2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Kia Telluride

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 the "seamless horizon" treatment also seen on the new Sonata. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained a recognizable silhouette, with new visual 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, and the lineup came standard with LED lighting and varying wheel sizes across trims. 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.

The 2025 Kia Telluride was available in five trim levels in Canada, with prices ranging from $53,840 to $66,540. The X-Line trim added features like increased ground clearance and a self-levelling rear suspension, while the X-Pro trim included 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and increased towing capacity. The Telluride was praised for its attractive proportions and distinctive design, though the blacked-out X-Line and X-Pro treatments were said to diminish some of its personality. Inside, the Telluride offered a luxurious look with features like simulated wood trim, metallic accents, and chevron-pattern Nappa leather. The dual-screen display on the dashboard was technologically advanced, and Kia retained physical buttons and knobs for ease of use. However, some markings were difficult to discern in daylight due to metallic finishes.

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 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. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional fee on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line. Fuel economy varied across trims, 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 Kia Telluride featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. It offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart, with the latter adjusting to driver behaviour. Despite some competitors switching to turbocharged four-cylinders, the Telluride's V6 was preferred for its smooth and refined performance. It achieved a fuel economy of 11.6 L/100 km over nearly 2,000 kilometres of driving, aligning with the Natural Resources Canada rating. The X-Pro trim's all-terrain tires provided enhanced off-pavement traction but sacrificed some on-pavement grip. The Telluride's driving experience was generally pleasurable, though the brake pedal behaviour in traffic was occasionally problematic.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length was most noticeable in the rear seat and cargo area. Rear-seat legroom increased to 970 millimetres, and headroom also saw improvements. Cargo capacity expanded significantly, offering 723 litres with the rear seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded down. Inside, storage was enhanced with features like 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 across trims, with ventilated front seats available on the N Line with the Ultimate package.

The 2025 Kia Telluride's interior was thoughtfully designed, with features like heated and ventilated second-row seats, USB-C charging ports, and dedicated smartphone storage sleeves. The second row offered reclining captain's chairs, a rear climate control zone, and ample legroom. The third-row seat, when folded flat, provided 601 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,304 litres with the third-row seats down and 2,455 litres with the second-row seats flattened. While not class-leading, the Telluride's cargo space was sufficient for most needs.

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. The Kona also included two USB-C ports in the front and two at the back, with dual 12.3-inch displays on the N Line. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services and a digital key feature were standard across the lineup.

The 2025 Kia Telluride offered a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system on all trims except the base EX. A 10-inch head-up display was available on higher trims. The Telluride lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was a USB-A. Despite these limitations, the Telluride's infotainment system was complemented by features like SiriusXM satellite radio and multi-device Bluetooth connectivity.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with standard safety features like Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist and adaptive cruise control were standard from the Preferred trim, with additional features like Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor available on the N Line's Ultimate package. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features.

The 2025 Kia Telluride included standard safety features like forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and automatic emergency braking. Highway Driving Assist was standard across all trims, with additional features like Blind Spot View Monitor and reverse automatic braking available on most trims. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.