2025 Nissan Kicks vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

2025 is the year of the compact SUV, that much is clear. Every brand is aiming to put out the most popular car that’ll be an overnight sensation. Is it too early to tell which car that’ll be? Not at all! We already know which ride is taking the masses by storm, and it's between the new 2025 Nissan Kicks and the 2025 Hyundai Kona. Maus Nissan New Port Richey is here to take you on a personal tour to help you become the envy of your friends! When you’re ready to shop, you can view our new inventory online for compact SUVs available near you.

2025 Nissan Kicks vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

It’s never fun to overpay for a hype car that fades in popularity in a matter of weeks. What is fun is being among the first wave of people to snag a trendy car that’s here to stay. If that’s the goal, then you’re better off going with the latest Kicks which just had an exciting revamp for the 2025 model year, all while maintaining the high level of reliability that Nissan is known for. The Kona continues to be a decent ride, but there are few distinct changes to boast about for the 2025 model year, making the Kicks a more interesting choice for those looking for a new ride.

2025 Nissan Kicks

• Starting at $21,830

2025 Hyundai Kona

• Starting at $24,350

Performance

Coming equipped with exactly what you need for your average trip, the latest Kicks carries a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine delivering up to 141 horsepower and 140 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s really all you need for daily commutes and the occasional weekend getaway, and this powertrain makes way for decent mileage with 28 in-city and 35 highway miles per gallon. The new Kicks is built on Nissan’s reliable CVT system which optimizes quirky handling and nimble speed. Plan on getting your ride a little dirty? Opt for the available Intelligent AWD system for added grip!

You’ll find a 2.0L MPI 4-cylinder engine in the Kona’s base model, putting out 147 horsepower. Will you notice the difference in 6 extra horsepower? Most likely not. You could go with the Kona’s upgraded 1.6L turbocharged engine with 190 HP, but considering that the base model already has a starting price that’s roughly $3k higher than the Kicks, you can expect to be paying even more for that added power. Part of the joy in finding a compact SUV is finding one at an affordable price to match its size, in which case the new Kicks is the more reasonable choice.

Safety Features

The Kicks remains a reliable ride with Nissan Safety Shield 360 being standard. You can rest assured that everything you need will be in this curated package, like adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and automatic emergency braking. While many would be appreciative of this hand-selected suite of safety and driver-assist features, there’s nothing wrong with wanting more. That’s why the latest Kicks also supports available features like an Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent AWD, and the fan-favorite ProPILOT Assist system that promotes a seamless driving experience every time you hit the road.

As expected, the latest Kona comes with the standard Hyundai SmartSense package with all of your essentials. What about additional features? As far as add-ons go, the only notable driver-assist systems that the Kona supports are a surround view monitor and blind spot view monitor which are already similar to what the Kicks has to offer. Perhaps the main difference here is that Nissan is known for creating a more intuitive system that feels easy to use as if the features were all created as a single entity. Accessibility is incredibly valuable on the road when you’re meant to keep distractions to a minimum.

Interior

The 2025 Kick’s interior is unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and there’s a pretty good reason behind that. Nissan aimed for the Kicks to have a distinct appearance that appeals to those who crave individuality. If you love having bold color options and unconventional design choices, the Kicks is sure to sate your appetite for something different. On top of delivering peak style, the latest Kicks is also unique in entertainment with a brand-new Bose Personal Plus audio system that puts out sound through speakers built into the headrest for an immersive experience. From every angle, the 2025 Kicks continues to wow us any chance it gets.

What else does the Kicks offer? Take a look at available outdoor and pet accessories!

Although the new Kona offers a decent set of amenities like heated seating, 12.3-inch screens, wireless device charging, wifi hotspot support, and so on, the Kicks offers much of the same. And while the Kona has a unique look compared to the rest of the Hyundai lineup for this model year, it’s still nothing quite like the Kicks which proudly sports a theme that’s never been done before.

Bottom Line

The Kona is a decent car with a cute look and a decent array of features, but the 2025 Nissan Kicks still outdoes it with a completely unique theme on top of amazing features. The best part? You can get a better experience for a lower starting price, and that’s simply hard to beat.

Take the 2025 Nissan Kicks for a Test Drive!

Find your perfect compact SUV at Maus Nissan New Port Richey! Call our team at (727) 999-6287 to ask about the new 2025 Nissan Kicks, or browse our new inventory online to see what’s currently available near you.