2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2025 Hyundai Kona maintained its fresh and distinctive appearance from the previous year, ensuring it stood 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, bulges, and sharp angles, created a satisfactory visual appeal from most angles. The 2025 model was notably larger, around six inches longer than its predecessor, enhancing both interior space and road presence. The new N Line S trim, along with the N Line, offered a sportier design with body-colored bumpers and cladding, while other trims like SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and Limited added visual enhancements such as larger alloy wheels and rear privacy glass. The interior remained unchanged from 2024, featuring solid construction and ample tech, with 64-color ambient lighting now standard on higher trims.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, tested in snowy conditions near Mount Rainier National Park, showcased its capability with the Rock Creek trim. Equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated tires and standard all-wheel drive, it handled the challenging terrain with ease. The Pathfinder's design, revamped in 2022, featured an assertive front end and protective cladding, with the Rock Creek trim adding a mesh-patterned V-Motion grille and stacked LED lighting. Despite its rugged appearance, the Pathfinder was a unibody crossover, lacking additional ground clearance or skid plates. Inside, the Rock Creek trim offered leatherette-and-cloth upholstery with bright orange logos, while higher trims featured more luxurious materials. The Pathfinder's interior was comfortable, with three-zone climate control and flexible seating options, including the EZ Flex Seating System for easy third-row access.

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 an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). For those seeking 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. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup for an additional cost, enhancing traction and handling with a dedicated Snow mode and a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a single engine option: a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. This engine produced 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque in most trims, while the Rock Creek trim offered a slight boost to 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. A nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, and the Platinum and Rock Creek trims included a transmission oil cooler, increasing towing capacity to 6,000 pounds. The Pathfinder's ride was soft, suitable for light off-roading but less composed on twisty roads. Fuel economy for the Rock Creek trim was 20 mpg city, 23 highway, and 21 combined, with other 4WD trims offering slightly better efficiency.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a surprising amount of cargo space for its size, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. Rear legroom was adequate at 38.2 inches, and the front seats provided a comfortable range of adjustments. The interior featured excellent storage options, with various shelves and compartments. Upholstery options varied by trim, with cloth on lower trims and Alcantara or H-Tex leatherette on higher trims. Heating and ventilation features improved with higher trims, and dual-zone climate control was available on most models.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder provided ample interior space despite being smaller than some competitors. It offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 45 cubic feet with the third row folded and 80.5 cubic feet with both rows down. The Pathfinder's interior was comfortable, with three-zone climate control and supportive seats. The Rock Creek trim featured captain's chairs and a removable center console in the second row, while the EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy third-row access without removing car seats.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and a digital key. The SEL Convenience trim and above had a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while N Line and Limited trims offered an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air updates.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder's technology lagged behind some competitors, with an older infotainment interface. The screen size varied by trim, with 8 inches on lower trims and 9 inches on higher ones. The Pathfinder supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but wireless projection was limited to Apple devices on the 9-inch screen. A 6-speaker stereo was standard, with a 13-speaker Bose system available on higher trims. Navigation was limited to the SL and Platinum trims, and a head-up display was exclusive to the Platinum.

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 Kona included six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist were standard on most trims, with traffic sign recognition available on higher trims.