2024 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design that harkened back to the 1960s, particularly in its two-door variant, which was more successful in capturing the nostalgic aesthetic than the four-door version. The Sasquatch Package, a notable upgrade, enhanced the Bronco's rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving it a wide stance and a purposeful look. Without this package, the Bronco's standard tires appeared somewhat awkward, unable to fill the fender flares adequately. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, including the Raptor performance model, and a choice between two-door and four-door body styles, with prices ranging from $52,060 to $116,570 in Canada. The test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, was priced at $69,780, featuring marine-grade upholstery that, while durable, did not breathe well, potentially leaving occupants damp on hot days.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Kona maintained its fresh and futuristic appearance, with a largely unchanged design from the previous year. Its flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars contributed to its distinctive look, even in gas-powered models. The Kona's increased size, being 15 centimetres longer than its predecessor, provided more interior space and a more assertive stance. The N Line trim offered a sportier design with body-coloured bumpers and cladding, while other trims like Essential and Preferred added visual enhancements with larger alloy wheels. The interior remained solid and airy, with a drive selector relocated to a column beneath the wiper stalk, creating a sense of space. The Kona's trims offered various upholstery options, from cloth to Alcantara sport seats, with heated front seats standard in Canada. The Trend package and N Line trim added features like a sunroof and powered liftgate, enhancing the Kona's appeal.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend was equipped with a standard turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It offered a choice between a seven-speed manual transmission with a low first gear for rock crawling or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco's towing capacity reached 1,587 kilograms. An optional turbocharged 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 engine provided 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, requiring the 10-speed automatic transmission. The Raptor model featured an exclusive turbocharged 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, with a higher towing capacity of 2,040 kilograms. The Bronco's part-time four-wheel-drive system was standard, with an advanced system available as an upgrade. Off-roading technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist enhanced its capability on challenging terrain. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was a concern, with ratings of 13.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 13.8 on the highway.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between two gas-powered engines. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The Kona N Line, on the other hand, boasted a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was available for an additional $2,000 on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line, providing active on-demand drive to the rear axle. The Kona's ride and handling were competent, with AWD models featuring a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension setup. While the turbocharged engine offered adequate performance, it could feel slightly flat at low revs, but overall, the Kona's performance was suitable for its class.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the four-door configuration, offered ample interior space, accommodating four adults comfortably. The absence of a rollbar in front of the rear-seat passengers, unlike its rival the Jeep Wrangler, provided a more spacious feel. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery, while durable, trapped moisture, making cloth seats in the Heritage Edition a preferable option. The two-door Bronco featured a standard hardtop with removable roof panels, while the four-door had a standard fabric soft top, with a hardtop available as an option. The Bronco's cargo space was generous, with 634 litres in the two-door model and 1,084 litres in the four-door with the soft top. The optional hardtop reduced cargo volumes slightly. The Bronco's interior storage was practical, with MOLLE panels on the front seat backs for customizable storage solutions.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its cargo capacity, offering 723 litres with the rear seats in place and expanding to 1,803 litres when folded. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, providing adequate space for passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was reach- and height-adjustable. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with numerous shelves, trays, and cubbies. The Essential and Preferred trims had cloth upholstery, while the Trend package added leatherette, and the N Line featured Alcantara sport seats. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with a heated steering wheel available in the Preferred trim. The N Line with the Ultimate package included ventilated front seats. Climate control options ranged from basic single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents in higher trims.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen version of its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a seven-speaker stereo system. Higher trims offered a connected navigation system and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system with 10 speakers. However, the Bronco's Sync 4 technology experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco Trail App provided access to maps and information for trails across North America, accessible through the Sync 4 touchscreen display.

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

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend was equipped with standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and a backup camera with guidance grid lines. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, such as lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Bronco received favourable ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for its headlight performance, which received a Marginal score. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Bronco a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rating for rollover resistance.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, and Safe Exit Warning. The Preferred trim added enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, while the N Line with the Ultimate package included advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and Hyundai's Blind Spot View Monitor. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), reflecting its comprehensive safety equipment.