2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not have appealed to everyone, those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found much to enjoy about the vehicle. In Canada, the Palisade was available in two trims: Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy, priced at $57,431 and $61,031, respectively, including destination charges. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which was tested, featured luxurious touches such as an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior elements, making it feel like a luxury SUV.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from the 2024 model, maintained a fresh appearance that distinguished it from other crossovers. Its design featured a largely flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars, giving even the gas-powered models a futuristic look. The Kona's increased size, being 15 centimetres longer than its predecessor, provided more interior space and a more assertive stance. The Kona N Line trim offered a sportier design with body-coloured bumpers and cladding. Interior features remained unchanged from 2024, providing a solid and airy feel with ample tech to impress.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, and the SUV had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. It offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The Palisade delivered satisfying acceleration and a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent visibility and handling on various terrains. However, its real-world fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 15.0 L/100 km in Comfort mode.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two engine options for its gas-powered models. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission. The Kona N Line trim boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was available for an additional cost on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line. The Kona's ride and handling were competent, with AWD models featuring a more sophisticated suspension setup.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a comfortable and well-equipped interior, with artificial leather upholstery in the Urban trim and premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. Standard features included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-panel sunroof. The Palisade provided ample storage options and a spacious second row with optional captain's chairs. The third row was more comfortable than most rivals, and the hands-free power tailgate added convenience. Cargo space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its cargo capacity, offering 723 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,803 litres when folded. Rear legroom was adequate, and the front seats provided a comfortable range of movement. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with various shelves and compartments. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth in the Essential and Preferred trims, leatherette in the Trend package, and Alcantara sport seats in the N Line. Climate control options ranged from single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included wireless charging and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were standard, offering remote engine start and emergency assistance. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous parking, and a head-up display.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The N Line trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while lower trims had a 4.2-inch display. The N Line with the Ultimate package included an eight-speaker Bose audio system and built-in navigation. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air updates, and wireless smartphone charging was available on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and had favourable crash test results from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind-Spot Collision Warning. Higher trims offered additional features like Highway Driving Assist and a Blind Spot View Monitor. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, reflecting its strong safety credentials.