2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern aesthetic, reminiscent of the Envista with its sharp design elements. Its front showcased slim DRLs and a large, angular grille, contributing to a more assertive look compared to its predecessor. The side profile, while slightly generic, featured fewer creases, a flatter roof, and subtly sharpened wheel arches. The Enclave's interior exuded a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, creating an airy, futuristic ambiance. The Sport Touring trim offered perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing the overall luxurious experience. However, the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof on lower trims was a notable drawback, especially for a near-luxury SUV.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona maintained its fresh and distinctive appearance from the previous year, with a single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars that gave it a futuristic edge. The Kona's increased size, being six inches longer, improved interior space and road presence. The N Line S and N Line trims featured sportier designs with body-colored bumpers and cladding. Inside, the Kona offered a solidly constructed and airy cabin, with a drive selector relocated to a column beneath the wiper stalk, enhancing space. The 64-color ambient lighting standard on higher trims added a touch of sophistication. While the interior remained unchanged from 2024, it continued to impress with its tech offerings and comfortable seating options.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD configurations, with AWD reducing fuel economy from 23 to 21 mpg combined. The Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Active Noise Cancellation for road noise was standard, but engine noise cancellation was only standard on the top trim. The Enclave's driving dynamics reflected its classification as a mid-size crossover, with a large three-row design and loose steering at slower speeds.

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 an Intelligent Variable Transmission. The N Line S, N Line, and Limited trims boasted a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD 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 prioritized competence, with AWD models featuring a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger's seat. With captain's chairs in the second row, it accommodated up to seven passengers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and ventilation for the front row. Tri-zone climate control allowed middle-row passengers to manage their own temperature. The Enclave featured a one-touch power feature for folding and sliding second-row seats, with power-folding third-row seats available on higher trims. Cargo space measured 22.9 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows 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 ample space for passengers. The front seats featured a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was reach- and height-adjustable. The Kona's interior boasted excellent in-car storage, with numerous shelves, trays, and cubbies. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth on lower trims and Alcantara or H-Tex leatherette on higher trims. Heating and ventilation features progressed from basic single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents on higher trims.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured a large 30-inch curved display integrating the infotainment system and digital gauge cluster. While wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, a visible line interrupted the seamless display when using Apple CarPlay. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system exclusive to the Avenir trim. Wireless charging and Google Built-In were standard, along with Wi-Fi hotspot capability and USB ports in each row.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered 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 Hyundai's digital key. The SEL Convenience trim and above featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, enhancing customization and cohesion. 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, standard across all trims.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came equipped with advanced safety and driver-assistance features, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with selectable camera views and adaptive cruise control were standard. Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology, was available on all trims for an additional cost. The 2025 Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favorable ratings in most tests.

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