The Hyundai Kona SEL is the perfect SUV trim for anyone seeking an affordable yet sleek and tech-savvy vehicle in 2025. Not only did the Kona family see a redesign in 2024, but the SEL has more to offer than ever before. The Kona is currently in its second generation, and the SEL model is a step up from the base SE. If you want more standard features for a price point of around $26,000, the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL could be the perfect option for you this year. In this post, we will get into all of the specifications of the Kona SEL, including design, safety, performance, fuel economy, and price, so stick around!
What's New for 2025?
Because the Hyundai Kona just saw a dramatic overhaul a year ago in 2024, you can consider the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL a carryover vehicle. The SEL expands to two options: the SEL and the SEL Convenience, which combines the previous year's SEL with the Convenience Package. Outside of more options in the mid-tier of the Kona, nothing is expected to change.
Exterior Design
To start with the outside design of the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL, you get added features compared to the base trim. These include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED Projector Combination headlights, LED Combination tail lights, body-color side mirrors, Heated side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, black body cladding, active grille shutters, black roof rails, and body-colored door handles.
For the dimensions of the Kona SEL's exterior, these are:
- Wheelbase: 104.7 inches
- Length: 171.3 inches
- Width: 71.9 inches
- Height FWD/AWD: 62.4 / 63.4 inches
- Minimum ground clearance FWD/AWD: 6.9 / 8.1 inches
Interior Comfort and Features
The interior comfort and features in the Hyundai Kona SEL are also better than ever, with this SUV offering comfortable seating for up to five passengers. You have things like standard cloth seat materials, an 8-way power driver seat, a 60/40 split fold-down seat back with adjustable head restraint and 2-stage recline, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Cruise Control, dual front and rear USB outlets, a Rear View Monitor (RVM) with parking guidance, and up to 126.7 cubic feet of interior volume with this vehicle. There should be enough space for whatever you need to transport between points A and B.
2025 Hyundai Kona SEL Pricing
The price for the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL is competitive. For this model year, the starting MSRP is $25,900, making it an affordable yet semi-luxury option in terms of what you get standard. For context, the average SUV of this size is $29,800, making the Kona SEL a great value alternative.
Hyundai Kona SEL vs. Other Trims
To compare the Hyundai Kona SEL to its other trim levels, you have something for every budget and taste level. As a reminder, this year's Kona is available in six trims: SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, N Line S, N Line, and Limited. Of these, the SE and SEL are on the more affordable side, with the SEL Convenience and N Line S being a middle ground and the N Line and Limited being higher priced.
SE
Starting MSRP: $24,550
- FWD: 29 City/34 Hwy/31 Combined
- AWD: 27 City/29 Hwy/28 Combined
- 147-hp 2.0L MPI 4-cylinder engine
- 12.3-inch touchscreen display
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Wireless Apple CarPlay® integration for your iPhone®
- Proximity Key with push-button start
SEL
Starting MSRP: $25,900
- FWD: 28 City/35 Hwy/31 Combined
- AWD: 26 City/29 Hwy/27 Combined
- 147-hp 2.0L MPI 4-cylinder engine
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Roof side rails
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Power driver seat with lumbar
SEL Convenience
Starting MSRP: $28,100
- FWD: 28 City/35 Hwy/31 Combined
- AWD: 26 City/29 Hwy/27 Combined
- 147-hp 2.0L MPI 4-cylinder engine
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch
- 12.3-inch touchscreen display with navigation
- Heated front seats
N Line S
Starting MSRP: $29,550
- FWD: 26 City/32 Hwy/28 Combined
- AWD: 24 City/29 Hwy/26 Combined
- 190-hp 1.6L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine
- N Line Black Alcantara® Sport combination seats
- N Line 19-inch alloy wheels
- N Line interior accents
- N Line exterior accents
N Line
Starting MSRP: $31,100
- FWD: 26 City/32 Hwy/28 Combined
- AWD: 24 City/29 Hwy/26 Combined
- 190-hp 1.6L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine
- Bose® Premium Audio
- Power tilt-and-slide sunroof
- 12.3-inch touchscreen display with navigation
- Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch
Limited
Starting MSRP: $32,100
- FWD: 26 City/32 Hwy/28 Combined
- AWD: 24 City/29 Hwy/26 Combined
- 190-hp 1.6L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine
- Hands-free smart liftgate with auto-open
- Surround View Monitor (SVM)
- Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)
- Ventilated front seats
Performance and Powertrain
The performance and overall powertrain specifications of the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL are worth mentioning and will be similar to those of the SE and SEL Convenience models. You get a 2.0-liter I4 engine producing 147 horsepower, paired with a 1-speed CVT transmission and Front Wheel Drive (FWD). However, with the SEL trim, you do have the optional HTRAC All-Wheel Drive (AWD), which is a nice upgrade if you prefer that driving style and capability.
Bonus: The 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL comes with standard Shift-by-Cable w/ SHIFTRONIC® manual shift mode, giving you the feel and drive of a manual system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The safety and driver-assistance features of the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL will be vast. Like every new Hyundai in 2025, the Kona SEL comes standard with a comprehensive suite of SmartSense technology, all wrapped into one safety package.
These safety and driver assistance features include:
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Warning (BCW)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection (FCA-Ped) and Cyclist Detection
- Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
- Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
- Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
- High Beam Assist (HBA)
Hyundai SmartSense
Hyundai SmartSense is a complete safety suite featured in all new Hyundai cars, trucks, and SUVs. That includes being inside the Hyundai Kona SEL trim, and you get plenty of must-have driver-assistance options standard. SmartSense works through sensors, radar, cameras, and alarms, all to give you an extra set of eyes on the road ahead and behind.
The IIHS ranks the 2025 Hyundai Kona a Top Safety Pick+, its highest honor. According to the NHTSA, the Kona receives a four-star rating out of five for overall safety and crashworthiness.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Looking at the infotainment and connectivity of a Hyundai Kona SEL, this five-seater SUV is very high-tech. Of course, the 2024 revamp added a much bigger touchscreen to the Kona family, as well as plenty of additional upgrades to charging, wireless entertainment, and so on.
Here are some infotainment specs to be aware of:
- 12.3-inch touchscreen display
- HD Radio™ and SiriusXM
- Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay®
- Cruise Control
- Dual front USB outlets
- Dual rear USB outlets
- Rear View Monitor (RVM) with parking guidance
- Proximity Key entry with push-button start
- Bluelink® Connected Car System
- Bluetooth® hands-free with wireless audio streaming
- 4.2-inch digital gauge cluster
- 12-volt outlet
Fuel Economy and MPG
The fuel economy and official EPA estimates for the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL are impressive, thanks to its lightweight design and small SUV body style. For the FWD configuration of the SEL, you can achieve up to 31 MPG combined and 28/35 MPG city/highway. In an AWD Kona SEL, you get up to 27 MPG combined and 26/29 city/highway miles.
The total driving range in the front-wheel drive configuration is ~384 miles, and you can expect closer to 335 miles total if you drive an all-wheel Kona SEL. Either way, these MPG figures are impressive, and you shouldn't need to make frequent stops at the gas station.
Warranty Coverage
Hyundai offers one of America's best car warranties, and that is still the truth when shopping for the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL. We will detail each of the warranty periods for this SUV below:
- 5 years/60,000 miles - New Vehicle Limited
- 10 years/100,000 miles - Powertrain Limited
- 7 years/unlimited miles - Anti-perforation
- 5 years/unlimited miles - 24/7 Roadside Assistance
Why Choose the 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL?
There are numerous reasons to opt for a 2025 Hyundai Kona SEL, including its competitive MSRP, impressive safety suite, redesigned interior and exterior, and future-forward infotainment and connectivity suite. The Hyundai Kona has become one of the brand's most beloved compact SUVs, making it an excellent choice for any type of driver. With the SEL, you get more standard features than the SE without paying the price of a higher trim level. This vehicle also has plenty of add-ons and can also be configured as AWD, giving you options when shopping.
Get Your Hyundai Kona at Granite Hyundai
The professional sales team at Granite Hyundai in Somersworth, NH, is always happy to help you with your car, truck, or SUV search. We have a large inventory here at the dealership and can discuss your options for the all-new Hyundai Kona SEL model on-site, seven days a week. Drive safely, and we will be here standing by. We can't wait to help you find the car of your dreams, contact us today!
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