2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Lexus GX

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 2025 model, being 15 centimetres longer than its predecessor, contributed to a more assertive stance and improved interior space. The Kona N Line trim offered a sportier design with body-coloured bumpers and cladding, while other trims like Essential and Preferred added visual appeal with progressively larger alloy wheels and LED lighting.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus GX underwent a complete redesign for the 2024 model year, presenting a strikingly different appearance from its predecessor. The new GX boasted a boxy, old-school Land Rover-inspired shape, with a brawny facial expression accentuated by LED headlights and a well-proportioned grille. The GX 550 Overtrail+ test vehicle featured 33-inch tires on matte grey 18-inch wheels, a raised ride height, and rock rails, all contributing to its rugged and adventurous look. Inside, the GX offered a clean and elegant design with a luxurious feel, featuring quality switchgear and chic dashboard and console layouts. The seats, made of stitched black and tan faux leather, provided ample headroom and comfort, with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. Overall visibility was excellent, thanks to tall windows and an elevated ride height.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between a fully electric drivetrain and two gas-powered options. The Essential and Preferred trims were equipped with 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 excitement. The Kona N Line, however, featured a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. This combination provided a more muscular performance, although it could feel flat at low revs. All-wheel drive was available for an additional cost on the Essential and Preferred trims and came standard on the N Line, enhancing the Kona's handling and ride quality.

The 2025 Lexus GX, on the other hand, was powered by a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 engine, producing 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a full-time four-wheel drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The GX's performance was robust, with a 0-100 km/h time of approximately 6.5 seconds, despite its substantial curb weight of 2,570 kilograms. The GX excelled in highway merges and off-road capabilities, thanks to its adaptive dampers and double-wishbone suspension. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with a combined rating of 13.5 litres per 100 kilometres, and our test drive averaged 19.0 L/100 km. The GX's off-road prowess was further enhanced by features like a locking centre differential, crawl control, and downhill assist, making it a formidable choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a surprisingly spacious interior for its size, with 723 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1,803 litres when folded. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, with 972 mm of headroom, providing adequate comfort for passengers. The front seats offered 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 shelves, trays, and cubbies. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth on the Essential and Preferred, leatherette on the Trend package, and Alcantara sport seats on the N Line. Climate control ranged from basic single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic control with rear vents on higher trims.

The 2025 Lexus GX excelled in interior space, offering ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Front headroom measured 1,001 millimetres, while rear passengers enjoyed 1,095 mm. The GX's cargo space was impressive, with up to 2,563 litres available when the second row was folded in the Overtrail packages. The GX's towing capacity of 4,111 kilograms made it suitable for hauling larger loads. Despite its spacious interior, the GX maintained a manageable footprint, making it easier to park in tight spaces. The GX's overall dimensions were comparable to competitors like the Land Rover Defender 110 and BMW X5, but it offered a more user-friendly experience in urban environments.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The Preferred trim with the Trend package and the N Line trim included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The N Line also boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing a more cohesive and customizable experience. Audiophiles could upgrade to the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2025 Lexus GX impressed with its 12.3-inch gauge cluster and 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, both offering excellent clarity and intuitive operation. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were standard, with seamless pairing. The Mark Levinson Premium Audio system, included with higher packages, delivered good audio quality, though it required higher volume at highway speeds. The GX featured six USB-C ports for connectivity and charging, and the Executive and Overtrail+ packages included cooling in the armrest storage.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona was equipped with an impressive array of standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist. Higher trims added advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and a Blind Spot View Monitor. The Kona's safety credentials were further bolstered by its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2025 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, road sign assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Overtrail+ package included pedestrian detection and trail-viewing cameras for enhanced off-road visibility. While the GX had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, it featured 10 airbags for occupant protection.