The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer offers spunky style, a spacious interior, and plenty of desirable features at a reasonable price. Facelifted for last year, it’s fresh and brimming with advanced technology.
Redesigned for last year, the Hyundai Kona sports an ultra-modern design and a pair of engine choices. Bigger in every dimension, the Kona offers spacious legroom, a surprising amount of cargo space, many popular standard features, and lots of up-to-date tech.
Let’s see how these subcompact SUVs compare.
2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is offered in four trims with a choice of a turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower or a turbo 1.3-liter 3-cylinder with 155 hp. Front-wheel drive (FWD) with a continuously variable automatic transmission is standard. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on any trim, which automatically includes the 155-horsepower engine and a traditional 9-speed automatic.
The Trailblazer interior is surprisingly roomy despite the vehicle’s small footprint, and a comprehensive safety suite is complemented by wireless smartphone integration. Its standard gear includes an 11-inch infotainment screen, an HD backup camera, push-button start, and cruise control. Pricing starts at $24,395, including the factory-to-dealer destination fee.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Highlights
Off-road trim: The more rugged Trailblazer Activ includes off-road-ready tires and suspension, plus a front skid plate. It also adds exterior cues like black roof rails, dual exhaust tips, unique 17-inch wheels, LED taillights, and a different grille. The Kona lineup lacks a trim focusing on outdoor adventure.
Fold-flat front seat: The Trailblazer can fit longer-than-average cargo because its front passenger seat folds flat, allowing items up to 8.5 feet long to be stored inside. This is a boon for anyone who needs to haul longer cargo. We’re looking at you, surfers.
SUV looks: With its more upright stance and Chevy family design details, the Trailblazer appeals to the traditional SUV lover. The Kona’s futuristic looks and rounded edges give it a vibe more hatchback than SUV.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer models for sale near you.
2025 Hyundai Kona
Available in four trims, the Hyundai Kona comes with either a 147-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine (and a continuously variable automatic transmission) or a peppier 190-hp 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine (and a conventional 8-speed automatic). Hyundai also offers the fully electric Kona Electric.
In standard form, the entire Kona lineup arrives with front-wheel drive; however, all-wheel drive is available on any model. The Kona’s offers additional rear legroom and cargo space compared with its previous generation. A modern continuous glass panel encompasses the driver information and infotainment systems, while over-the-air software updates are available to keep tech current. Standard safety features include extras like a driver attention monitor, a rear seat reminder, and a passenger safe exit warning. Pricing starts at $25,745, with the destination fee.
Hyundai Kona Highlights
Max cargo space: With the rear seats folded, the Kona has better than average space for the class and almost 10 cubic feet more space than the Trailblazer. For reference, that’s almost two barrels’ worth of extra room. Or almost 75 gallons of milk or water.
Punchier engine option: The more powerful of the Kona’s two engines is a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, making 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to hustle the subcompact SUV from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds — noticeably quicker than a Trailblazer with its optional 155-hp engine.
Longer warranty: It doesn’t get any better than Hyundai’s industry-leading pair of warranties: five years or 60,000 miles for bumper-to-bumper basic coverage and 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Chevy offers the usual three years or 36,000 miles of basic coverage, plus five years or 60,000 miles for powertrain coverage.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see 2025 Hyundai Kona models for sale near you.
Similarities
Both SUVs are built in South Korea; both offer all-wheel drive; both have the same amount of passenger and cargo room with rear seats up; and both have fairly similar fuel economy.
Pricing
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The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and New 2025 Hyundai Kona vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer | 2025 Hyundai Kona | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 1.2-liter turbo 3-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm |
| Torque | 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT automatic | CVT automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Economy | 30 city/31 highway/30 combined mpg | 29 city/34 highway/31 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 1.3-liter turbo 3-cylinder; 9-speed automatic; AWD | 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder; 8-speed automatic; AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 5 stars | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 104.0 inches | 104.7 inches |
| Overall Length | 174.1 inches | 172.6 inches |
| Width | 71.2 inches | 71.9 inches |
| Height | 64.7 inches | 62.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.3 feet | 34.8 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.0 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.4 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 39.0 inches | 38.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.4 inches | 56.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 53.8 inches | 55.2 inches |
| Cargo Volume, rear seats up/down | 25.3/54.3 cubic feet | 25.5/63.7 cubic feet |
Conclusion
The 2024 Chevy Trailblazer offers just about everything a subcompact SUV buyer needs at a reasonable price. The Chevy has more traditional yet still-modern styling with a bigger variety of interesting 2-tone color options to play with. It’s spacious for its size and offers a good deal of updated tech and safety equipment. Buyers looking to make an occasional light off-road excursion or carry long items may find the Trailblazer better suits their needs. Moreover, its starting price is more than $1,000 less than the Kona.
A year after a full redesign, the 2024 Hyundai Kona benefits from having the latest and greatest tech and styling, with a cargo space exceeding that of many competitors. If you intend to keep it for a while, the Kona’s stronger engine, generous equipment, high level of overall sophistication, and unbeatable warranty make a solid argument.
