2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2025 Hyundai Kona retained its distinctive appearance from the previous year, maintaining a fresh and unmistakable look in the crossover class. Its design featured a largely flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars at the front and rear, giving even the gas-powered models a futuristic vibe. While not traditionally handsome, the Kona's curves, bulges, and sharp angles came together in a satisfying manner. The newer model was noticeably larger, about 15 centimetres longer, enhancing interior space and providing a more assertive stance. The Kona N Line, with its sportier design, body-coloured bumpers, and cladding, stood out among the Essential and Preferred trims, which offered progressively larger alloy wheels and LED lighting.

The interior of the 2025 Kona remained unchanged from the 2024 model, which was a positive aspect. It felt solid and airy, aided by the drive selector's placement on a column beneath the wiper stalk. The interior boasted enough technology to impress, with options like a sunroof and powered liftgate available through the Trend package on the Preferred trim or the N Line. The Kona's interior was well-equipped, with heated front seats standard in Canada and a heated steering wheel available from the Preferred trim. The N Line with the Ultimate package added ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, tested during a snowstorm, proved its capability with standard all-wheel drive and seven selectable driving modes, including a dedicated snow mode. The Rock Creek trim, equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated Toyo Open Country AT3 tires, showcased an adventurous look with 18-inch beadlock-style wheels. Redesigned for the 2022 model year, the Pathfinder's fifth generation featured an assertive front end, protective cladding, and a stylishly slanted C-pillar. The Rock Creek trim further enhanced its appearance with a V-Motion grille, mesh pattern, and contrasting trim elements.

The Pathfinder's interior offered comfort and practicality, with cloth seats standard on the S and SV trims, while the Rock Creek featured leatherette-and-cloth upholstery with bright orange "Rock Creek" logos. The SL trim offered full leather seats, and the Platinum trim upgraded to quilted semi-aniline leather. Heated front seats, steering wheel, outboard mirrors, and washer nozzles were standard in Canada, with the Platinum trim adding ventilation. The Pathfinder's EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row without removing car seats, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between a fully electric drivetrain and 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 might not appeal to those seeking performance due to the "rubber band" sensation during acceleration. The Kona N Line, on the other hand, boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 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 $2,000 on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line, enhancing traction and handling.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder came with a single engine option: a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6. This engine, known for its reliability, produced 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque on the S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, while the Rock Creek trim received a boost to 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Despite the higher power output, the Rock Creek's performance was similar to the lower-powered trims due to the higher rolling resistance of its all-terrain tires. A nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous CVT, providing decisive shifts and unobtrusive operation. The Pathfinder's towing capacity reached 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds) on the Platinum and Rock Creek trims, thanks to a transmission oil cooler. The Pathfinder's ride was soft, suitable for bumpy roads and light off-roading, but it felt less composed on twisty roads compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot TrailSport and Kia Telluride X-Pro.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered impressive cargo capacity, with 723 litres available with the rear seats in place and expanding to 1,803 litres when folded. This made it surprisingly spacious for a subcompact crossover. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, providing adequate comfort for most passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was both reach- and height-adjustable. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with numerous shelves, trays, and cubbies. Cloth upholstery was standard on the Essential and Preferred trims, while the Trend package added leatherette, and the N Line featured Alcantara sport seats. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with a heated steering wheel available from the Preferred trim. The N Line with the Ultimate package added ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, although smaller on paper compared to rivals like the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander, provided ample interior space. During a ski trip with four grown men, the Pathfinder comfortably accommodated skis, poles, boots, luggage, and groceries. Cargo capacity measured 470 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,274 litres with the third row folded and 2,279 litres with both the second and third rows down. The SV and Rock Creek trims now came standard with a power liftgate. The Pathfinder's interior was comfortable, with three-zone climate control and seats offering a blend of cushion and support. The Rock Creek's driver seat featured 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat had six-way manual adjustment. The Pathfinder's EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row without removing car seats, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering good graphics, clear menu layouts, and 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 Essential and Preferred trims had a 4.2-inch colour multi-information display, while the N Line boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Audiophiles could upgrade to the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder's technology lagged behind some competitors and even other Nissans. The Pathfinder's infotainment system featured an older interface, with an 8-inch screen on the S, SV, and Rock Creek trims and a 9-inch screen on the SL and Platinum trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but only the 9-inch screen offered wireless projection for Apple devices. A 6-speaker stereo was standard, with a 13-speaker Bose system available on the Platinum trim. Navigation was standard only on the SL and Platinum trims. The Pathfinder's tech included voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio, although a subscription was required. A 12.3-inch TFT driver-information display was standard on the Platinum trim, while other trims had a 7-inch display. A head-up display was exclusive to the Platinum trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its comprehensive safety features, even on base models. Standard equipment included Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, and Safe Exit Warning. The Preferred trim added enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, while the N Line with the Ultimate package included advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and Hyundai's Blind Spot View Monitor. All Konas came with six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder also received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and rear automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control and Nissan's ProPilot Assist were also standard. Traffic sign recognition was available on the SL and Platinum trims.