2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic in mind, evident in its sleek, 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 its recognizable silhouette, with new design 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.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop presented a rugged, utilitarian design, with a black-on-black color scheme that was less than ideal for tropical climates. Despite this, the Wrangler's appeal lay in its iconic design rooted in American freedom and its capability to traverse diverse terrains. The Wrangler was available in multiple trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. The interior of the Sport S was functional, with a focus on durability over luxury, featuring a gray fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Wrangler's design emphasized its off-road capabilities, with features like high ground clearance and a seven-slot front grille, making it a popular choice despite its lack of sophistication compared to modern vehicles.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, offering 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 featured 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, enhancing the driving experience. The Kona offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,500, albeit at the cost of reduced fuel economy.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined, compared to the V6's 19-20 mpg. During a test drive in Hawaii, the four-cylinder Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were well-suited to the Hawaiian terrain, with standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and good approach and departure angles. However, its ride was rough, and the steering felt disconnected, especially at higher speeds.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length translated to more rear-seat legroom, measuring 38.2 inches, and improved cargo capacity, expanding to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded down. The interior featured a handy shelf on the passenger's side of the dash and a "guardrail" on the wireless charging pad to keep devices in place. The Kona offered cloth seats on lower trims and a leather/suede combination for higher trims, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard on the Limited trim.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging, though the front seats were comfortable and supportive. The Sport S trim featured cloth upholstery, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel available through the Convenience Group option pack. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo space was reasonable, with a 31.7 cubic-foot capacity, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet by folding the back seat down, though accessing it required maneuvering around the tailgate and rear window.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment system touchscreen display as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on lower trims and promised for higher trims via an OTA update. The Kona featured a Bose stereo system, dual 12.3-inch screens on higher trims, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services with a lifetime subscription.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Wrangler offered a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system as an option, with Jeep Connect providing access to a Wi-Fi hotspot and off-road navigation capabilities. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display between the analog gauges and other features like passive entry and remote engine starting.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including standard Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist was standard, with adaptive cruise control available on higher trims. The Kona's Highway Driving Assist suite impressed with its smooth lane-keep assist functionality.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment for the front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. The Wrangler's crash test ratings were mixed, with a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, and a Good rating for side-impact protection from the IIHS.