2023 Hyundai Kona N

Overview

The Hyundai Kona N is the most rambunctious entry into the subcompact crossover segment. With its artillery of performance bits, such as an active exhaust, adjustable dampers, summer performance tires, N Sport seats, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, this Kona takes off where the recently discontinued Veloster N hatchback stopped. Every Kona N uses the Veloster N’s 276-hp turbocharged inline-four with an overboost function that temporarily dispatches an additional 10 horsepower to the front wheels—the super Kona comes only with front-wheel drive, just as the Veloster N did. Equipment options are limited to three paint choices as this red-hot version of the calmer, standard Kona comes fully loaded with big wheels, the largest infotainment screen, and a black cloth interior with sports seats. During our acceleration tests, the Kona N completed the leap to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, making it the quickest in a segment over 20 others and as quick as the 306-hp Honda Civic Type R hot-hatch.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

Mazda CX-30

STARTING AT: $24,225

2

Hyundai Kona

STARTING AT: $23,475

3

Kia Soul

STARTING AT: $21,215

4

Volkswagen Taos

STARTING AT: $25,450

5

Kia Niro

STARTING AT: $27,915

7

Hyundai Kona N

STARTING AT: $36,285

What's New for 2023?

After the Kona N’s debut in 2022, Hyundai leaves its hot little crossover mostly unchanged for 2023. The only subtle equipment revision this year is the capability of over-the-air updates for the Kona N’s map and navigation system.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Optioning a Kona N is as easy as choosing between three paint colors. As a fully-loaded single-trim spec, the Kona N comes standard with 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero performance summer tires and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. We prefer Racing Red over the other paint choices such as Ultra Black or Lunar White, but no matter which nail polish you choose for the outside, every Kona N has the same black interior.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Behind the Kona N's aggressive-looking, well-vented nose sits the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that motivated 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. Alas, the crossover doesn't offer the Veloster N’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 is strong enough to make 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 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 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