2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic in mind, evident in its sleek, modern appearance. The front grille resembled the Ioniq 5, featuring a single-piece look that signaled its electric powertrain roots. The front end was dominated by a slim LED headlight, creating a "seamless horizon" effect similar to the new Sonata. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained its recognizable silhouette, with new design elements like the "parametric surface" on the doors and more pronounced black body cladding on lower trims. The N Line trim featured body-coloured wheel arches, adding a sporty touch.

Inside, the Kona's cabin received significant updates. The centre stack was reoriented towards the driver, and the gear shift was moved to a steering column stalk, freeing up space for storage. A curved display housed both driver-information and infotainment screens, while the vents, controls, and dash were refined. Standard features included LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, with wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches depending on the trim.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 was often considered one of the most attractive vehicles in the small SUV class, with its graceful curves and understated elegance. Despite not being redesigned since 2017, its design remained timeless, resembling an entry-level luxury SUV. The interior boasted high-quality materials and a layout that balanced traditional analog controls with modern digital elements. While it lacked a large infotainment touchscreen, the physical buttons and knobs enhanced usability.

The CX-5's interior featured soft-touch materials and sturdy plastics, reminiscent of older Acura or Lexus models. The design was more refined than similarly priced crossovers, offering a sense of luxury. The absence of a massive digital display was offset by the ease of use provided by traditional controls, making it a practical choice for those who valued functionality over flashy tech.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the Essential and Preferred trims, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. The N Line trims were powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The previous seven-speed dual-clutch transmission was replaced with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and paddle shifters were included with the N Line. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost on certain trims. Fuel economy varied, with the N Line AWD consuming 9.7 L/100 km in the city.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged version producing 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive was standard. The base engine accelerated to 96 km/h in about 8 seconds, while the turbo model was quicker by two seconds. The CX-5 excelled in handling, offering sporty driving dynamics with minimal body roll, though this resulted in a slightly firmer ride quality.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length significantly improved rear-seat legroom, offering 970 millimetres, and headroom increased to 974 mm in the front and 972 mm in the rear with the sunroof. Cargo capacity expanded to 723 litres with the rear seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded down. Interior storage was enhanced with a handy shelf on the passenger side and a guardrail on the wireless charging pad. Seating options varied by trim, with ventilated front seats available on the N Line with the Ultimate package.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior design and refinement were commendable, but it lagged behind competitors in practicality and space. While rear headroom was adequate, other models like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage offered more. Cargo capacity was 871 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,680 litres with the seats folded. The CX-5 featured moderately sized storage options and a user-friendly infotainment system controlled by a dial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless options on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display standard across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available except on the N Line with the Ultimate package. The upgraded stereo system was provided by Bose, and the vehicle featured multiple USB-C ports. Dual 12.3-inch displays were included with the N Line, and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services were standard, along with a digital key feature.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch infotainment display controlled via a centre console dial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were accessible through both the touchscreen and dial, with wireless options on higher trims. The CX-5 included a head-up display on premium trims and a 10-speaker Bose audio system on the Signature model. Remote vehicle monitoring was available through a smartphone app, with a Wi-Fi hotspot option.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was equipped with advanced safety features, including 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 available on higher trims. Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist suite provided smooth lane-keeping assistance.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 received high safety ratings, with five stars from NHTSA in most categories and good scores from IIHS. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera. The safety systems operated smoothly without false alarms during testing.