2024 Ford Bronco vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design that harkened back to the 1960s, particularly in its two-door variant, which was more successful in capturing the nostalgic aesthetic than the four-door version. The Sasquatch Package, a notable upgrade, enhanced the Bronco's rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving it a wide stance and a purposeful look. Without this package, the Bronco's standard tires appeared awkwardly small within the fender flares. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $91,930, including destination charges. The test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, was priced at $55,415. Inside, the Bronco featured an 8-inch digital display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a design reminiscent of the original 1960s Bronco. Despite its rugged charm, the Bronco's interior materials, particularly the marine-grade upholstery, were not ideal for hot weather, and the vehicle's off-road capabilities came at the cost of fuel efficiency.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from the 2024 model, maintained a distinctive and futuristic appearance with its flush grille and ultra-slim LED light bars. The Kona's increased size, being six inches longer than its predecessor, improved interior space and road presence. The N Line S and N Line trims offered a sportier design with body-colored bumpers and cladding. The Kona's interior remained solidly constructed and airy, with a notable addition of 64-color ambient lighting in higher trims. The Kona's trim levels included SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, N Line S, N Line, and Limited, each offering varying levels of visual enhancements and features. The interior featured a range of upholstery options, with heated and ventilated front seats available in higher trims. The Kona's practicality was further enhanced by its dual-level cargo floor and ample in-car storage solutions.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a range of engine options, starting with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission was available for rock crawling, while a 10-speed automatic transmission was an option. The Bronco's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. An optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, requiring the 10-speed automatic transmission. The Raptor model featured an exclusive 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, boasting a higher 4,500-pound tow rating. The Bronco's off-road capabilities were enhanced by technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was a concern, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway for the Big Bend Sasquatch. During testing, the Bronco averaged 16.9 mpg, highlighting its aerodynamic challenges and the impact of the Sasquatch Package on fuel economy.

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). The N Line S, N Line, and Limited trims were equipped with a more powerful 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 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 Kona prioritized competence over excitement in its driving dynamics, making it a practical choice for everyday use.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly in the four-door configuration, offered ample interior space, accommodating four adults comfortably. The absence of a rollbar in front of the rear-seat passengers, unlike its rival the Jeep Wrangler, provided a more comfortable ride on trails. However, the marine-grade vinyl upholstery trapped moisture, making it less ideal for hot weather. The Bronco's two-door models featured a standard hardtop with removable roof panels, while the four-door had a standard fabric soft top with an optional hardtop. The Bronco's cargo space varied, with the two-door offering 22.4 cubic feet and expanding to 53.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door version provided 38.3 cubic feet with the soft top and 83 cubic feet with the seats down, slightly reduced with the hardtop option.

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 Kona's rear legroom measured 38.2 inches, providing adequate space for passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The Kona's interior featured various storage solutions, including shelves, trays, and cubbies. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth seats in lower trims and Alcantara sport seats in N Line trims. The Limited trim featured H-Tex leatherette upholstery, with heated and ventilated front seats. The Kona's climate control system ranged from basic single-zone air conditioning in the SE trim to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents in higher trims.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen version of its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a seven-speaker stereo system. Higher trims offered a connected navigation system and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system with 10 speakers. However, the Sync 4 technology experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco Trail App provided access to maps and information for trails across North America, accessible through the Sync 4 touchscreen display.

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. 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, providing customization options and a cohesive look. 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 allowed for over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend was equipped with standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and a backup camera with guidance grid lines. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, such as lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Bronco received favorable ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlight performance, which received a Marginal score. The NHTSA's crash test results were incomplete, with a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, 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 Highway Driving Assist and enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. The Limited trim included parking assistance features like Parking Distance Warning and Surround View Monitor. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, reflecting its comprehensive safety equipment and performance.