2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Hyundai Kona

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 design 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, however, featured body-coloured wheel arches, adding a sporty touch.

The Kona's interior was significantly updated, with a driver-oriented centre stack and a gear shift moved to a stalk on the steering column, creating more space between the driver and front passenger. The most noticeable change was the curved display housing both the driver-information and infotainment screens. The cabin also featured revised vents, controls, and dash, enhancing the overall look and feel. Standard LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights were included across the lineup, with the seamless horizon design reappearing at the rear. Wheel sizes varied from 17-inch on the base model to 19-inch on the N Line.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, available in four trim levels in Canada, offered a distinct look with its polished aluminum detailing, front and rear light bars, and sizable 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Execline, in particular, boasted a chiseled, muscular, and upscale appearance, enhanced by the new Mountain Lake Blue colour. The SUV's design was both impressive and practical, with the colour effectively concealing dirt and debris. Inside, the Atlas continued its premium theme with diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood, creating a warm and inviting environment. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience, although the touch-sensing controls for temperature and stereo volume were less satisfying to use.

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). The turbo engine delivered 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Paddle shifters were included with the N Line. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,000 on the Essential and Preferred trims, and standard on the N Line. Fuel economy varied, 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 Volkswagen Atlas, on the other hand, featured a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous options. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW's 4Motion AWD system. Despite initial concerns about the engine's capability in the large SUV, it proved refined and satisfying for daily driving tasks. The Atlas's engine was more refined than those in some competitors, and its generous torque curve between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm made it suitable for most driving situations. However, the ride quality was less impressive, with the suspension feeling brittle over smaller road surface anomalies and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Fuel economy was also a concern, with the Atlas returning 15.2 L/100 km in urban conditions and 12.3 L/100 km over a 110+ km route.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length was most noticeable in the rear seat and cargo area. Rear-seat legroom increased to 970 millimetres, providing more space than the previous generation and the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. Headroom also improved, with 974 mm in the front and 972 mm in the rear with the sunroof. Cargo capacity saw a significant boost, offering 723 litres with the rear seats up and 1,803 litres with them folded down. Inside, 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 options, including cloth seats on 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 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The Execline model featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, although the leather felt slightly stiff. Visibility was excellent, aided by large side mirrors and a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat comfortably accommodated three adults, with ample leg-, foot-, and headroom. The third-row seat was particularly impressive, providing adequate leg support and easy access. Storage space was commendable across all three rows, with practical and well-sized compartments. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,571 litres with the third row folded and 2,735 litres with the second row down.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona introduced several technological upgrades, including a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display across the lineup. 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 Hyundai's on-board navigation system. An over-the-air update was promised to address this. The Kona featured a six-speaker system, with an upgraded 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 were standard, along with a digital key feature for the first time in Canada.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, however, used VW Group's third-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) operating system, accessible through a 12-inch touchscreen display. The system lacked traditional stereo and climate controls, relying on touch-sensing buttons and a touch-and-slide volume control. The Atlas's native digital voice assistant was unreliable, making the user experience less intuitive. However, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a more satisfying experience, offering a conversational digital voice assistant, navigation, and music streaming. The Atlas Execline's Harman Kardon audio system was impressive, but the MIB3 system's glitches and lack of user-friendly features detracted from the overall experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including standard Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. For 2024, high-beam assist became 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 of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features impressed with its smooth lane-keep assist and intuitive operation.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured the IQ.Drive suite of standard driver assistance features, including Front Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a rear cross-traffic alert system were also standard. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick." The IQ.Drive systems were accurate and trustworthy, with only occasional false warnings.