2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of older models, yet it incorporated angular headlights that aligned it with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a rugged and adventure-ready cabin that felt more akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, albeit with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims like S, X-Dynamic SE, X, V8, and Outbound. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, revealed a vehicle equipped with features such as 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof, among others.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Kona maintained its fresh appearance from the previous year, standing out in the crossover class with its futuristic design. The flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars gave even the gas-powered models a modern look. The Kona's increased size, being 15 centimetres longer than its predecessor, enhanced its interior space and assertive stance. The Kona was available in trims like Essential, Preferred, and the sportier N Line, each offering progressively larger alloy wheels and LED lighting. The interior, unchanged from 2024, felt solid and airy, with tech features that impressed. The Kona's design and features made it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and practical crossover.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 3,500 kilograms, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 2,500 kilograms. The most powerful V8 accelerated the SUV from zero to 96 km/h in 5.1 seconds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, especially with features like the adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two gas-powered engine options. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission. For those seeking more power, the Kona N Line offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine provided a broader torque band, enhancing performance. All-wheel drive was available for an additional cost on the Essential and Preferred trims and came standard on the N Line. AWD models featured a multi-link rear suspension for improved ride and handling. The Kona's performance was adequate for its class, with the turbocharged engine offering a more engaging driving experience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside practical elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. The interior was versatile, suitable for both urban and rugged environments. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 could seat up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 2,155 litres with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided up to 2,231 litres in its two-row configuration, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 1,650 litres. The cargo area was practical, with hard plastic surfaces for easy cleaning.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered impressive cargo capacity, with 723 litres available with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1,803 litres when folded. Rear legroom was adequate, with 970 millimetres available, complemented by 972 mm of headroom. The front seats provided a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with numerous compartments for personal items. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth in the Essential and Preferred, leatherette in the Trend package, and Alcantara sport seats in the N Line. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available on higher trims. Climate control options ranged from basic single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While the touchscreen seemed small compared to competitors, it was refreshingly simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian persona. Standard features included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation of features.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering good graphics and clear menu layouts. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, with wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key available on higher trims. The N Line trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing more customization options. Audiophiles could upgrade to the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted to be overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety technology, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims offered additional features like enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Highway Driving Assist. The N Line with the Ultimate package included parking assistance features. All Konas came with six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.