2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Audi Q5

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle (EV) focus, evident in its sleek and modern appearance. The front grille closely resembled that of the Ioniq 5, featuring a single-piece design that has become synonymous with electric powertrains. The Kona adopted the "seamless horizon" styling seen in the new Sonata, with a prominent skinny LED headlight at the front. Despite its increased size, the Kona maintained a recognizable silhouette, with new visual elements like the creased "parametric surface" on the doors and more substantial black body cladding on various trims. The lineup came standard with LED lighting, and the rear featured a single taillight spanning the vehicle's width. Inside, the cabin was updated with a driver-oriented center stack, a relocated gear shift, and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens.

The 2025 Audi Q5 embraced a rugged SUV aesthetic with a large, textured grille, prominent side air intakes, and high-mounted headlights, giving it an imposing front-end look. The body featured well-defined lines, adding a muscular touch, though the styling changes felt more evolutionary than revolutionary. The Q5 was available in standard SUV and coupe-like Sportback body styles, with the latter offering a sleeker profile at the expense of cargo space and rear-seat headroom. The SQ5 performance variant stood out with matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, and quad exhaust tips. Inside, the Q5's interior was detailed, with a mix of high-quality materials and a somewhat discordant design. The dashboard and door panels accommodated the opposing curves of the main touchscreen and bulging doors, while the SQ5 offered a sportier interior with Alcantara trim.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, featuring a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE and SEL trims, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The N-Line and Limited trims were powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were available on the N-Line and Limited trims, and the SEL Convenience Package offered them for the CVT. During a test drive, the Kona Limited and N-Line demonstrated intuitive steering and nimble handling, though pickup was slightly slow even with the turbo engine. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,500, affecting fuel economy estimates.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive across all models. The base Q5 was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the SQ5 boasted a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Q5's performance was competitive, with a manufacturer-estimated zero to 60 mph time of 5.8 seconds for the standard model and 4.6 seconds for the SQ5. However, both models experienced turbo lag and rough shifts, affecting acceleration. The Q5's suspension offered capable handling, with air suspension available on the Prestige trim and standard on the SQ5. Despite competent tuning, the Q5 and SQ5 didn't encourage aggressive driving, though they handled well on good roads. Off-Road and Off-Road Plus modes were available, but the Q5 was more suited for dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length significantly improved rear-seat legroom, offering 38.2 inches, and cargo capacity, which expanded to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded down. The Kona Limited featured a power hands-free liftgate for easy access to the cargo area. Inside, a handy shelf on the passenger's side of the dash provided additional storage, while the center console offered limited covered space. The Kona's seating options included cloth seats for SE and SEL trims, a leather/suede combination for N-Line, and H-Tex leatherette for Limited. Ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard on the Limited trim, with heated front seats available on N-Line and SEL with the Convenience Package.

The 2025 Audi Q5 maintained similar exterior dimensions and interior space to the 2024 model, with adequate headroom and legroom. The Q5 featured a sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat, with cargo-area buttons for easy adjustment. The 2025 model offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 56.9 cubic feet behind the first row, surpassing some rivals but falling short of others. A power tailgate and heated front seats were standard, with a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof available on Premium Plus trims. Prestige models added heated rear seats and ventilated front seats. The Q5's towing capacity reached 4,400 pounds, exceeding some competitors.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona introduced several technological enhancements, including a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display across the lineup. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were initially available only on lower trims, with an over-the-air update promised for higher trims. N-Line and Limited trims featured wireless device charging and a new Wi-Fi hotspot. The Kona's audio system was upgraded to a Bose stereo, and all models included USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. Dual 12.3-inch screens were optional with the Convenience Package and standard on N-Line and Limited trims, while Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were included for the vehicle's lifetime.

The 2025 Audi Q5 came equipped with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, with a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen available on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a cooled wireless charging pad. Premium Plus models added USB-C ports and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Q5's infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS, featured a curved display for easy driver access. A built-in voice assistant handled some vehicle functions, while an available head-up display provided essential information. The Q5 also included Audi's Dynamic Interaction Light and digital key connectivity.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist was standard, with adaptive cruise control available on N-Line and Limited trims. The Limited trim also included Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, with smooth lane-keep assist and intuitive steering inputs.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured standard driver-assist technologies such as adaptive cruise control, active front assist, lane departure warning, parking sensors, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Premium Plus models added a 360-degree camera system and adaptive cruise assist. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of release, but Audi aimed to match the previous generation's five-star NHTSA rating.