2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of older models, yet it incorporated angular headlights that aligned it with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender felt rugged and adventure-ready, more akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with a touch of luxury through soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims like S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, while standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Kona maintained its fresh appearance from the previous year, with a distinctive design that set it apart in the crossover class. Its flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars gave it a futuristic look, even in gas-powered models. The Kona's increased size, being six inches longer than its predecessor, enhanced interior space and road presence. The new N Line S and N Line trims offered sportier aesthetics with body-colored bumpers and cladding. The Kona's interior remained unchanged from 2024, providing a solid and airy feel, with a drive selector relocated to a column beneath the wiper stalk. The 2025 model introduced standard 64-color ambient interior lighting on N Line, N Line S, and Limited trims, adding a touch of sophistication.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly with features like the adaptive air suspension system and Terrain Response 2 system.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered both electric and gas-powered options. The gas-powered Kona came with two engine choices: a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), and a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine provided a broader torque band, enhancing performance, although it could feel flat at low revs. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup for an additional $1,500, offering active on-demand drive to the rear axle and a dedicated Snow mode. AWD models featured a multi-link rear suspension for improved ride and handling.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity differed by model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its cargo capacity, offering 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 63.7 cubic feet when folded. Rear legroom measured 38.2 inches, with 38.3 inches of headroom, providing 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. Upholstery varied by trim, with cloth on SE, SEL, and SEL Convenience, Alcantara sport seats on N Line S and N Line, and H-Tex leatherette on Limited. Heating and ventilation options progressed from basic single-zone air conditioning on SE to dual-zone automatic climate control on higher trims.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While the touchscreen seemed small compared to competitors, it was simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian persona. Standard features included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. SEL Convenience trim and above included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The SE and SEL trims had a 4.2-inch color multi-information display, while higher trims boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Audiophiles could upgrade to N Line or Limited trim 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 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted to be overly sensitive.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety technology, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims added features like Highway Driving Assist and enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. Limited trim included parking assistance features such as Parking Distance Warning and Surround View Monitor. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, reflecting its strong safety credentials.