2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic in mind, evident in its sleek, modern appearance. The front grille closely resembled that of the Ioniq 5, featuring a single-piece design that signified its electric powertrain roots. The front end was dominated by a single skinny LED headlight, part of Hyundai's "seamless horizon" design language, which was also seen on the new Sonata. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained a recognizable silhouette, with new design elements like the creased "parametric surface" on the doors and more substantial black body cladding on the base and mid-grade trims. The sporty N Line trim featured body-coloured wheel arches, adding to its dynamic look. Standard LED lighting and a seamless rear taillight design further enhanced its modern appeal. Inside, the Kona's cabin was updated with a driver-oriented centre stack, a relocated gear shift, and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens, offering a refined and spacious interior.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop presented a rugged, utilitarian design, rooted in its military vehicle heritage. The black-on-black colour scheme, while not ideal for tropical climates, was a common choice for rental Jeeps. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including Sport, Willys, Sahara, and Rubicon, with the Rubicon 392 discontinued in Canada after 2024. The Wrangler's interior was functional, with a focus on durability and practicality. The Sport S trim featured cloth upholstery, a grey fabric dashboard trim, and metallic accents. Despite its high price, the interior lacked sophistication, emphasizing function over form. The Wrangler's design allowed for open-air driving, with removable roof panels and a liftglass, enhancing its appeal for adventure seekers. Its capability to traverse challenging terrains and its iconic design made it a popular choice, despite its less refined interior compared to modern vehicles.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, featuring a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the Essential and Preferred trims, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine for the N Line trims. The base engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the turbo engine delivered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were included with the N Line. During a test drive in Maryland, the Kona N Line demonstrated intuitive steering and nimble handling, though pickup was slightly sluggish even with the turbo engine. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional fee on Essential and Preferred trims, and standard on the N Line. Fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain, with the N Line AWD consuming 9.7 L/100 km in the city, 8.3 on the highway, and 9.1 combined.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, offering slightly less horsepower but more torque than the V6. The turbo engine was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.0 L/100 km combined, compared to 12.2 for the V6. During a 300-kilometre evaluation, the four-cylinder Wrangler averaged 12.3 L/100 km with four passengers and air conditioning. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and narrow width provided excellent off-road capability, though its slow steering and rough ride were less suited for high-speed driving. The Wrangler's rollover resistance rating was a concern, with a three-star rating from the NHTSA, highlighting the need for caution on slopes.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length significantly improved rear-seat legroom, offering 970 millimetres, which was 77 mm more than the 2023 model and 15 cm more than the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. The new front seats were narrower and molded, enhancing comfort for rear passengers. Headroom increased to 974 mm in the front and 972 mm in the rear with the sunroof. Cargo capacity expanded from 544 to 723 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,803 litres with them folded down, providing over 500 litres more space than the first-generation Kona. Interior storage was enhanced with a handy shelf on the passenger's side of the dash and a "guardrail" on the wireless charging pad. The Kona offered various seating materials, with ventilated front seats available on the N Line with the Ultimate package, a first for the model.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging, though step rails were available. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated seats and steering wheel. The Wrangler accommodated five passengers, but four were more comfortable, as rear-seat legroom was limited, and taller passengers risked hitting their knees on the front seatback hooks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders due to the lack of stash space. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The four-door model offered 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded down, though accessing the cargo area could be difficult if parked close to a wall or another vehicle.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on all trims except the N Line with the Ultimate package, which required wired connections due to compatibility issues with the onboard navigation system. An over-the-air update was promised to add wireless connectivity. The Kona's audio system was upgraded to a Bose stereo in the N Line's Ultimate package. Dual 12.3-inch displays created a panoramic view in the N Line, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services and a digital key feature were standard across the lineup.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered navigation and off-road capabilities, including adventure guides and GPS trail logs. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, remote engine start, and rear parking sensors, enhancing the Wrangler's technological offerings.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came equipped with advanced driver-assistance features, including standard Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist was standard, and adaptive cruise control was included from the Preferred trim. The N Line's Ultimate package added Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, with smooth lane-keep assist and intuitive controls.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced standard side curtain airbags for front and rear seats, a significant safety upgrade. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were available, though our rental lacked these features. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, with a Good rating for side-impact protection from the IIHS.