That is the entry level to the second-generation Hyundai Kona small SUV vary which went on sale in June this 12 months.

The all-new Kona addresses a key subject with the earlier mannequin: dimension. It’s larger and roomier in all dimensions, making it extra helpful for extra folks.

It brings a pointy ‘mini Tucson’ design with a lot of shapely sheet metallic (and plastic wheel-arch cladding) and slimline horizontal lighting at each ends.

Even the bottom Kona 2.0-litre petrol pushed right here sports activities an EV-like entrance finish design, flashy wheels, and a cutting-edge inside show. It’s one other mannequin vary given an upmarket push.

There isn’t any scarcity of opponents within the bustling small SUV market however the brand new Kona sits proper on the pointy finish. Right here’s why.

How a lot does the Hyundai Kona value?

The bottom Kona pushed right here is priced at $32,000 earlier than on-road prices, or about $36,000 drive-away relying in your state of residence. That’s about $5000 greater than the previous base Kona, and according to the previous Kona Elite. 

Whereas the entry value is rather a lot larger than earlier than, in wider context it stays fairly properly priced at roughly $36,000 drive-away.

The Mazda CX-30 vary opens at round $35,000 drive-away, the Toyota Corolla Cross opens at $41,000, and the Nissan Qashqai at round $37,400. It additionally matches the second-from-base Kia Seltos Sport ($35,390).

Hyundai has saved the vary easy for the Kona, with simply the 2 specification variants and one choices package deal – out there with three engine decisions.

2023 Hyundai Kona vary

• Kona FWD: $32,000
• Kona FWD N Line: $36,000
• Kona Premium FWD: $39,500
• Kona Premium FWD N Line: $42,500

• Kona Hybrid: $36,000
• Kona Hybrid N Line: $40,000
• Kona Premium Hybrid: $43,500
• Kona Premium Hybrid N Line: $46,500

• Kona Turbo AWD N Line: $40,000
• Kona Premium Turbo AWD N Line: $46,500

Record costs, together with GST however neither state taxes or supplier fees.

What’s the Hyundai Kona like on the within?

The important thing level to remove is the brand new Kona’s improved inside house. This mannequin is a considerable 145mm longer general and 60mm longer between the wheels than the previous one, with considerably extra back-seat headroom and legroom.

Even the bottom Kona has a proximity sensing key that permits you to unlock the car with out taking the fob out of your pocket or bag, plus auto-unfolding facet mirrors. You may as well use Hyundai’s cellphone app to remotely entry and even remotely begin the automobile when you want.

The seats are trimmed in primary material and regulate manually, however they provide quantity of facet and thigh bolstering. The identical material is used on the doorways and sprint to interrupt up the slabs of arduous and considerably cheap-feeling plastics.

Normal match and end feels very stable and necessary touchpoints such because the steering wheel, gear shifter and centre console lid are trimmed in a nicer leather-like materials to carry the atmosphere.

The bottom petrol mannequin makes use of a conventional gear shifter flanked by blanked-out button slots, however all different Kona variants have a graceful Ioniq 6-style shift-by-wire dial on the steering column – liberating extra centre tunnel storage.

There’s quantity of storage scattered about regardless, together with a big centre console and cupholder mixture within the centre tunnel, a rubberised charging pad underneath the AC controls, and an open part above the glovebox.

Hyundai has not travelled down the trail so many different manufacturers have taken, specifically utilizing touchscreens or haptic pads for each operate. There are buttons and dials for easy local weather management operation and display menu shortcuts, flanked in tasteful trim that resembles brushed aluminium.

The steering wheel has curler dials and buttons on every spoke to entry capabilities comparable to lane help, radar cruise management, and audio capabilities – together with voice controls that piggyback your gadget’s AI. There’s additionally just a little gadget on the steering column that screens for indicators of driver distraction.

The fundamental digital instrument cluster exhibits pace, the rev counter and journey information, and adjustments colors contingent on the driving mode you’ve chosen. It’s restricted by way of performance however the {hardware} blends properly with the centre touchscreen in a classy single lengthy housing.

The infotainment within the Kona is without doubt one of the greatest reasonably priced programs available on the market. The 12.3-inch panorama touchscreen options fast processing that means straightforward swiping, and the menu layouts and consumer interface designs really feel bang up-to-date.

My wi-fi Android Auto re-paired quickly each time, making streaming and navigating a seamless expertise, whereas the reversing digital camera has a pleasant crisp decision. Even the essential sound system within the base mannequin shocked me, bringing out the complexity and layering in a few of my favorite tunes.

The Kona additionally launched with over-the-air (OTA) software program replace functionality, permitting distant software program and firmware updates for key programs with out the necessity to go to a workshop. Most EVs have this however the majority of petrol autos at this value level don’t.

It’s additionally a breeze to hyperlink to the Hyundai Bluelink app by way of QR code, which lets you remotely verify your automobile’s standing and placement, and lock/unlock’ remotely begin and remotely change the local weather management. In time anticipate apps to regulate ever extra performance, that means the Kona is future-proofed to a sure diploma.

Briefly, whereas the supplies and trims in right here very a lot really feel ‘base mannequin’, the format and the know-how used are each bit consultant of the most effective of 2023.

One space the place the previous Kona was fairly common was inside house. However this mannequin is sort of a bit bigger than the previous automobile and has moderately sized facet home windows to let extra mild in.

I’m 194cm and had useable legroom and headroom behind my driving place, making this a serviceable second household automobile or rideshare possibility. The again seats provide a better quantity of reclining as properly.

Rear-seat occupants get air vents and two USB-C ports (4 within the cabin whole), in addition to seize handles and LED lightning. There may be nevertheless fairly a distinguished driveline hump working longitudinally down the inside ground, limiting the centre place’s usability.

The boot is bigger than earlier than at 407L (up 33L) and the again seats fold down for longer gadgets. The ground is sort of shallow and lever however there’s a hidden part under with a space-saver spare wheel.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The Kona will ultimately be one of many solely autos bought as a petroleum, a hybrid and an EV, when the vary is accomplished.

The bottom engine fitted to our take a look at car is a straightforward 2.0-litre petrol working the effectivity targeted Atkinson cycle, like most hybrids. It makes 110kW of energy and a meagre 180Nm of torque, powering the entrance wheels by way of a CVT computerized.

Claimed combined-cycle gas consumption is 6.6 litres each 100km, and it could actually run on 91 RON or E10 gas.

However the Kona additionally comes with the choice of a 104kW and 265Nm petrol-electric 1.6-litre hybrid that slashes claimed gas financial system to three.9L/100km; or a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol with 146kW and 265Nm, an eight-speed computerized, and on-demand all-wheel drive.

Clearly these decisions are higher engines by way of, respectively; effectivity and efficiency. In addition they command larger costs. It’s horses for programs.

How does the Hyundai Kona drive

The 110kW and 180Nm 2.0-litre engine lacks low-down torque, that means it could actually get thrashy when you immediate pressing acceleration – earlier than the CVT simmers the engine pace down at cruise.

For basic commuting although it’s totally wonderful, with sufficient low-speed response and the power to maintain up in site visitors and sit at 110km/h with none drama.

Gas effectivity is okay, with my driving loop returning a median of seven.3 litres each 100km, which is acceptably near the declare.

The Kona FWD 2.0 is geared toward commuters who actually don’t care about efficiency, with the turbo AWD there for efficiency lovers.

The hybrid in the meantime guarantees to slash gas use and its 32kW electrical motor will bolster low-speed acceleration and refinement. For a further $4000 it strikes me as price it, given it’ll doubtless maintain onto its resale worth higher as properly.

The Kona’s new underpinnings, stiffer physique and added insulation assist enhance noise, vibration and harshness from the engine and tyres, lending a extra premium really feel from the motive force’s seat.

The bottom mannequin makes use of a humble rear torsion beam suspension setup whereas the hybrid and turbo use a multi-link format, reflecting its city focus.

However I used to be fairly impressed with the general tune, which concerned Australian enter into this system. The motor-driven steering is properly weighted, the physique management and dealing with good towards cornering forces, and it each absorbs bumps and recovers from undulations properly.

In comparison with a few of the extra cheap-and-cheerful SUVs on the market from China, there’s a veneer of high quality and added tuning evident within the Hyundai.

What do you get?

Our base Kona comes with the next normal options:

Exterior

• 18-inch wheels
• Area-saver spare
• Proximity sensing key fob
• Energy-folding facet mirrors
• Roof rails
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• LED rear lighting

Inside

• Push-button begin
• Digital instrument cluster
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Manually adjustable fabric seats
• Over-the-air updates
• Smartphone app companies
• Distant begin performance
• 12.3-inch centre touchscreen
• AM/FM/DAB+ receivers
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wi-fi Android Auto
• Sounds of Nature presets
• Six-speaker audio system
• Wi-fi charger and 4 USB-C ports

The Kona Premium provides the next extras:

• 3D surround-view cameras
• Distant parking help by way of key fob
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Projector beam LED headlights
• Privateness glass
• Powered tailgate
• Auto-dimming rear mirror
• Ambient inside lighting colors
• 12.3-inch instrument cluster improve
• Linked satellite-navigation
• Eight-speaker Bose audio system
• Leather-based-trimmed seats
• Powered entrance seats with driver’s reminiscence
• Heated and cooled seats, heated again seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Shift-by-wire gear shifter on steering column

The N Line choices package deal is offered on each fashions for $3000-$4000 and provides:

• 19-inch wheels (18-inch on Hybrid variants)
• Physique-coloured cladding
• N Line entrance bumper, facet skirts, wing-type spoiler, rear bumper
• Gloss black mirror caps and N Line aluminium badging
• Twin projector beam LED headlights
• ‘Seamless Horizon’ centre LED positioning mild
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Shift-by-wire and paddle shifters
• Leather-based and Alcantara seats
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• 12.3-inch instrument cluster improve
• N Line steering wheel
• Black headlining & pillar trims
• Leather-based-appointed dashboard tray
• ‘Darkish Steel’ sprint highlights

Colors throughout the broader vary embody:

• Atlas White stable
• Mirage Inexperienced stable
• Ecotronic Gray mica ($595 additional)
• Final Purple metallic ($595 additional)
• Denim Blue mica ($595 additional)
• Abyss Black mica ($595 additional)

Unique to N Line variants are three brash extra exterior colors referred to as Cyber Gray, Neoteric Yellow, and Soultronic Orange.

Is the Hyundai Kona secure?

The revised Kona doesn’t at present have an ANCAP security score, however it actually comes properly outfitted with lively and passive security options together with:

• Blind-spot collision avoidance help
• Digital camera-based driver drowsiness monitor
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane-keeping help (line and road-edge)
• Rear cross-traffic avoidance help
• Secure Exit Warning (door opening alert)
• Radar-guided adaptive cruise management
• Entrance and rear sensors, reversing digital camera
• Entrance, centre, facet and curtain airbags
• ISOFIX x 2 and top-tethers x 3
• Computerized collision notification and SOS operate
• Distant car updates and geo-fencing service

The Kona Premium provides the next:

• Blind-spot digital camera show in cluster
• Reverse AEB system
• 3D surround-view cameras
• Distant management parking help by way of fob

Hyundai claims the brand new Kona’s physique is stiffer and stronger, which ought to assist with impacts. All of the programs labored very well, notably the way in which the Kona can steer itself by way of corners and mirror the pace of the car forward on highways.

Observe that the road-sign digital camera monitor system pings you with a chime everytime you inadvertently exceed the pace restrict, which is helpful, albeit just a little annoying.

How a lot does the Hyundai Kona value to run?

Hyundai gives a five-year and limitless kilometre guarantee with ongoing roadside help added upon every annual supplier service.

The bottom Kona 2.0 FWD’s servicing intervals are each 12 months or 15,000km, with clear pricing: $399 for every of the primary 5 companies.

The hybrid has the identical intervals whereas the turbo AWD mannequin has shorter 10,000km intervals.

CarExpert’s Take

Within the bustling small SUV market, the brand new Kona has carved out a spot close to the highest.

Even the bottom mannequin’s design is eye-catching, its inside applied sciences and connectivity are benchmark, it presents extra space than the pokey previous mannequin, and offers glorious trip and dealing with for the typical consumer.

Downsides embody the weedy base engine, unavoidable value hikes, and a few cheap-feeling inside plastics. I’d personally go for the hybrid on general stability, regardless of the added value.

Consumers after one thing that unlocks soft-road adventures ought to go for a Subaru Crosstrek, patrons who prioritise a luxurious inside really feel would possibly wish to have a look at the Mazda CX-30, and discount hunters ought to have a look at a Haval Jolion.

However those that need the most effective tech, the good design, and are ready to pay for a extra rounded driving expertise ought to go kick the tyres on this Kona – it’s an actual step up over the vastly fashionable previous mannequin.

Click on a picture to view the total gallery.

MORE: The whole lot Hyundai Kona
BUY: Hyundai Kona