2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 BMW X3

The 2025 Hyundai Kona retained its distinctive appearance from the previous year, maintaining a fresh and futuristic look that set it apart in the crossover class. Its design featured a largely flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars at both the front and rear, giving even the gas-powered models a modern aesthetic. The Kona's design, while not traditionally handsome, was a satisfactory blend of curves, bulges, and sharp angles. The increased size of the newer model, being 15 centimetres longer, contributed to a more assertive stance and improved interior space. The Kona N Line, with its sportier design, body-coloured bumpers, and cladding, further enhanced its visual appeal. The interior, unchanged from 2024, felt solid and airy, with a well-placed drive selector and ample tech features.

The 2025 BMW X3, with its redesigned seductive appearance, showcased a long and tall hood, captivating dashboard-to-axle ratio, and tapering greenhouse and roofline, giving it an athletic look. The test model, adorned in Arctic Race Blue paint, featured expressive 21-inch wheels and gloss black M Sport details, enhancing its crouched appearance. Inside, the X3's cabin was simple yet elegant, with quality materials in expected areas. However, some plastic elements revealed its price point, particularly in lower cabin areas. The X3 was available in 30 xDrive and M50 xDrive models, both with standard AWD, and was priced competitively against its primary rivals. The X3 30 xDrive test vehicle, equipped with various option packages, offered a good value proposition, despite some interior material shortcomings.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between a fully electric drivetrain and two gas-powered 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 (IVT). This setup prioritized fuel efficiency but lacked in performance. The Kona N Line, with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, provided a more muscular performance. The N Line's eight-speed automatic transmission offered conventional gear ratios, enhancing the driving experience. AWD was available on the Essential and Preferred trims for an additional $2,000 and standard on the N Line, providing a more sophisticated ride with a multi-link rear suspension.

The 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite its weight, the X3 achieved a zero-to-100 km/h time of 6.3 seconds, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive AWD system. The X3 also included a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, improving responsiveness and fuel efficiency. For those seeking more power, the X3 M50 xDrive offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with 393 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero-to-100 km/h time of 4.6 seconds. The X3's sport-tuned suspension and performance tires provided an engaging driving experience, though the ride quality on imperfect roads was less comfortable. The X3's turbo-four engine delivered impressive fuel economy, despite some challenges with mid-range passing power.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a surprisingly spacious interior, with 723 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 1,803 litres with the rear seats folded. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, providing adequate space for most passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the drive selector's relocation created additional storage space. The Kona's interior featured various upholstery options, with heated front seats standard in Canada. Climate control options ranged from single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control, depending on the trim level.

The 2025 BMW X3 provided a spacious and comfortable interior, with power-adjustable front seats and a wide dashboard featuring the BMW Curved Display. The cargo area offered 892 litres of space, with additional storage under the load floor. The X3's rear seats, however, were less comfortable, with low positioning and hard front seat-back panels. The interior featured Veganza artificial leather upholstery, with optional seat ventilation. The X3's cargo area included a lightweight cargo cover, netted storage, and a grocery bag hook, enhancing its practicality.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Preferred trim with the Trend package and the N Line trim included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The N Line trim also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing a cohesive and customizable display. 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 2025 BMW X3's BMW Curved Display housed a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, powered by iDrive 9. Despite its advanced features, the system experienced issues with profile creation and access to BMW Digital Services. The navigation system, with its augmented video feature, provided accurate directions. Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity worked flawlessly, offering a reliable alternative to the native infotainment features. The X3's infotainment system, while promising, faced challenges during testing, potentially due to the test vehicle's configuration.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its comprehensive safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist as standard across all trims. The Preferred trim added enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, while the N Line with the Ultimate package included advanced features like Highway Driving Assist. The Kona's safety equipment contributed to its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a range of driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring as standard. The Premium Package added adaptive cruise control and Steering Assistant technology. The Parking Assistant Professional Package provided semi-automated parking tech, operable via the MyBMW smartphone app. The X3 earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for frontal-impact crash tests.