2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design language, despite Honda's recent updates across its lineup. While the Passport and the Honda Ridgeline received minor tweaks in 2022, such as a more upright grille and squared-off corners, the overall aesthetic remained consistent with Honda’s older designs. The Passport offered three trim levels in Canada: Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all equipped with a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim, designed to be the most rugged, featured all-terrain tires and standard roof rails and LED fog lights in Canada. However, its rugged appearance was more cosmetic than functional, with plastic skid plates and no recovery points. Inside, the Passport maintained a simple and utilitarian design with physical controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and black leather upholstery with orange accents in the TrailSport trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from the 2024 model, maintained a fresh and distinctive appearance in the crossover class. Its flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars gave it a futuristic look. The Kona's increased size, being 15 centimetres longer than its predecessor, improved interior space and gave it a more assertive stance. The Kona offered trims named Essential, Preferred, and N Line, each adding visual enhancements like larger alloy wheels. The interior remained unchanged from 2024, providing a solid and airy feel with ample tech features. The Kona's trims offered varying levels of upholstery, with heated front seats standard in Canada and additional features like a sunroof and powered liftgate available in higher trims.

The 2024 Honda Passport stood out by retaining a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, unlike many competitors moving towards turbocharged or hybrid powertrains. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided smooth acceleration and unobtrusive gear shifts. However, the lack of turbocharging meant peak torque arrived at 4,700 RPM, requiring higher revs for quick acceleration. Fuel economy was rated at 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.8 on the highway, and 11.3 combined. The TrailSport trim featured wider tracks, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and off-road-tuned suspension. All Passports included Honda’s torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with multiple settings. The Passport's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

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 an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The Kona N Line, however, boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine provided a broader torque band, enhancing performance, although it could feel flat at low revs. AWD was available for an additional cost on lower trims and standard on the N Line, which also featured a more advanced suspension setup. The Kona prioritized competence in ride and handling, offering a balanced driving experience.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 1,430 litres of space behind the rear seats, expandable to 2,854 litres with the rear seats folded. This made it a leader in its segment, surpassing competitors like the Subaru Outback and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample rear-seat legroom and numerous cupholders. The front featured a redesigned centre console bin, providing more storage space, although it slightly reduced the airy feel of the cabin.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, despite its compact size, offered impressive cargo capacity with 723 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,803 litres with the seats folded. Rear legroom was adequate, with 970 millimetres available, and the front seats provided a generous range of movement. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with numerous compartments and cubbies. Upholstery options varied by trim, with heated front seats standard in Canada and additional features like ventilated seats available in higher trims. Climate control options ranged from single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which felt small given the cabin's spaciousness. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. However, the system had some drawbacks, such as persistent turn-by-turn directions on the driver’s display. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was underwhelming compared to competitors' offerings.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai’s digital key. The N Line trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, enhancing customization options. Audiophiles could upgrade to an eight-speaker Bose audio system in the N Line with the Ultimate package. Hyundai’s Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air software updates.

The 2024 Honda Passport came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. However, it received mixed crash test ratings, with the IIHS rating it as "Acceptable" and "Marginal" in certain tests, and the NHTSA awarding it five stars overall but four stars in frontal and rollover tests.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and more. Higher trims offered additional features like Highway Driving Assist and Blind Spot View Monitor. The Kona included six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.