2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the 2013 Volkswagen CrossBlue concept. This update included new lighting elements, such as light-up VW logos similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover. The front logo illuminated in white, while the rear logo shone red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, which were part of the new LED headlights reminiscent of those on a Ford Expedition. These subtle changes gave the Atlas a more Americanized appearance, with a full-width light bar at the back housing the illuminated logo. The Atlas also introduced new wheel designs across all trim levels, with the SE base model featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims boasted 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition joined the lineup, offering a more rugged look with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique exterior colors.

Inside, the Atlas received a revised interior with a focus on functionality. The infotainment touchscreen was repositioned to stand free of the dashboard, and the shifter was reduced to a tiny toggle, creating additional storage space. Volkswagen aimed to elevate the interior's upscale feel with improved fake wood trim and a new weaved plastic trim resembling carbon fiber. Leatherette seats were standard, with leather upholstery available on SEL models. The SEL Premium R-Line featured diamond stitching, but some areas, like the center console, had stitching that appeared less premium. Overall, the interior changes made the Atlas more functional, though the contrast between the minimalist interior and the truck-like exterior was noticeable.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona retained its visual design from the previous year, maintaining a fresh and distinctive appearance in the crossover class. Its flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars at the front and rear gave even the gas-powered models a futuristic look. The Kona's design, characterized by curves, bulges, and sharp angles, created a visually appealing package. The 2025 model was notably larger, with an extended length of around six inches, enhancing interior space and road presence. The Kona N Line S and N Line trims featured sportier design elements, including body-colored bumpers and cladding, while other trims had contrasting plastic accents. The trim lineup included SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and Limited, each offering progressively more visual enhancements, such as larger alloy wheels and rear privacy glass.

Inside, the Kona's interior remained unchanged from the previous year, providing a solid and airy feel. The drive selector was positioned on a column beneath the wiper stalk, creating additional space. The 2025 model introduced 64-color ambient interior lighting as standard on N Line, N Line S, and Limited trims. The Kona offered a range of seating options, with cloth upholstery on SE, SEL, and SEL Convenience trims, Alcantara sport seats on N Line S and N Line, and H-Tex leatherette on Limited. Heated front seats were available on SEL Convenience and above, while the Limited trim added ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel. The climate control system ranged from basic single-zone air conditioning on the SE to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents on higher trims.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas saw a reduction in powertrain options, leaving only a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, offering more torque than the previous VR6 engine. The turbo-four engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Atlas demonstrated improved acceleration, with FWD models achieving 0 to 60 mph in an estimated eight seconds, while AWD models took 8.3 seconds. Despite these improvements, the Atlas remained focused on comfort and practicality rather than performance. The ride quality was consistent with previous models, and the Peak Edition added all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, though the 4Motion AWD system was primarily designed for pavement use. The Atlas maintained a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE, which was rated for 2,000 pounds.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two engine options for its gas-powered models. 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). This transmission prioritized fuel efficiency but had a "rubber band" sensation during acceleration. 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. This engine was paired with an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission, providing a more engaging driving experience. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup for an additional cost, 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, while FWD models used a torsion beam setup.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features for 2024, including a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats on the base SE trim. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, while leather upholstery and heated second-row seats became standard on the SEL trim. The Atlas provided seating for seven with a three-seat second-row bench that could split-fold, recline, and slide. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The Atlas boasted competitive headroom and legroom across all three rows, with third-row legroom being the best in its class. Cargo space varied from 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place to 96.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place, expanding to 63.7 cubic feet when the seats were folded. The Kona's trunk featured a dual-level cargo floor, providing ample storage space. 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 steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The Kona's interior featured numerous storage compartments, enhancing practicality. The trim lineup included cloth upholstery on SE, SEL, and SEL Convenience trims, Alcantara sport seats on N Line S and N Line, and H-Tex leatherette on Limited. Heated front seats were available on SEL Convenience and above, with ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel on the Limited trim. The climate control system ranged from single-zone air conditioning on the SE to dual-zone automatic climate control on higher trims.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received more standard tech features for 2024, including a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were now standard. The Atlas offered up to eight USB-C ports, including a dash cam port on higher trims. A head-up display was standard on SEL and higher trims, and the premium audio system was upgraded to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system. The infotainment system featured sharp graphics and a map view in the digital instrument cluster, though haptic touchpads for certain functions were less user-friendly.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering good graphics and clear menu layouts. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, with wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key available on SEL Convenience and above. The SE and SEL trims had a 4.2-inch color multi-information display, while higher trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. 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 enabled over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IIHS had not released ratings for the 2024 model, but the 2023 model received high scores in most crash tests. The Atlas included more standard driver-assist features for 2024, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The SEL Premium R-Line added park assist and a surround-view camera system. The Atlas also featured emergency assist and automatic post-collision braking.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety technology, 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 offered parking assistance features, though they were less essential in a subcompact vehicle. The Kona included six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The IIHS named the Kona a Top Safety Pick+.