Comparing the Buick Envista and Hyundai Kona in 2025

Similar in price and size, the 2025 iterations of the Buick Envista and Hyundai Kona have some things in common, but many other things differentiate them, setting one clearly ahead in terms of features and overall performance. When looking at the latest Buick Envista for sale versus the Hyundai Kona, you’ll see that both small SUVs are reasonably priced and can comfortably seat up to five passengers.

The base model of the 2025 Buick Envista offers a turbocharged engine standard, distinguishing itself from the Hyundai Kona, which has a turbocharged engine option only as a premium upgrade. The Envista also offers remote start as a standard feature with the 2025 model—an option that is not available in the Kona. Continue reading to see for yourself all of the differences between the 2025 Buick Envista and the 2025 Hyundai Kona.

Size and Design Objectively Prove Supremacy

The 2025 Buick Envista offers the sleek styling of a coupe with the passenger space and cargo room of an SUV. The 2025 Envista is more spacious than the Kona, with its exterior measuring 182.6 inches in length compared to the Kona’s 171.3 inches. This translates to the Envista’s larger wheelbase, measuring 106.3 inches in length compared to the Kona’s 104.7 inches, which means slightly easier handling. For an overall smoother ride, you’ll want the Buick Envista.

Both of these 2025 models start with 17-inch wheels, though the Kona has alloy while the Envista has aluminum; both also rise to 18-inch and 19-inch wheels with each major step in trim level. Like all Buicks, the Envista utilizes computer-generated noise cancellation technology to reduce intrusive road noise and vibrations heard inside the car, even when traveling at higher speeds; the Kona offers no such feature. The Envista can also come with an optional moonroof on any trim; the Kona has a sunroof, but it’s only available on the highest two trims.

Performance Stats Indicate Stark Difference

The Buick Envista and Hyundai Kona both come standard in front-wheel drive. A turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine powers the Envista, giving it 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The Kona is powered by a 2.0L I-4 engine that makes 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. The Kona does have a slight advantage in power, but it has an obvious disadvantage in regard to torque. The Kona’s second engine option—exclusive to its two N Line trims and the top-tier Limited—is a turbocharged 1.6L I-4 that makes 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, but you’d be looking at almost 50% more than the price of a base Envista to get those stats.

Buick has the edge when it comes to fuel efficiency. The 2025 Envista is specialized for asphalt travel, so it only has front-wheel drive, which helps it to get 28 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway (for 30 MPG combined). The Kona is available in either front- or all-wheel drive, but only one of its configurations (the 2.0L I-4 in FWD) manages to beat the Envista’s fuel economy figures—and then only by a measly 1 MPG combined. The Buick Envista is the better vehicle for everyday commuting and driving around town, saving its driver more money at the gas pump.

Contrasting Passengers’ Comfort and Safety

The interior space for both of these models is rather similar in its dimensions, giving plenty of legroom to passengers in both the front and back, though the Envista has a marginally more spacious rear row. If you need more space for cargo, the Envista’s second row can fold down or even be removed entirely. Buick’s most obvious advantage over the Hyundai Kona, however, is that it brings luxury to the 2025 Envista, such as with leatherette seats and a power liftgate. Neither of these are options in the 2025 Kona, which is available in cloth-upholstered seats, save for the top-tier Limited, which gets a synthetic cloth merely trimmed in leatherette.

Buick and Hyundai both put some serious consideration into safety features when designing these two models. Both come standard with lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and a backup camera in an effort to reduce accidents. The 2025 Buick Envista also comes standard with emergency automatic braking and hill start assist, which the Kona doesn’t have; the Envista comes standard with parking sensors, too, which the Kona reserves for higher trims. As for passive safety features, both offer front, side, and curtain airbags, but the Envista offers far more protection for rear passengers.

Winning Infotainment and Convenience Tech

Buick had a clear focus on technology in the 2025 Envista. Automatic climate control is standard, as opposed to the Hyundai Kona, which offers manual climate control only. While the 2025 Kona’s standard touchscreen is slightly larger at 12.3 inches compared to the 2025 Envista’s 11 inches, Buick distinguishes itself with a standard in-car Wi-Fi hotspot not seen in the Hyundai model until the highest trims. Both models are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and have Bluetooth capabilities.

Another way the Envista stands out from the Kona is with standard heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, which isn’t standard on the Kona unless you upgrade. For Buick, the luxury is really in the small details that went into designing this 2025 model. The Envista’s power-controlled windows lower with one touch; the Kona’s power windows do not have this feature standard. The 2025 Envista also offers an option for an exterior PIN entry system—another feature that is not available in the Kona. However, both models do offer keyless entry and start.

Available Trims Distinguish One Over the Other

The 2025 Buick Envista again differentiates itself from the Hyundai Kona, this time in regard to the trim levels. The base trim of the Envista has significantly more standard features than the Kona’s base trim. Available in three distinct trims, Buick put plenty of thought into making sure that even the base version of the 2025 Envista is an excellent car loaded with luxury features that drivers will appreciate.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona is available in six trim levels. However, the lower trim levels have nominal standard features, forcing buyers to move up the trim ladder and increase the overall price of the vehicle to get to the same quality and quantity of goodies that the Envista grants to all buyers. Drivers appreciate having so many extra features come standard with even the base trims, as seen in the Buick Envista.

Experience the 2025 Buick Envista for Yourself

To really experience the brilliance of the 2025 Buick Envista, you would need to see this SUV in person. Taking the 2025 Envista for a test drive will allow the distinctions, perks, and luxury features that come standard in this model to speak for themselves. Anyone considering either of these two 2025 models should plan a visit to Jim Ellis Buick GMC Mall of Georgia to experience all that the 2025 Buick Envista has to offer.

Driving this great compact SUV will leave you convinced that this Buick model distinguishes itself from all others on the market, including the 2025 Hyundai Kona. Stop by Jim Ellis Buick GMC Mall of Georgia to test-drive a 2025 Buick Envista today.