2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was available in a variety of trims, including LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, each offering a distinctive look. Despite the absence of the "swagger wagon" commercials, the Sienna maintained its stylish appeal with sleek front and rear fascias and a range of vibrant colors like deep blue, red, and green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty design, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, available in exclusive Cement or Midnight Black Metallic colors, was designed for off-road adventures with features like roof rails, a tow hitch, and increased ground clearance. Inside, the Sienna offered cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and seating for eight, with the XSE trim providing additional luxury options like leather-trimmed heated and cooled front seats and a leather-trimmed power steering wheel.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from the 2024 model, continued to stand out in the crossover class with its futuristic design. The single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars gave even the gas-powered models a modern look. 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 designs with body-colored bumpers and cladding. Other trims, including SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and Limited, offered varying levels of visual enhancements like larger alloy wheels and rear privacy glass. The interior remained solidly constructed and airy, with a focus on tech features. The 2025 model introduced standard 64-color ambient interior lighting on N Line, N Line S, and Limited trims. The Kona offered a range of seating options, from cloth upholstery in lower trims to Alcantara sport seats and H-Tex leatherette in higher trims. Heating and ventilation options varied across trims, with dual-zone automatic climate control available on most.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models featured an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite the sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not particularly thrilling, with sluggish acceleration and a noisy continuously variable transmission (CVT). The minivan excelled in smooth, albeit slow, acceleration, making it more suitable for city driving in Normal or Eco mode. The brakes were somewhat grabby, but the steering was light and accurate, with excellent visibility. For those seeking more driving excitement, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica offered stronger V6 engines.

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, coupled with 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 also featured a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension for improved ride and handling.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna offered practical interior features, including a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide fore and aft 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom. However, the slide function was complex, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults and offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate, activated by a kick motion, revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

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, offering comfort for most passengers. The front seats featured a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The drive selector was relocated to a stalk on the steering column, creating additional storage space. The Kona offered various upholstery options, from cloth in lower trims to Alcantara sport seats and H-Tex leatherette in higher trims. Heating and ventilation options varied, with dual-zone automatic climate control available on most trims.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were scattered throughout the cabin, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona came with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. SEL Convenience trim and above included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai’s digital key. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing more customization options. The N Line and Limited trims featured 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 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received a four-star rating from the NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and a five-star rating for side crash protection. The IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

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 features like Highway Driving Assist and enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. The Limited trim included parking assistance technologies. The Kona was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, reflecting its strong safety credentials.