This obviously the first Hyundai Kona review to be posted to this site. But as it’s a car (crossover? SUV?) that’s seemed to charm everyone with its blend of style and practicality, I couldn’t resist having a go in one myself.
But to be honest, when I found that my loan would fall on the same week as a family road trip, I was more than a bit nervous. Hyundai’s Kona has always been small—perhaps a single step above entry-level. And while my road trip compatriots would be limited to my wife and our one small child, they both like to travel with a lot of stuff.
I’d soon come to find, though, that my worries were completely unfounded. This compact Hyundai Kona Limited AWD is both big on style and practicality. And while it may not satisfy the needs of larger families, it was more than ready to shuttle my fam—and all our stuff—off to a holiday in the desert.
So much cooler than the Family Truckster
I’ve been an unabashed fan of the designs coming out of Hyundai/Kia/Genesis for a while now, and the current Kona is one of those vehicles that makes my inner child smile every time I see it. I’m surely projecting my own thoughts onto the designers here, but I can’t help but feel that they grew up on the same ‘80s Studio ARTMIC anime designs that I did. Now I’m not saying the Kona would be the hero of a Bubblegum Crisis episode, but it wouldn’t look out of place as a background vehicle.
Credit for the Kona’s cyberpunk-inspired design likely stems from the fact that it was designed as an EV first, and EV buyers are (theoretically) more open to rejecting automotive norms. So that razor-thin signature lighting front and rear feels appropriately futuristic, as do the chunky exterior details. I get that the design is likely polarizing, and even I can admit that it may look significantly dated in a few years’ time. But for now, I’m happy it exists—especially since Hyundai offers them in fun colors.
It’s got the right amount of comfort and tech inside
While the Kona’s exterior gives me ‘80s anime vibes, its minimalist stark-white interior aligns with more evergreen sci-fi tropes. Okay, so things are technically expanses of light-gray and gray-ish-white surfaces, with high-res screens and subtle aqua accents to break up the monotony. As is typical of current-day Hyundai, fit and finish is solid, though I do worry about how these white surfaces would hold up to a lifetime of dirt and grime.
Helping alleviate any road-trip apprehensions I may have had is the fact that the Kona feels bright and airy inside. The previous Hyundai Kona remains a small vehicle, and while I’ve never experienced one from the inside, my eyes and brain look at the exterior packaging in real space, have a quick chat, and come to the agreement that things are likely tight inside. This newest Kona, however, is larger in every dimension. And those in the back get an additional 3-inches of legroom, and the cargo area jumped in size from 19.2 cubic feet to 25.5 cubic feet. So for my own road trip, this means that everyone could get comfortable no matter where in the car they were sitting, and that we have plenty of room for all our stuff.
As for the tech stuff, I’ve got to give some additional kudos to Hyundai here. Yes, it gets the same digital “gauge” cluster and touchscreen display used across every modern Kia/Hyundai/Genesis, but the important controls are all physical. So despite my traversing miles of interstate at a semi-rapid pace, I could still keep my eyes on the road and rely only on my sense of touch to adjust things like temperature, the heated and cooled front seats, and so on.
A very agreeable drive
Is the Kona Limited AWD fast? No. But with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four that puts out 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, plus an 8-speed DCT, it feels plenty lively off the line. Around town, its smallish footprint (and that 360 camera) makes it easy to get in and out of tight spaces.
It’s a delight on the freeway, too. Merging? Not a problem. Running at speed? Piece of cake. This Hyundai really is an easy vehicle to drive, blending a smooth and quiet ride with just the right amount of feedback and response. It’s surprisingly efficient as well. Though this turbocharged crossover is EPA-rated at 29 mpg highway, thanks to real-world assists like the active shutters which add even more slip to the shape, I was seeing highway MPG numbers solidly in the mid-30s.
Final thoughts
As much as I personally like the Hyundai Kona Limited AWD, I also have to recognize that, by virtue of it being a press car, I’m viewing it as an essentially free vehicle. I get to experience it solely for what it is and what it does, and it’s only by actively forcing myself to do so that I take things like costs into account. And this Hyundai is pricey.
While a base-model Kona SE starts at $24,250, the Kona Limited starts at $31,800. There’s only one option available for this higher-spec crossover, and that’s the $1,500 all-wheel drive system. So the base MSRP of my tester is $33,300, and in this entry-level CUV segment, that’s a lot of money. By comparison, that’s almost $2,000 more than a top-of-the-line Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, and almost $4,000 more than a top-spec Honda HR-V.
Granted, the Hyundai has more power and more features to help justify its premium, but in a segment so closely associated with value, are people willing to pay the price? Those who are will find themselves with a ride that goes big on features and offers a ton of bang for the buck. It’s got lots of practicality, lots of style, and it makes for one fantastic road-trip ride.
Justin Kaehler has been covering all things automotive for 20 years, and has been an active part of the car scene for much longer than that. Though he’s grown to love all cars, he’s still particularly fond of the ’80s and ’90s Japanese metal he grew up on. And for those of you who grew up playing The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift game for the PS2 and PSP, yes, he’s also that JDM Justin.