2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, with its 90-year legacy, was a familiar sight on the roads, blending into traffic despite its massive size. Measuring 5,733 millimetres in length and 1,923 millimetres in height, it was not for everyone, especially those navigating urban areas. However, for those needing ample cargo and passenger space, along with significant towing capacity, the Suburban was a solid choice. Available in six trims, from LS to High Country, it offered features like automatic windshield wipers and LED lights, with luxury increasing up the trim ladder. Inside, the Suburban provided a spacious cabin with leather upholstery in all but the base trim, though even the top-spec High Country felt somewhat ordinary.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from its 2024 predecessor, maintained a fresh and distinctive appearance in the crossover class. Its design featured a single-piece grille and slim LED light bars, giving it a futuristic look. The Kona grew by 15 centimetres, enhancing interior space and providing a more assertive stance, especially in the sportier N Line trim. The interior remained solid and airy, with a drive selector on the column freeing up space. The Kona offered trims like Essential and Preferred, with features like larger alloy wheels and LED lighting. The N Line added sportier elements and optional features like a sunroof and powered liftgate.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 horsepower, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 horsepower, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder with 277 horsepower. The 5.3-litre V8 was standard on most trims, providing ample power and a towing capacity of up to 3,765 kilograms with the Max Trailering Package. The 6.2-litre V8, available on higher trims, offered more effortless acceleration. The diesel engine, available at no extra cost on the High Country trim, delivered better fuel economy and impressive towing capabilities. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, though the electronic button-style shift mechanism might not appeal to everyone. Rear-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, with four-wheel drive on higher ones, and the Suburban's steering and brakes were up to the task despite its size.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two gas-powered engine options. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission for fuel efficiency. The N Line trim boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a more muscular performance. All-wheel drive was available on lower trims and standard on the N Line, offering a more sophisticated ride with a multi-link rear suspension. The Kona's performance was competent, with the turbo engine providing adequate power, though it could feel flat at low revs.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 1,175 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,656 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 4,097 litres. This made it ideal for families needing ample space for road trips and towing. The Suburban also featured a 106-litre fuel tank, allowing for long highway drives between fill-ups, especially with the diesel engine's efficiency.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while smaller, offered a surprising amount of cargo space with 723 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,803 litres with the seats folded. Rear legroom was adequate, and the front seats provided a generous range of movement. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with various shelves and compartments. Upholstery options ranged from cloth to leatherette and Alcantara, with heated front seats standard in Canada. Climate control varied by trim, with dual-zone automatic climate control available on higher trims.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban featured a 10.2-inch touchscreen on most trims, with Google Built-in for seamless access to apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were included, and a rear-seat entertainment system was available as an option. However, the 10-speaker Bose audio system lacked the richness of higher-end systems.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a 12.3-inch central touchscreen across all trims, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and a digital key. The N Line trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an eight-speaker Bose audio system with the Ultimate package. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air updates, ensuring features remained current.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall crash safety rating from the NHTSA, with various advanced driver assistance systems standard across all trims. Features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional features like Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind-Spot Collision Warning. Higher trims added advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and a Blind Spot View Monitor. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, reflecting its strong safety credentials.