2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

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. While not traditionally handsome, the Kona's design elements, including its curves, bulges, and sharp angles, came together in a satisfying manner. 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 enhancements with progressively larger alloy wheels and LED lighting.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna embraced the classic minivan design, prioritizing interior passenger and cargo space. Despite Toyota's efforts to add style, the Sienna's trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines couldn't completely shake the "Dustbuster" metaphor. The rear fenders and narrow taillights added a touch of family resemblance to the Camry sedan. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, but the Sienna still maintained its minivan identity. While it offered practicality with seating for up to eight, the Sienna's design remained true to its purpose, providing ample space and functionality for families.

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 the performance punch some drivers desired. The Kona N Line, however, came with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed 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 traction and handling.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hybrid system produced a net horsepower of 245, which was modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing up to 1,587 kilograms. However, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The Sienna excelled in city driving with its quiet operation, but the CVT's moaning became noticeable during hard acceleration. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, achieving an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. While the Sienna offered predictable handling, it lacked the excitement of a sporty drive, focusing instead on a smooth and absorbent ride.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its cargo capacity, offering 723 litres with the rear seats in place and expanding to 1,803 litres when folded. This made it surprisingly spacious for a compact crossover. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, providing adequate comfort for most passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the interior featured excellent storage options, including a large compartment where the drive selector was relocated. The Kona's trims varied in upholstery, with cloth in 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 in higher trims.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized practicality with its minivan design, offering unique seating and cargo solutions. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, but some found the cushions hard for long drives. The Platinum package included second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests, which were popular with teenagers. The third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably, and the sliding side doors facilitated easy loading and unloading. The Sienna provided 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,129 litres with the seats stowed. However, its maximum cargo capacity of 2,860 litres was less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats. Despite this, the Sienna offered ample storage and convenience features for families.

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 cohesive and customizable display. 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 Toyota Sienna equipped higher-spec models with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered access to connected services plans, with varying subscription periods. The digital assistant, part of the Drive Connect plan, responded accurately to commands. The Sienna Limited featured a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, although some found the sound quality lacking. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera added convenience, while the see-through surround-view camera and HUD enhanced safety.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its comprehensive safety features, equipping even base models with advanced technology. Standard equipment included Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and more. The Preferred trim added enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, while the N Line with the Ultimate package included advanced features like Highway Driving Assist. All Konas came with six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. While it lacked the latest TSS 3.0, some preferred the older technology set for its simplicity. The Sienna's safety features generally performed well, although the lane-centring assist could waver in certain situations. The Sienna added a new rear-seat reminder system for 2025, alerting drivers to movement within the cabin. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Sienna a five-star overall rating, but it received lower scores in frontal crash tests.