2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

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 has become synonymous with electric powertrains. The Kona's 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 Essential and Preferred trims. The N Line trim featured body-coloured wheel arches, adding a sporty touch. Standard LED lighting and a seamless rear taillight design further enhanced its modern look. 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.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna retained its minivan roots while attempting to add a touch of style. Its trapezoidal grille gave it a distinctive look, though it still resembled the traditional box-on-wheels design. The Sienna featured upswept body lines, hidden sliding door tracks, and swollen rear fenders, with narrow taillights that drew a family resemblance to the Camry sedan. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs. Despite these efforts, the Sienna remained unmistakably a minivan, prioritizing practicality over style. The top-of-the-line Limited trim with the Platinum package offered a new Magnetic Grey paint colour and a range of trims from LE to XSE. The interior received updates, including a new woodgrain finish, though opinions on its aesthetics varied. Overall, the Sienna's interior was considered an improvement over previous models.

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, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. The N Line trims were equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission was replaced with an 8-speed automatic transmission for 2024, and paddle shifters were included with the N Line. 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 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. The standard front-wheel drive could be upgraded to all-wheel drive, which included an additional rear-mounted electric motor. The hybrid system produced a net horsepower of 245, which was modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing up to 1,587 kilograms. Despite expectations of sluggishness, the Sienna's electric assist motor provided immediate torque, making it feel responsive in city driving. The hybrid powertrain aimed to maximize fuel economy, with an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving for the FWD model. However, during testing, the Sienna averaged 8.9 L/100 km combined. The Sienna's handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, with a smooth ride and quiet highway performance.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length significantly improved rear-seat legroom, offering 970 millimetres, which was 77 mm more than the 2023 model. Headroom also increased, with 974 mm in the front and 972 mm in the rear with the sunroof. The cargo capacity expanded 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. Inside, the Kona featured a handy shelf on the passenger's side of the dash and a "guardrail" on the wireless charging pad to keep items secure. The seating options included cloth seats for Essential and Preferred trims, leatherette with the Preferred Trend package, and a leather/suede combination for N Line. Ventilated front seats were available on the N Line with the Ultimate package, a first for the Kona.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats wrapped in perforated leather in the Limited with Platinum package. However, the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The second-row featured long-slide, reclining captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests, which were popular with teenagers. The third-row seat accommodated adults, and the sliding side doors facilitated easy loading and unloading. Storage space was generous, with a wide tray under the centre console, though finding secure places for large water bottles was challenging. The Sienna offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expanding to 2,129 litres with the third-row seats stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 2,860 litres, less than rivals due to the inability to remove the second-row seats.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona introduced several technological enhancements for 2024. A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display became standard across the lineup, replacing the previous 8-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were integrated 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 address this. The N Line's Ultimate package featured a Bose stereo system, while other trims had a standard six-speaker setup. 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 on all 2024 Konas.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered access to four connected services plans, with varying complimentary subscription periods. The digital assistant, part of the Drive Connect plan, responded accurately to commands. The Sienna Limited featured a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, though the sound quality was criticized for excessive bass. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera were appreciated, while the head-up display provided useful information.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance features. Standard safety features included 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, while the N Line's Ultimate package added Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite impressed with its smooth lane-keep assist, though it required manual intervention on backroads.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The lane-centring assist performed well, though the adaptive cruise control required human intervention during sudden traffic braking events. The Sienna introduced a new rear-seat reminder system, alerting the owner to movement within the cabin. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it received lower scores in frontal crash tests.