2025 Hyundai Kona Configurations: Trims, Powertrains, and What Sets Each Apart
The 2025 Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover that carries over the fully redesigned platform introduced for 2024. It's offered in multiple trim levels and powertrain configurations — including standard gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric variants — making it one of the more versatile entries in its segment. Understanding how those configurations stack up helps you compare what you're actually getting at each price point.
Powertrain Options: Gas, Hybrid, or Electric
The 2025 Kona is sold in three distinct powertrain versions, each treated somewhat separately in Hyundai's lineup:
Kona (Gas): Powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing approximately 147 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available on select trims.
Kona Hybrid: Uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder combined with an electric motor, producing a combined output of around 141 horsepower. It pairs with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and is front-wheel drive only. The hybrid system is designed to improve fuel efficiency without requiring plug-in charging.
Kona Electric: Powered entirely by an electric motor drawing from an onboard battery pack. Two configurations are generally available — a standard-range version and a long-range version — with estimated EPA ranges that differ significantly between the two. The electric Kona is also offered with all-wheel drive on certain configurations.
These three powertrain lines don't all share the same trim structure, so comparing "equivalent" trims across powertrains requires attention to what's actually included.
2025 Kona Gas Trim Levels
The gasoline Kona offers the broadest trim ladder:
| Trim | Drive | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| SE | FWD | Base model; cloth seats, 8-inch infotainment |
| SEL | FWD or AWD | Adds safety features, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
| N Line | FWD or AWD | Sport styling, 10.25-inch display, paddle shifters |
| Limited | FWD or AWD | Leather seating, larger display, more driver-assist tech |
| XRT | AWD | Off-road-adjacent styling, unique exterior cladding |
The N Line is a styling and feature package, not a performance upgrade in the traditional sense — the engine remains the same 2.0-liter unit. It's worth noting that distinction if you're comparing it to true performance variants from other brands.
2025 Kona Hybrid Trim Levels
The Hybrid version typically comes in fewer trims than the gas model:
- Blue – Entry-level hybrid trim, FWD
- SEL – Mid-level, adds comfort and tech features
- Limited – Top trim, includes premium audio, additional driver assists
Because the Hybrid is FWD-only, buyers who want AWD capability need to look at either the gas or electric versions.
2025 Kona Electric Trim Levels
The Kona Electric is sold under its own sub-designation and is structured around battery range and drive configuration:
- Standard Range / SE – Smaller battery, front-wheel drive, lower base price
- Long Range / SEL or Limited – Larger battery pack, extended estimated range, available AWD
EPA-estimated range figures for the standard vs. long-range versions differ substantially — the long-range version is generally rated above 260 miles, though exact figures vary and should be verified against the EPA's official fuel economy data for the specific model year and configuration. ⚡
Key Features That Vary Across Trims
Several features appear only on mid or upper trims regardless of powertrain:
- Heated and ventilated front seats — typically Limited only
- Highway Driving Assist 2 — lane centering and adaptive cruise; appears on higher trims
- Bose premium audio — Limited trims
- Heads-up display — not universally available; varies by trim
- Larger 10.25-inch digital cluster — standard on N Line, SEL, and above depending on configuration
Hyundai SmartSense, the brand's suite of standard driver assistance features (forward collision warning, lane keep assist, driver attention warning), is included across most trim levels, including base trims on the gas model.
AWD Availability: Not Universal
All-wheel drive is one of the most significant variables across configurations:
- Gas model: AWD available on SEL, N Line, Limited, and XRT
- Hybrid: FWD only across all trims
- Electric: AWD available on long-range variants
If AWD is a priority — particularly in regions with significant snow or mixed-surface driving — the hybrid configuration closes that option off entirely. 🚗
What the Trim Structure Actually Means for Buyers
The gap between the SE and the Limited in the gas lineup is substantial — not just in features, but in price. The same is true for the Electric, where the battery size and range difference between standard and long-range versions represents a meaningful ownership consideration, especially for those with longer commutes or limited access to public charging.
The Hybrid sits in a middle position: better fuel efficiency than the gas model, no range anxiety concerns, but with the tradeoff of a DCT transmission (which some drivers find different in feel from a traditional automatic) and no AWD option.
Which configuration lines up with how you actually use a vehicle — your commute length, driving environment, budget, access to charging, and how long you plan to keep the car — are the variables that determine which of these configurations makes sense for any given buyer.
