2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus presented a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims. Its design featured a new grille with LED lighting that extended through it, illuminating the Lincoln star logo, creating a stunning visual effect. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was equally impressive, highlighted by a full-width screen that served as the crown jewel of the cabin. The materials used were of excellent quality, with ambient lighting and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather. The Jet Appearance Package offered additional customization with two-tone paint and black exterior trim, enhancing the vehicle's overall appeal.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Kona maintained its fresh appearance from the previous year, with a largely flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars that gave it a futuristic look. The Kona's design was characterized by its myriad curves, bulges, and sharp angles, which came together in a satisfactory manner. The newer model was around six inches longer, providing more interior space and a more assertive stance on the road. The Kona offered various trims, including the new N Line S, which featured sportier design elements. The interior remained unchanged from 2024, with a solid construction and ample tech features. The 64-color ambient interior lighting became standard on higher trims, adding to the vehicle's modern feel.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided smooth power delivery and unobtrusive shifts. For an additional $1,500, buyers could opt for a hybrid setup, which increased output to 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid also offered a range of over 600 miles. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an available adaptive suspension for enhanced performance. The hybrid's CVT was well-tuned, avoiding common pitfalls like droning or over-eager engine speed.

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 with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission. The N Line S, N Line, and Limited trims came 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. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup, providing active on-demand drive to the rear axle and a dedicated Snow mode. The Kona's ride and handling focused on competence rather than excitement, with AWD models benefiting from a more sophisticated suspension setup.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats across all trims, with the Black Label model featuring Lincoln's 24-way Perfect Position front seats, renowned for their comfort. The rear seats provided 43 inches of legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods. Cargo space was generous, with 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with the seats folded down in the Premiere trim. The Nautilus was available only with seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona provided 25.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place, expanding to 63.7 cubic feet when folded. Rear legroom measured 38.2 inches, with 38.3 inches of headroom, ensuring comfort for most passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the drive selector's relocation to the steering column created additional storage space. The Kona's interior featured various upholstery options, with higher trims offering heated and ventilated front seats. The climate control system progressed from basic single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents on higher trims.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The inclusion of Google Maps and Alexa Built-in for voice controls added convenience, while wireless charging and USB ports were standard. However, the unlabelled steering wheel controls and menu-based vent adjustments were potential distractions.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and a digital key. The SEL Convenience trim and above offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, enhancing customization options. Audiophiles could upgrade to N Line or Limited trim for a premium audio experience. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity enabled over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained current.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was available on all trims, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. The 2024 Nautilus had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2023 model received high scores for crash protection. The IIHS awarded the Nautilus a top score of "Good" in crashworthiness.

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