2022 Hyundai Kona N

Overview

This year, Hyundai's N performance subbrand takes on its first SUV: the Kona N subcompact crossover. The division's engineers have already worked their magic on the Veloster hatchback, and the result impressed us with its turbocharged four-cylinder, stiff suspension, and sharp handling—all of which you'll find in the Kona N. All the typical sporty elements are present on the exterior: blacked-out grille, creased and hole-punched hood, large air intakes, sleek and simple light signatures, N badges, low-profile tires, a dual exhaust, and a red pinstripe along the bottom edges of the spoiler, side skirts, and diffuser. Inside, a red button on the perforated steering wheel just begs to be pressed. It engages the overboost mode, upping the 276-hp fleet to 286 for 20 seconds. Suedelike seat coverings, more N badges, and Performance Blue accents round out the package.

What's New for 2022?

2022 is the debut year for the Kona crossover that joins the N brand's ranks for the first time ever.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Kona N is offered as just one, fully-loaded spec. It comes standard with a host of driver-assistance features and all of the regular Kona's best infotainment tech. The only thing you'll have to choose is a color.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Behind the Kona N's aggressive-looking, well-vented nose sits the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that motivates the sportiest Veloster. In most situations, it makes 276 horses, but press the red button on the steering wheel and you'll call up an additional 10 ponies for a 20-second burst. Unsurprisingly, the crossover doesn't offer its smaller sibling's manual transmission. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic handles the shifting duties and routes torque to the front wheels only. We drove one recently and had a blast tossing it into corners and engaging the overboost function. At our test track, it blasted to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Yeah, the steering could be a hint quicker, but we appreciate the level of feedback that the helm provides. We also wish the Kona N had more sound insulation, as a fair bit of road noise plagues the cabin at highway speeds, but the tiny ute's performance somewhat makes up for that.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates that the Kona N should deliver 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, which is significantly less efficient than the regular one. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route, however, the Kona N returned an impressive 32 mpg result. For more information about the Kona N's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

In the contrast stitching, mode buttons, and shifter knob, the N brand's signature color—Performance Blue—adds some much-needed brightness to the all-black interior. Overall though, the Kona N's cabin looks and feels cheap considering its price tag. The plastics used throughout are hard and the overall look is rather plain. Passenger space is tight in the back seat, but two adults can fit comfortably in the front. The Kona N will also accommodate the same amount of luggage behind its rear seats (i.e., four carry-on-sized suitcases) as the regular Kona.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The digital gauge cluster measures 10.3 inches and looks adequately modern, but you'll hardly need to glance at it, given there's a dash-mounted head-up display to show you how fast you're going. Underlining the Kona N's sporting intentions, the 10.3-inch infotainment screen will present racetrack-minded Kona N owners—all five of them—with track maps and lap-monitoring information on request. Other features of note: Harman/Kardon brings the noise with an eight-speaker setup, and buyers can charge their phones wirelessly.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Kona N will be offered with several driver-assistance features as standard. For more information about the Kona N's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring
• Standard automatic high-beams
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Unless Hyundai decides to stray from its typical protection plans, you can expect the Kona N will receive the same impressive coverage as the automaker's other models.

• Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles

More Features and Specs