Even though I’ll be driving it half the time, this is for the wife. She wants a car that is 2013 model year or newer, has an SUV ride height, a large LCD screen, a non-black or gray interior (which is difficult to find these days), and is extremely dependable. I’ve been examining every possible import model. Although I enjoy the Mazda CX-5, I would prefer the 2.5L for such a large car, which would significantly increase the price to close to $15k and put it in the 2019 Hyundai Kona price range. I adore the Kona, but the cargo area is a problem. Although it doesn’t appear so little, the listed volume of 20 ft3 is low for a CUV. And although the height is only 61″, it appears to be quite lofty when I pass one in my coupe. The height might be just right, in my opinion. Similar in height but with more cargo room is a first-generation BMW X1.
Total volume isn’t very useful if you’re moving medium to large boxes for work. You need a vehicle that can fold down seats or otherwise accommodate you if you’re moving longer items. If you have children, you can cram a lot of items into smaller places, albeit it frequently necessitates some creative grouping.
Getting in the car and seeing for yourself is the best way to determine whether it is large enough for you. If you can, attempt to fit as much of your usual trash into the car as you can. The dealership shouldn’t have a problem with it as long as it isn’t filthy or potentially harmful.
We frequently travel with our two children and their bags in my coupe. Due to the ample rear leg room in my car, we were able to position two strollers in front of the back seats. Not likely feasible in the Kona.
The cargo area is adequate. I drive a 2019 Hyundai, and my only problem with the trunk is when I have too many grocery bags. If you need additional room for heavier objects, you may fold the center and right passenger seats.
It recently underwent a test drive. The cargo space is adequate unless you frequently need to transport something substantial. It works well as a daily driver for mostly one to two persons carrying grocery bags, etc.
What will you be transporting in it? The Kona is small, but it’s adequate for the majority of people unless you’re traveling with a lot of luggage or really heavy stuff.
It’s compact. Because the trunk is too small, I store my golf clubs in the back seat. In essence, skis don’t fit. It gets better when the seats are folded down, but if you have two car seats in the rear like I do, this is usually not an option.
This is what I’d like, essentially a RAV4 replica but less expensive, however it won’t be available in my country until 2021. In the future, it will undoubtedly be a choice. We’re eventually going to replace my coupe.
It is indeed brief and compact. Do you reside in Australia? If so, have a look at the larger, taller Suzuki Viatara. American citizens, look at the Kia Soul.
In This Article...
Overview
It’s difficult to get caught up in the typical anti-crossover mentality when an SUV offers a driving experience as sharp as the 2022 Hyundai Kona, so we won’t. Simply put, the subcompact Kona is a fantastic package that combines carlike on-road behavior with dramatic appearance, a dash of practicality, and an elevated driving position. We are so impressed with it that we gave it an Editors’ Choice award. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which is admittedly rather sluggish, and a more desirable turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which packs a lot more punch, are the two four-cylinder engines available. In keeping with Hyundai’s value-oriented philosophy, the Kona has a large list of standard equipment that only gets longer as you travel through the more expensive trims—the top couple of which become downright luxury. We believe that the Kona’s compact package and fun-to-drive personality more than make up for its smaller size and lack of some of its larger competitors’ cargo and passenger room. The Kona is one of the smaller options in the subcompact SUV class.
SERPRESULT
The Kona actually only falls short when when compared against class leaders in terms of functionality.
The majority of consumers looking for a small SUV should take into account the Hyundai Kona.
What Can a Hyundai Kona Be Used For?
Although the Hyundai Kona is not an off-road vehicle like a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, it should have more than adequate ground clearance for all of your needs. The Kona was designed to readily manage uneven roads, which are the most frequent problem you’re going to experience in one.
Your car’s undercarriage is one of the most expensive elements to fix, so damage to it can be a hassle.
Therefore, the fact that your car can pass over even the worst-maintained roads should give you some peace of mind. You won’t have to worry about the undercarriage scratching and harming the transmission, gas tank, or anything else at the first sight of a pothole on any but the worst roads.
The CoPilot app isn’t just for purchasing a car; it can also be used to keep track of recalls and receive recommendations on which regular maintenance activities are most crucial.
The Kona should be able to travel on dirt roads and trails as necessary as long as the tires still have sufficient of tread left on them. You ought to be able to drive a little off the beaten road as well. But if you do, you should bear a few things in mind.
When driving on difficult terrain, the lack of an all-wheel powertrain in all Hyundai Konas can significantly affect your sense of control. When going up an incline with a front-wheel drive, weight might shift to the back of the vehicle, giving the front wheels less grip and power to propel you forward.
When driving your Kona off-road or on a dirt road, keep an eye out for any larger pebbles or other objects that can scrape the underneath of your vehicle. If you’re traveling down a well-traveled roadway with ruts that previous users of the road have dug out, you should also pay attention. It’s possible that larger SUVs and trucks with stronger suspensions, larger wheels, and higher ground clearance created those ruts.
The ground clearance of the Kona makes it easier to enter or leave a parking garage. If you’ve ever driven a sports car or sedan that has to be near to the ground for precise steering, you’ve probably wondered aloud whether your car’s bottom will be scraped by a ramp when two of its wheels are on level ground and the other two are still on the hill.
Even some curbs and crossings may have this issue. However, the Hyundai Kona shouldn’t have a problem with this because to its 6.7 inches of ground clearance. Being a subcompact SUV, the Kona’s short wheelbase also helps to mitigate this issue. Compared to vehicles like the Tesla Model S, which has a roughly 117-inch wheelbase, or the massive 134-inch wheelbase of the Chevy Suburban, the distance between the front wheels and the center of the rear wheels is just around 102 inches long.
Even the lowest point of the Kona’s undercarriage would require a fairly steep ramp or high curb due to the close spacing between the wheels and the car’s respectably high ground clearance.
To compile this list of the top used SUVs available for less than $10,000, we took into consideration factors such as cost, dependability, features, and more. Look closely; some of the best used SUVs have been largely forgotten or overlooked.
How is the Kona to operate?
In light of all those available powerplant options, the answer is “it really depends.” However, all Kona models amaze with a surprisingly enjoyable driving experience characterized by neat body control and precisely calibrated handling. Even more so on the N-Line and N, the ride is stiff but in a style that is typical of sporty vehicles. Although there is a lot of road noise, this section is not going to be a peaceful haven.
Although the standard engine’s power isn’t very strong, we’ve found it to be nimble enough and a wonderful complement to the Kona’s generally enjoyable personality. However, we haven’t tested it with the brand-new IVT transmission for 2022, so we can’t say how it will impact the way it delivers power. Hyundai may use a different acronym, but it’s still a CVT, and they don’t often make for better drivers. The 1.6-liter turbo in the 2022 Limited is exactly as powerful as before, and while its DCT occasionally responds slowly when moving forward from a stop (and can even roll a little on slopes), it mainly operates like a typical automatic transmission once moving.
More information about the Kona N can be found in our first drive review, but to put it briefly, it’s a cute little box of joy with laugh-inducing power and, most importantly, a chassis up to the task of controlling it. Despite being a subcompact SUV, the Kona N has the heart and maneuverability of a hot hatch.
With the exception of the N, all gas-powered Konas are as much of a riot to drive as the Kona Electric. You may drive it whatever you like with Eco, Comfort, and Sport drive modes, from an electric commuter to a go-kart. Regenerative braking force can be adjusted using paddles on the rear of the steering wheel. Since you must continue to hold the left paddle in order to stop the car completely without using the brake pedal, there is no setting for pure one-pedal driving. Your real range will, of course, vary depending on your driving habits and the outside temperature, but the 258-mile estimate provides you plenty of leeway before you need to find a plug.
The Hyundai Kona is large.
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The Hyundai Kona is a typical example of a small crossover that sits in between a large hatchback and a small SUV. The Kona, which measures just 166 inches in length, was the automaker’s smallest SUV when it was introduced in 2018, but the even smaller Venue joined it in 2020. Both vehicles, which together replaced the previous Elantra GT hatchback, drive very much like cars. They are very affordable, like many Hyundais, but the Kona offers greater space and power in an eye-catching package. There is also a Kona that is entirely electric, which we examine separately.
For 2022, the Kona receives a significant aesthetic update as well as a specialized high-performance model, the Kona N. Diminutive crossovers are a rapidly expanding and fiercely competitive market sector. The new aesthetics give the car an exterior that is sportier, but the interior has also been redesigned, with a new 10.0-inch digital, adjustable driver information display that has bright, clear graphics and a bigger basic infotainment screen (8.0 inches, up from 7.0 inches).
The Mazda CX-30, Jeep Renegade, Kia Soul, and Buick Encore GX are just a few of the small utes that the Kona competes against. The hot new N provides more speed than Mazda’s CX-30 Turbo, however it lacks the opulent cabin of fast luxury vehicles like the BMW X2 M35i and Mini Countryman John Cooper Works (JCW). Regarding the inside, the Kona’s size does result in trade-offs in the back seat and cargo space. Although it holds its own against smaller rivals, it falls short of somewhat larger compact SUVs like the Volkswagen Taos.
The SE edition of the Kona costs only $22,545 (destination fees included), which makes it incredibly economical, yet even in this small car, the base engine’s 147 horsepower is inadequate. While they are more expensive up front, the 195-horsepower turbocharged engines in the N-Line ($27,095) and Limited ($29,845) are far more gratifying. But having a short wheelbase, the Kona is a fine city car with a smooth ride, despite not being very athletic. The Kona has a $1,500 AWD option, but it doesn’t really alter how the car handles.
With 276 horsepower and a 5.0-second zero to sixty pace, the Kona N is fast. An overboost function can add an additional 10 horsepower for periods of up to 20 seconds. The N has a stronger body construction, standard all-wheel drive, and a significantly updated suspension. It’s undoubtedly the most gratifying variant for experienced drivers and a great alternative to hot hatchbacks like the Volkswagen GTI, but at $35,845, it’s also the priciest Kona.
Hyundai gives a ton of basic safety equipment and a ton of good in-car technology, especially on the higher-spec vehicles, regardless of which Kona you choose. The fundamentals of safety, such front automatic emergency braking, are included, as are features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts with braking. The only available option is adaptive cruise control. The Kona’s extensive warranty coverages are also included, which adds security to an already user-friendly and appealing bundle.