The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kona have been honoured with the 2025 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards. The IONIQ 5 SUV has claimed Kelley Blue Book’s Best Electric Vehicle award for the third consecutive year. At the same time, the Kona has taken home the award for Best Subcompact SUV for the second straight year.
Now in their eleventh year, Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards are among the industry’s most trusted and sought-after accolades, the product of a year’s worth of testing involving nearly every new model available in the U.S. by KBB’s editorial staff.
The veteran team’s evaluation criteria include conclusions drawn from hands-on vehicle testing, pricing, ownership cost analysis, consumer reviews, and sales data. Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kona won by excelling in technology, safety, and driving dynamics.
“Incredibly thankful that the IONIQ 5 and Kona again have been recognized by KBB as top models in their categories. It’s great to see those models get the love they deserve,” said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America. “The team worked to ensure that both vehicles aligned with our customer values and lifestyle – tech-forward, design-savvy, and sustainability-conscious. IONIQ 5 delivers electric mobility with futuristic design and ultra-fast charging, while Kona delivers a bold, urban-friendly experience with style, innovation, and efficiency.”
“Sporting contemporary and innovative styling, the 2025 Hyundai Kona continues its reign as our subcompact Best Buy; however, it’s not simply its head-turning good looks that revs our engine. We are impressed with every aspect of this scrappy SUV, in which the finished product is greater than the sum of its many qualities. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a practical compact SUV that excels at carrying families and their gear and is fully electric. It comes with an impressive amount of standard features and sound tech, all at a reasonable price,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book.