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 that of the Ioniq 5, featuring a single-piece design that highlighted its electric powertrain roots. The Kona adopted the “seamless horizon” styling, with a prominent skinny LED headlight at the front. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained its recognizable silhouette, with new creased “parametric surface” doors and substantial black body cladding on various trims. The rear showcased a single taillight spanning the vehicle's width, and wheel sizes varied across trims, enhancing its dynamic look.

Inside, the Kona's cabin received significant updates. The center stack was driver-oriented, and the gear shift moved to the steering column, creating more space. A curved display housed both driver-information and infotainment screens, while vents, climate controls, and the dash were refined. The interior updates provided a modern and spacious feel, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 stood out in the small SUV class with its graceful curves and timeless design, reminiscent of an entry-level luxury SUV. Despite not being redesigned since 2017, its styling remained impressive, showcasing how good design endures. The interior featured high-quality materials and a layout that balanced traditional and modern elements. While it lacked a large infotainment touchscreen, the physical buttons and knobs offered better usability, making it a favorite for those who preferred practicality over high-tech displays.

The CX-5's interior was adorned with soft-touch materials, with sturdy plastics in less noticeable areas. It compared favorably to last-generation Acura or Lexus interiors, offering a more special feel than similarly priced competitors. The design and refinement of the interior were commendable, though it fell short in practicality and space compared to some rivals.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, featuring a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE and SEL trims, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The N-Line and Limited trims boasted a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were available on the N-Line and Limited trims, enhancing the driving experience. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,500, affecting fuel economy slightly.

During a test drive, the Kona Limited and N-Line demonstrated intuitive steering and nimble handling, though pickup was slightly slow even with the turbo engine. The AWD option reduced EPA fuel economy estimates, but the overall performance was satisfactory for city and countryside driving.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine choices: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, and a Turbo model with 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and AWD was standard. The base engine accelerated to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, while the Turbo model was quicker by two seconds, making it a strong performer in its class.

The CX-5 excelled in sporty driving dynamics, with AWD providing sure-footedness and minimal body roll on winding roads. The ride was slightly firm, but not harsh, and the cabin remained quiet, filtering out wind and road noise effectively. The Turbo engine offered a confident and enjoyable driving experience, making the CX-5 a standout choice for those seeking performance.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length significantly improved rear-seat legroom, offering 38.2 inches, and headroom increased to 38.3 inches with the sunroof. Cargo capacity expanded to 25.5 cubic feet with rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded, nearly 20 cubic feet more than the previous model. A power hands-free liftgate was standard on the Limited trim, enhancing accessibility. Interior storage was improved with a handy shelf on the passenger side and a guardrail on the wireless charging pad. Seating options varied across trims, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard on the Limited trim.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior design and refinement were commendable, but it lacked practicality and space compared to some rivals. Rear headroom was adequate, but competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage offered more. Cargo space was 30.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The cargo area was wide and flat, but the CR-V and Sportage provided more capacity. A power liftgate was standard on most trims, and interior storage included moderately sized cupholders and a deep center armrest bin. Wireless charging was available on midlevel trims, though the hard plastic surface allowed phones to slide.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen standard across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on lower trims initially, with an OTA update promised for higher trims. N-Line and Limited trims included wireless device charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Kona offered dual 12.3-inch screens for a panoramic view on higher trims, and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services were standard, with a lifetime subscription included.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 came with a 10.25-inch infotainment display, controlled via a center console dial. The system was user-friendly, with logical menus and easy operation while driving. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless capability on midrange trims. The CX-5 featured analog gauges, but higher trims included a head-up display projecting speed and information onto the windshield. The audio system ranged from a four-speaker setup to a 10-speaker Bose system on top trims, and remote vehicle monitoring was available through a smartphone app.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona included standard advanced safety features like Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist was standard, with adaptive cruise control on higher trims. The Limited trim added Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist suite offered smooth lane-keep assist, enhancing safety and driving confidence.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned high safety ratings, with five stars from NHTSA in most evaluations and a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS for the 2023 model. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. The Turbo Signature trim included a driver attention monitor and rear automatic braking, ensuring comprehensive safety coverage.