights positioned vertically beside the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from its siblings, the Envision and Encore GX, which adopted similar styling as part of their mid-cycle refreshes.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, visually unchanged from its 2024 predecessor, maintained a fresh and distinctive appearance in the crossover class. Its flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars lent a futuristic look, even to the gas-powered models. The Kona's design, characterized by curves, bulges, and sharp angles, created a satisfactory visual impact. The newer model was notably larger, with a 15-centimetre increase in length, enhancing interior space and giving it a more assertive stance. The Kona N Line trim, with its sportier design and body-coloured bumpers, further emphasized this assertiveness.

The 2024 Buick Envista was powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This setup, borrowed from the Trax, delivered a refined performance, offering smooth power delivery akin to a larger engine. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, differentiating it from the Encore GX. The Envista's suspension, featuring a MacPherson strut setup and Buick-specific tuning, provided a quiet and comfortable ride, although the rear end felt unsettled on imperfect roads.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two gas-powered engine options. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission. The Kona N Line, however, boasted a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was available on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line, enhancing traction and stability. The Kona's ride and handling prioritized competence, with AWD models benefiting from a multi-link rear suspension for a more sophisticated driving experience.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its 36-centimetre increase in length and 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch compared to the Buick Encore, offered improved interior space. Rear-seat legroom increased by 7.6 cm, and shoulder room in both rows grew by about 5 cm. However, the coupe-like design resulted in slightly reduced headroom, particularly in the second row. The Envista's cargo space was limited, with 586 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,189 litres with them folded, less than the Trax and other competitors.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona provided ample cargo capacity, with 723 litres available with the rear seats in place and 1,803 litres when folded. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, and headroom was 972 mm, offering comfortable seating for most passengers. The front seats featured a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The Kona's interior boasted excellent storage options, with numerous shelves, trays, and cubbies. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth on Essential and Preferred, leatherette on the Trend package, and Alcantara sport seats on the N Line.

The 2024 Buick Envista came equipped with an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The user interface was intuitive, with physical controls for climate and audio, although the centre stack's tilt towards the driver made it less accessible for passengers. While lacking some advanced tech options, the Envista offered a competitive set of features for its price range.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Preferred trim with the Trend package and the N Line trim included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The N Line also boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing a cohesive and customizable display. Audiophiles could upgrade to the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity enabled over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained current.

The 2024 Buick Envista's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication. However, it came equipped with standard driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. In Canada, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard, offering a comprehensive safety package for its class.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist. The Preferred trim added enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, while the N Line with the Ultimate package included advanced features like Highway Driving Assist. All Konas featured six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, highlighting its commitment to safety.