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- Highs Standout styling, punchy turbo four, packed with features.
- Lows Tight cargo space, numb steering.
- Verdict Intrigues with adventurous styling, seals the deal with driving enjoyment.
Overview
Hyundai's on a roll of late, churning out character-rich products that not only look great but also drive nicely, and the subcompact Kona is the latest in the series. The Kona's daring styling charms onlookers and avoids appearing busy despite its multifaceted sheetmetal. The cabin packs just enough of the exterior's whimsy to tie the whole package together without being—as the kids say—extra. The Kona isn't the most practical of sll the 2019 SUVs and crossovers available, but that's forgivable considering how good the rest of it is. So go0d, in fact, that we named it to our 10Best Trucks and SUVs list for 2019. Of the Kona's two available engines, we were most impressed by the performance of the turbocharged four-cylinder. Not only is the Kona fun to look at, it's also fun to drive. Well done, Hyundai—again.
What's New for 2019?
Hyundai has reshuffled a few features, made some standard, and added some new ones for Kona's second year. The big news is that automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor are all now standard across the range. An extra USB port replaces the 12-volt outlet on the Kona's center console, the premium Infinity audio system and Hyundai's Blue Link telematics system are now available on the SEL trim level, and a new color—Sunset Orange—joins the options sheet.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Of the Kona's four models, the Limited strikes the best balance of price and equipment. It includes the energetic turbocharged engine and dresses up the exterior with the same 18-inch wheels and other design flourishes featured on the top-spec Ultimate model. The Limited also includes desirable features such as leather seats, power-adjustable driver's seat, a sunroof, front fog lamps, and automatic climate control. Front-wheel drive is standard but the optional all-wheel drive adds $1300 to the bottom line.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Likes: Potent turbo four, quick-shifting automatic transmission, lithe handling with a well-balanced ride.
Dislikes: Transmission stumbles when driving at low speeds, numb steering, turbo lag.
Two powertrains are available with the Kona: SE and SEL models come with a 147-hp four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. This setup could use a bit of caffeine; in our testing, an all-wheel-drive SEL model required 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph. Limited and Ultimate models are powered by the considerably peppier 175-hp turbocharged four-cylinder paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. With the turbo four, the Kona scampered from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, just 0.1 second behind the rapid Kia Soul Exclaim. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic shifts quickly and smoothly once you're rolling, but it stumbles at low speed in parking lots and in bumper-to-bumper traffic, engaging and disengaging first gear hesitantly until the driver offers more throttle input.
The Kona delivers agile handling and a surprising amount of fun. This doesn't translate to a rough ride over choppy roads; in fact, the suspension offers quite the opposite, damping out bumps and providing occupants with a cabin that is well isolated from pavement imperfections. The steering is perhaps the Kona's biggest dynamic downfall: it's an uncommunicative helm that requires frequent corrections when cruising the highway despite its heavy-weighted feel.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
In this class of fuel-sipping mini SUVs, the Kona's EPA ratings are good but only average among its rivals. Despite this, the Kona impressed us during our real-world testing, besting much of its competition. With the turbocharged engine under the hood, the Kona delivered 32 mpg in our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test; we managed 33 mpg with the base four-cylinder.
Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo
Likes: Refined interior, supportive front seats, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Dislikes: Tight back-seat space, limited cargo room.
Hyundai's designers managed the tough task of bringing the charm of the Kona's exterior design to the cabin while maintaining comfort and convenience. Quality materials, good ergonomics, and comfortable seats feel grown up and refined but not out of step with the Kona's funkadelic outward appearance. The driver faces a pair of simple analog gauges framing a slim digital readout; the steering wheel is wrapped with a nicely grained leather with contrast stitching and offers integrated controls for cruise control and audio settings.
Standing proudly atop the Kona's dashboard is a touchscreen infotainment system flanked by simple shortcut buttons that allow for easy jumping between common menus. We found the system to be intuitive in its operation but leisurely when responding to inputs. The SE, SEL, and Limited trims come with the smaller, standard 7.0-inch touchscreen, but buyers of the Ultimate model are treated to the larger 8.0-inch unit that also features navigation with real-time traffic updates; directions can be projected onto the Ultimate's head-up display that flips up from the dashboard and also shows the vehicle's speed and other information. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, so buyers of one of the three lower trims can still access turn-by-turn directions from their smartphones.
Those upgrading from a compact hatchback or sedan will find the Kona's cargo space perfectly suitable, but buyers downsizing from a larger SUV will most likely feel the pinch. The Kona narrowly beat the pipsqueak Mazda CX-3 in our testing to see how many carry-on suitcases could fit. The Kona managed to hold 14 of our carry-on suitcases—two more than the CX-3 but eight fewer than the Honda HR-V.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet released any crash-test results for the Kona, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has. The Kona performed excellently and earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation, the IIHS's highest award. Buyers searching for popular driver-assistance features will find them on the Kona, which offers automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor as standard equipment. Other more advanced features are still optional. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-keeping warning
- Available automatic high-beam headlamps
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
By now, Hyundai's 10-year powertrain warranty is well known in the automotive industry as being one of the most generous policies available, and the Kona receives the same coverages as the rest of the lineup. The Kia Soul carries similarly lengthy warranty terms but falls short of the Kona in the corrosion and roadside-assistance categories.
- Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
