The Hyundai Kona has carved out a niche in the competitive subcompact SUV segment, appealing to drivers seeking a blend of style, technology, and practicality. The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while a carryover model from the significantly redesigned 2024 version, continues to offer compelling features and powertrain options, including both gasoline and electric variants. As your trusted automotive expert at cardiagxpert.com, let’s delve into a comprehensive review of the 2025 Hyundai Kona, focusing on the Limited gas model to provide you with the insights you need before making a purchase decision. This review will explore its exterior appeal, performance capabilities, interior comfort and technology, safety features, and overall value proposition.
Exterior Design: Bold and Modern
The Kona’s exterior makes a strong first impression with its futuristic and almost EV-like aesthetics, a design direction influenced by its shared electric vehicle platform. The Limited trim stands out with its distinctive seamless horizon LED daytime running light that stretches across the front fascia, giving it a unique and premium appearance.
The test model’s Mirage Green paint accentuates its heavily sculpted body lines. The bold 19-inch geometric-style wheels are sure to be a point of discussion – you’ll likely either find them strikingly modern or perhaps a bit too adventurous for your taste. One cannot ignore the substantial amount of black body cladding, a design element that’s become a signature of the Kona, and was also prominent in the 2024 model. The Kona Limited comes equipped with LED headlights and combination taillights, along with heated side mirrors for added convenience in colder climates.
The rear of the Kona mirrors the front with a seamless LED taillight bar extending across the tailgate. Continuing the robust design theme, more black cladding is present on the rear bumper and the upper spoiler, which also integrates a brake light. Practical roof rails are included, adding to the SUV’s utility and adventurous look.
Performance and Powertrain Options
Under the hood, the Kona Limited boasts the more powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, delivering a respectable 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine provides a noticeable pep, making the Kona feel agile and responsive, especially for its size. In contrast, the base engine option offers a less inspiring 147 horsepower, which might feel underpowered for some drivers. The turbocharged engine is paired with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, controlled by a column-mounted shift-by-wire system and includes paddle shifters for a more engaging driving experience. The tested model also features Hyundai’s available All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, enhancing traction and stability in various driving conditions. Remote start, a convenient feature, is standard across the entire Kona lineup.
Interior Comfort and Technology
Stepping inside the 2025 Kona Limited reveals a surprisingly spacious and open-concept cabin. The lighter two-tone interior in the test vehicle is a welcome change, creating a brighter and more airy feel compared to darker interiors. The quality of the switchgear and trim is commendable, and the door handles have a solid, substantial feel. However, it’s worth noting that there are more hard-touch plastic surfaces than one might expect in the Limited trim, though this is common in the subcompact SUV class.
The front seats are upholstered in comfortable H-TEX leatherette, and both are heated and ventilated. The driver’s seat offers 8-way power adjustability, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel is also heated, adding to the premium feel. A useful storage tray is cleverly integrated above the glove box, maximizing space utilization.
The Kona Limited truly shines in the technology department. The available dual-screen displays are visually impressive and highly functional. The digital instrument cluster is bright, clear, and easy to read, while the 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen boasts incredible graphic quality and responsiveness. The system now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a significant upgrade for smartphone integration.
Hyundai’s Dynamic Voice Recognition system is a standout feature, recognized as one of the best in the market, offering accurate and intuitive voice commands. Navigation maps are crisp and clear, and the backup camera provides excellent resolution. The Limited trim further enhances visibility with a Surround View Monitor. Audiophiles will appreciate the 8-speaker Bose sound system, delivering rich and immersive audio. Connectivity features are plentiful, including a WiFi Hotspot, Hyundai’s Digital Key, four USB-C ports, and convenient over-the-air update capability for the vehicle’s software.
The center console design, however, might be a point of contention for some. Its very open design, while contributing to the spacious feel, may easily become cluttered as there are no covered compartments to conceal items. The center console houses an available wireless charging pad, a drive mode selector knob, seat climate controls, and buttons for features like Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Rear passengers in the Kona will find “stadium seating,” where the rear seats are positioned slightly higher. While this design enhances visibility, it does reduce headroom somewhat. However, the rear seats are comfortably cushioned, and the 60/40 split-fold seats recline and include a slim drop-down center console with cupholders. The second row does feature more hard plastic surfaces, and the Kona’s design results in smaller rear windows, potentially making the back feel a bit confined. Thankfully, a sunroof is available to bring in more natural light.
Cargo space has been improved with the 2024 redesign, offering a more practical area for luggage and gear. The cargo area is well-designed with a dual-level cargo floor and a cargo cover. The Limited trim is exclusively equipped with a hands-free liftgate for added convenience. Notably, the Kona also includes a spare tire, a feature that is becoming less common but still appreciated by many drivers.
Standard features on the Limited trim include dual-zone automatic climate control, a power moonroof, and ambient interior lighting, further enhancing the comfort and premium feel.
Ride and Drive Experience
The Hyundai Kona delivers a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. Acceleration with the turbocharged engine is brisk, steering is responsive, and the ride quality is comfortable, even on less-than-perfect road surfaces. Its compact size makes it exceptionally easy to park and maneuver in urban environments. The Kona excels as a versatile daily driver, equally adept at city commutes and highway cruising. It’s a fun and smooth SUV to drive around town.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Safety is a priority in the Kona, which comes standard with Hyundai SmartSense safety suite. Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Warning are standard across all trims, crucial features for family safety. The Limited trim adds further advanced safety technologies, including Blind Spot View Monitor, Surround View Monitor, Smart Cruise Control, and Highway Driving Assist. Highway Driving Assist is particularly noteworthy, considered one of the industry’s leading semi-autonomous driving systems, providing confident lane keeping and adaptive cruise control in highway driving scenarios.
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The Limited trim also features Hyundai’s impressive Remote Smart Parking Assist system. This innovative feature allows you to remotely maneuver the Kona in and out of tight parking spots using the key fob, a particularly useful feature in congested parking situations.
Value and Pricing
The 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited, as tested with only carpeted floor mats as an option ($210), has a total MSRP of $35,005. This price point represents excellent value, especially considering the extensive list of features and technology included in this top-of-the-line trim.
Final Verdict: Is the 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited a Good Choice?
The 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited is undeniably a compelling option in the subcompact SUV segment. It stands out with its bold and modern styling, a tech-rich interior, and a fun-to-drive character. While the extensive black body cladding might not appeal to everyone, and the open center console could become easily cluttered, the Kona’s strengths in technology, safety, performance, and overall value make it a strong contender. If you’re looking for a well-equipped, tech-savvy, and enjoyable small SUV, the Hyundai Kona Limited deserves a serious look. For those seeking even more eco-consciousness, the Kona also offers an electric variant, expanding its appeal to a broader range of buyers.
Pros:
- Impressive Technology and Features
- Distinctive and Modern Styling
- Enjoyable Ride and Handling
- Strong Value Proposition
Cons:
- Open Center Console Design
- Extensive Black Body Cladding (subjective)
2025 Hyundai Kona Limited Specifications (as tested):
- Official Color: Mirage Green
- MSRP: Base price $33,400 / Total MSRP: $35,005 (including transportation and floor mats)
- Fuel Economy: 24 city/29 highway/ 26 overall MPG
- Odometer reading when tested: 559 miles
- Weight: 3,505 pounds
- Spare tire: Compact temporary spare
- Length-Width-Height: 171.3” long / 71.9” wide / 63.4” (63.6” w/roof rails) high
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.2 gallons
- Towing Capacity: N/A
- Warranty: 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain, 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 10-year/100,000 mile hybrid battery (for EV model), 2-years free maintenance.
- Final Assembly Location: Ulsan, South Korea (Note: Original article incorrectly stated Aichi, Japan and Toyota Website)
- Manufacturer’s website: Hyundai (Corrected from original article’s Toyota link)
