2025 Chevy Trax vs 2025 Hyundai Kona

• 2025 Chevy Trax

  

  Starting at

  $20,500^[a]

  2025 Hyundai Kona

  

  Starting at

  $24,450

  Yes	Teen Driver Technology	No
  Yes	Rear Seat Reminder	No
  Yes	OnStar Services Capable	No

  Although there is a lot to be said for the power and functionality of large SUVs, for many of us a smaller vehicle is the perfect choice. This is a big part of why subcompact SUVs have become so popular in the last couple decades because they provide you with excellent functionality and a spacious interior without threatening to take over your life. Choosing the right small SUV can be tricky, however, which is why we like to look at just one or two models at a time to be able to clearly see what each has to offer. Comparing the 2025 Chevy Trax vs 2025 Hyundai Kona, for example, quickly reveals that while the Kona has a lot to offer, the price of the Trax and the value it represents simply cannot be beat.

  Price is going to be the guiding principle as we look at these two vehicles because it is where the Chevy Trax thrives in a way that the Kona does not. Looking at standard power and performance, the Trax comes with a turbocharged 1.2L engine that delivers 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, while the Kona starts with a 2.0L engine with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. You will likely never feel such a small difference in horsepower, but that significant difference in torque is more noteworthy and it helps make the Trax incredibly fun to drive. The fact that you get this sporty, nimble performance at a much lower starting price is a huge value for you as a driver. These kinds of differences continue when looking at these two vehicles.

  The biggest thing to consider is that you can actually get the highest trims of the Chevy Trax, like the ACTIV model, for about the same price as the starting Hyundai Kona—perhaps even slightly less. So while the Kona has some impressive features like a standard 12.3-inch infotainment display, other starting details like a 4.2-inch digital gauge cluster and six-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat are underwhelming for the price. You can spend the same amount to get the highest Trax trim, featuring an eight-inch color Driver Information Center display, heated front seats with an eight-way power driver’s seat, and much more. And while both of these vehicles have excellent standard and available safety features, the Chevy Trax goes further with options like the Teen Driver system that you will not find on the Hyundai Kona.

• Engine/Exterior Features

  

  Engine Options

  Although you are probably not looking for massive power in a subcompact SUV, it should still be fun to drive and reward you when you are on the road. That all starts with the engine, so you want to carefully consider the kind of powertrain you get in any vehicle. Looking at the 2025 Chevy Trax, it features a 1.2L turbocharged I-3 engine that delivers 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the 2.0L I-4 engine of the 2025 Hyundai Kona offers 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. We prefer the greater torque of the Equinox for a better time on the road; Hyundai offers a more powerful available engine, but only on higher trims at a much greater price.

  Exterior Features

  Looking at the standard Kona with its starting features, it has 17-inch wheels along with LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and standard automatic headlights. Basic body-color side mirrors are standard, and while higher trims come with heated side mirrors, you cannot get them on the starting model. Overall, these features are fine, but not what we would expect considering how much higher the starting price of this model is.

  By comparison, the standard Chevy Trax also has 17-inch wheels with LED headlamps, including automatic on and off functionality, plus side mirrors with black caps that are power adjustable. If you go up to something like the 2RS trim, then you get stunning 19-inch wheels, Black exterior details, and heated power-adjustable side mirrors at a price right around what the Hyundai Kona starts at. This gives you terrific features to enjoy no matter what your budget looks like, whereas the Kona holds back a lot unless you pay much more.

• Interior Tech

  

  When looking at an SUV, few things are as important as the kinds of features you find inside of it since this dictates the experience you have with your vehicle each day. Both the Chevy Trax and Hyundai Kona have a lot to offer, but what you get with them varies based on their different trim levels, as you would expect. The key, however, is in their price difference: you can choose from a wide range of upgrades for the Trax while sticking to a budget that would be impossible for the Kona, or just get to the starting features that Hyundai offers.

  The Trax Offers More Desirable Tech for Less

  For example, the standard Trax LS model comes with an eight-inch infotainment display with support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a four-speaker sound system, cloth seating inside, and a 3.5-inch Driver Information Center screen. Remote keyless entry and a single-zone climate control system are also standard. But if you go up to something like the LT trim level, then you get an 11-inch infotainment display, a six-speaker sound system, and an eight-inch color Driver Information Center display at a price lower than the Kona starts at. The ACTIV trim takes things even further with heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, and a wrapped and heated steering wheel.

  Must-Have Tech Will Cost You With the Kona

  For about the same price as the ACTIV, the starting Hyundai Kona features a 12.3-inch Infotainment display, which is arguably its most impressive feature. A rather underwhelming 4.2-inch digital gauge cluster display is standard, much smaller than what you can get with the Trax, along with standard air conditioning, and cloth seating with a six-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat. There are nicer options available for the Kona, like heated front seats and a bigger cluster display, but the price for such features is higher than any Trax model.

• Safety Technology

  

  The most important thing any vehicle can do is help keep you safe when you are on the road. Flashy interior features and big, bold wheels are all meaningless if your vehicle does not help protect you. Fortunately, both Chevy and Hyundai understand that, so you will find a great selection of standard safety features on these SUVs. The Trax gives you a lot at a much lower price, however, and has some unique types of tech that you will not find on the Hyundai Kona.

  The Kona's SmartSense Suite

  For starters, the Kona comes with numerous SmartSense features including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection, plus Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist all standard. It also has a Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, and a Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Warning. Other features like a Blind-Spot View Monitor, Rear Distance Warning, and Highway Driving Assist are available but not standard. This is all just fine, except you get many similar systems on the Trax at a more attractive starting price.

  The Trax's Standard Chevy Safety Assist Package and Teen Driver Technology

  Every 2025 Chevy Trax comes with Chevy Safety Assist, which includes a Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Front Pedestrian Braking. You also get Lane Keep Assist with a Lane Departure Warning, a Following Distance Indicator, and IntelliBeam auto high beams all standard on every model. One of our favorite features is the Teen Driver system that comes standard on the Trax; this lets you set restrictions for a young driver like maximum speed and radio volume restrictions. There is even an in-vehicle report card that you can check to see how your teen driver is doing, making it easier to build good habits.

Check Out the 2025 Chevy Trax Today