Hyundai's compact Kona is blurring the lines between hot-hatch and SUV, with a 175hp turbocharged engine, AWD, and nearly the same dimensions as a Ford Focus ST. Other than the elevated ride height, it would be hard to call the Kona an SUV, but that is where Hyundai has classified it.
Styling-wise the Kona didn't really impress me, it is not as refined-looking as its less expensive sibling the Hyundai Venue, and honestly fairly boring compared to the forthcoming Hyundai Tucson. It's not that the Kona is bad looking, it just looks like a car you would get from the airport car rental on your family vacation to Florida. I will say the two-tone versions to look more sporty, especially in the Surf Blue. Inside there is a lot of plastic, but it has plenty of room for four adults, and the Limited trim level I was testing did include nice features like automatic climate control, fog lamps, sunroof, heated leather seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. The Limited trim also includes the Infinity premium sound system with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
Stepping up to the Ultimate trim level for an additional $1,850 yields smart cruise control, forward collision avoidance assist, Blue Link guidance, a 1 inch larger touch screen, auto-dimming headlamps, and the heads-up display.
The Kona is offered with two powertrains, the lower trim levels make do with the 147hp four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic, it is fine but uninspiring. Limited and above trim levels, like our tester, get the 175hp turbocharged four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive make the Kona a lot of fun to drive, both on the road and on the backcountry roads of rural Texas. This is where the hot-hatch personality of the Kona comes to life, offering surprisingly crisp handling, great stability, and great control even on loose surfaces. The only room for improvement in my opinion would be more responsive steering, but for an "SUV" the Kona is a lot of fun to drive.
As a practical daily driver the Kona ticks all the boxes, especially in the Limited or Ultimate trim levels, it is comfortable enough, averaged over 30 mph, is easy to park, and offers enough room for most activities. For drivers coming from a hatchback or compact car, the interior and cargo space will seem generous, but if you are coming from a slightly larger SUV it might feel a bit claustrophobic. Folding down the back seat and removing the package tray does offer a lot of room and I was able to deliver a large chair to my parent's house with room to spare.
The Kona we tested had an MSRP just under $29,000, putting it in the ballpark of the Ford EcoSport and Honda HR-V similarly equipped. Hyundai does offer a 10-year powertrain warranty and three years or 36,000 miles of factory-schedule maintenance which does stand out from other non-luxury carmakers. Hyundai also recently announced a Limited Production Kona Night Edition Features a stylish blackout treatment based on the Ultimate trim level, the Night Edition will be arriving at dealers in September 2021.
With a great warranty, practical design, and still managing to be fun to drive, the Koan is a great choice for a daily driver, offering a lot of content for under $30,000. For more visit hyundaiusa.com.
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