2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover lineup. Its tall stature was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it a more athletic look compared to the traditional Range Rover. The large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty appearance, although from certain angles, it appeared somewhat tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some luxury SUVs. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured unique elements like 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery and sport seats with illuminated inserts, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a focus on luxury materials.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona retained 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, about six inches longer than its predecessor, improved interior space and road presence. The N Line S and N Line trims featured sportier design elements, while other trims like SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and Limited offered varying levels of visual enhancements. The interior remained unchanged from 2024, with a solid construction and ample tech features. Notably, 64-color ambient lighting became standard on higher trims, enhancing the cabin's ambiance. The Kona's practicality was evident in its spacious interior and thoughtful storage solutions, making it a versatile choice for drivers.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid producing 543 hp and 590 lb-ft or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two, the most powerful model, used the same V8 engine but with 626 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both on-road performance and off-road capability, with features like sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring enhancing its agility and comfort.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two gas-powered engine options. The SE, SEL, and SEL Convenience trims featured a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). For more power, the N Line S, N Line, and Limited trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 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 slightly flat at low revs. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup, offering active on-demand drive to the rear axle and a dedicated Snow mode. The Kona's ride and handling prioritized competence, with AWD models featuring a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension for improved comfort and stability.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover, offered a spacious two-row, five-seater configuration. While it lacked a third row, it provided ample headroom and legroom for front-seat occupants, although competitors like the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered slightly more legroom. The sloping roofline did not significantly impact rear-seat headroom, and reclining rear seats were standard. The cargo space measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity reached 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds. The vehicle featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading and unloading.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its practicality, offering 25.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place, expanding to 63.7 cubic feet when folded. The dual-level cargo floor added versatility. Rear legroom measured 38.2 inches, providing adequate space for passengers, while the front seats offered a generous range of movement. The interior featured various storage compartments, enhancing convenience. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth on lower trims and Alcantara or H-Tex leatherette on higher trims. Heating and ventilation features progressed from basic air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents on higher trims. The Kona's thoughtful design and spacious interior made it a practical choice for families.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design, while visually appealing, had functional limitations, as many controls required touchscreen interaction. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, although it felt somewhat gimmicky. The Meridian audio system offered up to 29 speakers, providing an immersive sound experience.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona came with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The SEL Convenience trim and above featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, enhancing customization and cohesion. The N Line and Limited trims offered an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, while lower trims had a six-speaker setup. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity enabled over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, although parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its comprehensive safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Safe Exit Warning as standard. Higher trims added features like Highway Driving Assist and enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. The Limited trim included parking assistance features. All Konas came with six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.