2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Hyundai Kona retained its fresh and distinctive appearance from the previous year, making it stand out in the crossover class. Its futuristic design was highlighted by a largely flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars, giving even the gas-powered models a modern look. The Kona's design, with its myriad curves and sharp angles, was not classically handsome but offered a satisfactory visual appeal from most angles. The newer model was notably larger, around six inches longer, enhancing both interior space and road presence. The sportier N Line S and N Line trims featured body-colored bumpers and cladding, adding to their assertive stance. The trim lineup included SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and Limited, each offering progressively more visual enhancements like larger alloy wheels and rear privacy glass. The interior remained unchanged from 2024, maintaining a solid construction and airy feel, with the addition of standard 64-color ambient interior lighting on select trims.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, a staple in the full-size SUV market, underwent a careful restyling to maintain its consumer recognition. The profile remained largely unchanged, but the new front fascia and rear end added a modern touch, with updated lighting signatures providing a dramatic element. The trim lineup stayed consistent, with the LS as the base model and the LT adding extra features. The RST and Z71 trims catered to lifestyle-oriented buyers, while the Premier and High Country offered luxury options. The Suburban's exterior followed the same playbook as 2024, with few objective improvements but no detracting changes. Inside, the 2025 model saw significant upgrades, including a more sophisticated lower dash, a modern steering wheel, and a stunning 17.7-inch touchscreen display. The Suburban's interior improvements addressed previous shortcomings, making even the least expensive versions feel more upscale.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between a fully electric drivetrain and two gas-powered 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). This setup prioritized fuel efficiency but lacked in performance. The N Line S, N Line, and Limited trims boasted a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This combination provided a more muscular performance, although it could feel flat at low revs. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup for an additional $1,500, offering enhanced traction and a more sophisticated suspension setup.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban continued to embrace V8 power, with a 5.3-liter V8 delivering 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque as the base engine. The 6.2-liter V8, available on higher trims, offered 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A third option, the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine, received a significant upgrade, producing 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine was praised for its quiet and smooth operation, making it a favorite choice. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Suburban offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with four-wheel drive available on the Z71 trim. The 2025 model featured a recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control suspension, providing a softer ride and reducing bounciness. The Suburban also offered an adjustable air suspension for enhanced comfort.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona provided a surprising amount of cargo space for its size, with 25.5 cubic feet of capacity behind the rear seats, expanding to 63.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. Rear legroom measured 38.2 inches, with 38.3 inches of headroom, offering adequate space for most passengers. The front seats featured a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The interior boasted excellent storage options, 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 air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents on higher trims.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, accommodating 41.5 cubic feet of luggage behind the third row, expanding to 93.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all seats folded, the Suburban offered a massive 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space, unmatched by any non-commercial vehicle. The Suburban also boasted impressive towing capacity, with the 5.3-liter V8 and Max Trailering Package allowing for up to 8,300 pounds of towing. The diesel engine offered a slightly lower towing capacity but excelled in fuel efficiency, with an EPA-rated 21 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined. The Suburban's 28-gallon fuel tank allowed for extended highway driving on a single tank.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering good graphics and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The SEL Convenience trim and above boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing a more cohesive and customizable display. 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 allowed for over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban addressed previous technology shortcomings with a stunning 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The screen, while not OLED, was crisp and bright, complemented by an 11-inch driver information display and an available 15-inch head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with Google Built-in offering native integration of Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Play Store. The user interface was visually appealing, though some aspects, like customizing the driver information display, were unintuitive. Physical buttons for essential functions remained, providing a user-friendly experience. The top-range Bose stereo, while improved, still left room for enhancement compared to competitors.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its comprehensive safety technology, equipping even base models with advanced features. Standard equipment included 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 Kona featured six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review. The 2024 model received four out of five stars in overall crash safety from the NHTSA. Despite this, the Suburban offered a robust list of standard advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology was available on higher trims, though not immediately at launch.