There are quite a number of small crossover SUVs on the market. But none stand out as much as the 2025 Hyundai Kona N-Line, for its spacious and practical interior, and the 2025 Mazda CX-30, for its premium feel and driving demeanor. Pitted against each other, which one is better?
Performance
Engine – Starting with the Mazda CX-30, it’s the “old dog” in this comparison because it hasn’t seen any major changes since it was introduced in 2019. It is still available with a naturally aspirated or turbocharged version of a 2.5L 4-cylinder. This GT demo vehicle came with the turbo engine which can develop up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque (186 kW & 434 Nm) when it uses premium fuel. With regular fuel, the turbo engine produces 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque (169 kW & 420 Nm). Granted, it’s the fairest comparison against the Kona N-Line as its turbocharged engine doesn’t produce anywhere near the same power figures. A fairer comparison would be the naturally aspirated version of the 2.5L 4-cylinder as that engine produces 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque (142 kW & 252 Nm). But back to the turbo engine, it is a riot in a vehicle that tips the scales at 1,598 kg (3,522 lbs). It’s almost like a hot hatch. There’s a slight hint of turbo lag but it quickly goes away and you get pushed back into the seat with a good amount of force. Additionally, it makes some nice noises that are unique to Mazda.
In the Hyundai Kona, the 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder produces 190 hp & 195 lb-ft of torque (142 kW & 264 Nm). That is quite a bit less than the CX-30 Turbo but it’s enough for everyday driving situations. It quickly gets off the line, it accelerates with ease onto a highway and it doesn’t struggle too much (when fully loaded) while driving up a steep hill. The standard 2.0L naturally aspirated engine is one I’d avoid in the Kona because it barely produces 150 hp and even less torque.
Fuel Economy – With the extra power of the turbocharged engine in the Mazda CX-30, it is by far the thirstier of the two. Officially it is rated for 10.5 L/100km (22.4 MPG) in a city and 7.9 L/100km (29.7 MPG) on a highway. I averaged 10.1 L/100km (23.3 MPG) during my time with the car which involved mostly city driving.
In the Hyundai Kona N-Line, the 1.6L turbo engine is rated for 9.4 L/100km (25 MPG) in a city and 8.4 L/100km (28 MPG) on a highway. Better yet, it is possible to get as low as 6.5 L/100km on highways if you’re gentle with the throttle. As a result, I managed to average 8 L/100km (29.4 MPG) during my time with the Kona N-Line which did involve a bit more highway than city driving.
Transmission – With the Mazda not receiving any big updates for a while, it still relies on a 6-speed automatic transmission. Though it doesn’t have as many gears as other modern transmissions, this 6-speed automatic is smooth and quick to change gears. Mazda has refined it in this CX-30, and other vehicles, over the years to become one of the best 6-speed automatics around.
The big news with the Kona N-line is that it no longer uses the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission of the older generation. In its place is a new 8-speed automatic. This new transmission has far less hesitancy as the old 7-speed DCT. It’s also smooth to change gears but not quite as responsive as the 6-speed in the Mazda CX-30.
Braking – Stopping the 2025 Mazda CX-30 Turbo takes little effort as the brakes provide a lot of stopping force. There is a bit of pitch in the body when braking really hard but the crossover stays straight & true.
Though this is a more sporty looking version of the Kona, the N-Line’s brakes are not some crazy race derived setup with 12-piston front calipers. They’re just regular brakes that provide plenty of stopping power with a good, firm feeling pedal.
Handling – The CX-30 shines when it goes around corners. Mazda vehicles are known for being the more sporty options among mainstream auto manufacturers and this CX-30 is no different. Steering weight and feel is well balanced for everyday commuting but it also feels communicative if that commute happens to go through a twisty mountain road. The suspension also resists more body roll and reduces bounces over large potholes or road undulations.
By comparison, this 2025 Hyundai Kona N-Line doesn’t feel as enjoyable to toss from corner to corner when you find yourself on a twisty road. It has grown over the previous generation and the extra heft makes the car a bit lazier than it was before. But with its increased footprint, it feels stable through the turns and it can handle the mid-corner bumps without getting out of shape. In Canada, this N-Line version is equipped with standard AWD. It’s not a particularly sophisticated AWD system but it does allow you to lock the center differential and send equal amounts of torque to the front & rear wheels.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – With the longer wheelbase and softer suspension, the Kona N-Line rides almost like a compact SUV. It’s not all perfect with quick, sharp potholes at highway speeds being very evident as the 19” wheels drive over them. But on city streets with more moderate sized potholes or manhole covers, the suspension copes well.
By comparison, the stiffer suspension of the Mazda CX-30 Turbo doesn’t isolate the cabin quite as much from road bumps as the Kona. It’s by no means an uncomfortable ride, but the ride quality is noticeable between the two models.
Having said that, I found the seats in the Mazda CX-30 to be a bit more comfortable than those of the Hyundai Kona. They feel a bit more plush and supportive on those long commutes to and from work.
Interior Space – With this 2025 Kona being bigger than before, you do get more passenger and cargo space. However, you won’t really notice the increase in size while sitting in the front seats. These seats provide an almost identical amount of legroom with the previous generation having a tiny bit more headroom. However, at 6’4”, I did not have any issues with headroom in the new one.
It’s in the back seats where the longer wheelbase of the 2025 Kona is most evident. Sitting behind my seating position in the old Kona was a nightmare. It is sunshine and daisies by comparison in the new Kona. I have just the right amount of legroom and headroom behind my taller than average seating position. Additionally, the backrests can recline a little bit which provides a tiny bit more headroom. There is a center armrest with 2 cupholders.
The trunk also benefits from the larger size of the Kona. It can accommodate 723 L (25.5 cu-ft) of space behind the back row and 1,803 L (63.7 cu-ft) with the 60/40 rear seats folded. There is some space underneath the floor but the Kona N-Line does not have a spare wheel. Instead, it’s a tire mobility kit.
Because the CX-30 is basically a raised Mazda 3, the proportions on the inside are quite similar. However, compared to the Hyundai Kona, the CX-30 is significantly smaller. Occupants won’t notice the size difference if they’re sitting in the front. The CX-30 has identical legroom but just slightly less headroom than the Hyundai.
It’s in the back seats where the CX-30 shows just how small it is compared to the Hyundai Kona. for my tall height of 6’4”, I had a very uncomfortable seating position behind the driver’s seat. There’s very little legroom and I could feel my hair brushing against the headliner.
It’s a similar story in the trunk. The CX-30 has 572 L (20.2 cu-ft) behind the rear seats and 1,280 L (45.2 cu-ft) with those 2nd row seats folded. Under the trunk floor, the Mazda CX-30 is equipped with a temporary spare wheel.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The 2025 Hyundai Kona N-Line has a generally quiet cabin. Most outside noises don’t intrude too much on the inside thanks to the sound deadening materials used throughout and the acoustic windshield. But predictably, if you rev up the engine, it is very evident.
The cabin of the CX-30 is very well insulated from outside noises as well. Engine, wind, and tire noises are very well subdued whether you’re in city traffic or on a highway at 100 km/h. The isolated feeling that the CX-30 gives you makes the crossover feel like the premium product that Mazda is aiming for.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Predictably, the 2025 Hyundai Kona has a lower starting price than the 2025 Mazda CX-30. The Kona starts at $26,749 CAD ($24,550 USD) while the CX-30 starts at $29,300 CAD ($25,195 USD). Granted, in Canada the Kona is available as a FWD model while the CX-30 comes standard with AWD.
At the other end of the price spectrum, the Kona N-Line starts at $36,699 CAD ($29,550 USD) while the CX-30 GT starts at $38,200 CAD ($32,340 USD). Add on the Ultimate package for $3,000 CAD on the Kona N-Line and the Turbo powertrain in the CX-30 and both cars are roughly around the $40,000 CAD mark. The Kona N-Line Ultimate would be $39,699 CAD ($31,100 USD) and the CX-30 GT Turbo would be $40,600 CAD ($37,150 USD).
Gadgets – With the $40,000 CAD price tag of each crossover, they are equipped with a lot of the same convenience features but there are some differences. They both have heated front seats and heated steering wheels, power sunroofs, dual-zone automatic climate controls, power driver’s seat, and surround view cameras. The latter of which are available as you move up in the trim levels.
Some features that differentiate these two include a head-up display in the CX-30 along with full leather upholstery and a power liftgate. The Kona N-Line does not have these features but instead it can be equipped with ventilated front seats.
As for the infotainments, both support wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto. The Mazda has an 8.8-inch screen while the Kona has a 12.3-inch screen. In the Mazda, the native infotainment system is controlled by the rotary knob and buttons on the center console. I think it’s fine because this system was designed to function with the rotary dial. But once CarPlay or Android Auto are active, then you can use the screen as a touchscreen. However, for some it may be a bit of a stretch. In the Kona, the screen is a touchscreen and the native infotainment system is intuitive to use. The home screen widgets can be rearranged to your liking and there are quick access functions with a swipe from the top.
Interior Design – Of the two, the Mazda CX-30 has a nicer feeling and looking interior design. The buttons and knobs for the different controls have a premium feel that the Kona does not match. There’s also leather and soft plastics across the dashboard, door panels, and center console with only the lower portions of the cabin being made up of hard plastics.
The Kona’s cabin is not as pretty to look at but it is functional. It too uses physical knobs and buttons and has not switched to touchscreen controls. There are more plastics throughout the cabin and in high touchpoint areas.
Exterior Design – The overall shape of the 2025 Mazda CX-30 is similar to that of the Mazda 3. It has a similar grille, headlights, taillights, and egg-like hatch shape. But to make it look more like a crossover, Mazda decided to put a lot of plastic cladding along the lower parts of the CX-30. This plastic cladding just looks cheap and doesn’t give the CX-30 that premium look that Mazda is going for with their vehicles. The ride height is fine because it makes getting in and out a bit easier than the Mazda 3 but they should have just left it at that without all the plastics.
The 2025 Kona looks nothing like the previous generation and this N-Line further looks different than the standard Kona. It can be equipped with a split rear spoiler, LED light bars both in the front and back, dual offset exhaust pipes, and a unique front bumper. Personally, I like the look of this Kona N-Line more so than the CX-30 but it’s too bad it doesn’t have the same sporty driving dynamics of its looks.
Safety – Both crossovers come equipped with the vast majority of safety & driver aids that are available on each vehicle. But there are just a few features that are only available on higher spec trims. In the Mazda, traffic sign recognition, front & rear parking sensors, head-up display, surround view cameras, and cruise & traffic support are only available on the GT and Suna trims. In the Kona, remote parking assist, highway driving assist, blind view monitor, surround view monitor, front, rear and side parking distance warning, and reverse parking collision avoidance are only available on the N-Line with the Ultimate package. These packaging options are for the Canadian market.
Warranty – Mazda offers a very unique industry warranty for all of their vehicles but it’s only for Canadian customers. The 2025 Mazda CX-30 GT is covered by a 3 year / unlimited km basic warranty and a 5 year / unlimited powertrain warranty. Unfortunately this unlimited km warranty is not available in the United States. In the U.S.A, the warranty is more “normal” at 3 year / 36,000 mile basic & 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranties. For more info on Canadian warranty, click here. For more info on U.S.A. warranty, click here.
As for the 2025 Hyundai Kona N-Line, it is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty. In the United States, the basic warranty is 5 years / 60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – In the end, although both crossovers compete against each other, they are very different from one another. The Kona is a more practical and comfortable daily commuter. The CX-30 provides a more engaging driving experience with a premium feeling cabin. Which one is better? That depends on what your needs are. Personally, I prefer a good drive so I’d go for the Mazda even though it doesn’t offer as much interior space as the Kona. But it would be enough for my lifestyle.
Thank you to Mazda Canada for providing the CX-30 GT. www.Mazda.ca
Thank you to Hyundai Canada for providing the Kona N-Line. www.HyundaiCanada.com
2025 Hyundai Kona N-Line Gallery
2025 Mazda CX-30 GT Turbo Gallery
