So, a subcompact crossover can be enjoyable to drive. It really did not appear feasible prior to the Hyundai Kona occurred, yet certainly, this fashionable little city runabout took care of to draw it off … and also still does. Its offered turbocharged engine that surprise most rivals absolutely assists. As well does its superb Kona Electric version. Also the a lot of fundamental 2021 Hyundai Kona with its plain-jane 147- horse power engine is a unusual and also appealing sprightly vehicle to drive. The distinct designing absolutely includes to the enjoyable.
Plainly, the Kona can make a psychological link far better than the majority of its rivals. It’s likewise fairly valued, is loaded with functions, has a charitable guarantee and also supplies four-wheel drive, so there’s some material behind the enjoyable. Still, it is just one of the least useful subcompact crossovers (the freight location specifically is rather little) and also if you’re trying to find that high, powerful sight of the roadway, you will not locate it below. That restricts its wide allure, yet if you’re trying to find an enjoyable and also fashionable little crossover to drive about community, it is difficult to defeat.
What’s brand-new for 2021?
A brand-new Evening Version debuts, complying with a pattern of gloss black wheels and also trim used freely to a vehicle’s outside and also inside. Hyundai has actually removed the Sundown Orange and also Lime Spin paint shades, in addition to their matching indoor accents. This pop of shade was among the important things that assisted distinguish the Kona, though we intend if Hyundai eliminated it, clients weren’t as crazy about shade as we are (the presence of the Evening Version absolutely backs that up).
Keep in mind that there will certainly be substantial updates created the 2022 Kona, consisting of a good-looking front-end redesign and also the brand-new, stylish Kona N Line.
What’s the Kona inside and also in-car innovation like?
A lot of indoor plastics are plain, also for this section. The style itself likewise isn’t one of the most fascinating, yet there go to the very least differing structures that aid separate the dullness and also conventional houndstooth towel furniture. Unfortunately, the Lime Spin and also Sundown Orange accents have actually been stopped. The Kona Electric stands apart with lighter dashboard and also door shades, consisting of an offered two-tone color pattern of creme and also blue. It likewise has a special increasing facility console with a digital shifter and also various storage space (picture listed below).
With either style, the reduced dashboard supplies great exposure, the guiding wheel completely changes, and also top trims take advantage of a power chauffeur seat that gives extra adjustability than a lot of in the section. The driving setting is likewise greater than a vehicle, yet we would not state you obtain the “powerful sight” of the roadway like you would certainly enter a larger crossover.
Among the Kona’s significant benefits is the simple infomercial system. As in various other Hyundai items, it integrates a touchscreen, a lot of physical faster way switches, and also significantly, physical quantity and also adjusting handles. The interface isn’t the most beautiful, yet it’s simple to understand and also review, and also it reacts rapidly. Apple CarPlay and also Android Vehicle are conventional functions on all designs. Used is a head-up display screen, an uncommon attribute for this section and also cost factor. It’s a shade device that shows on a clear plastic panel that rises on the control panel as opposed to the windscreen.
Exactly how huge is the Kona?
The Hyundai Kona gets on the little side of the subcompact crossover course, which varies from relatively limited cars such as the Kona and also the Mazda CX-3 to specifically large cars such as the Subaru Crosstrek, Nissan Kicks and also Chevrolet Pioneer. It is just one of the quickest in general size, which’s shown in specifically limited back legroom. Your rear seat guests ought to at the very least be better than they would certainly remain in the much more confined CX-3 or the claustrophobic Toyota C-HR.
Freight area is likewise amongst the tiniest in the course. According to the specifications, there has to do with 19 cubic feet of area behind the Kona’s increased rear. That’s just 2 dices much less than the Subaru Crosstrek, which isn’t much theoretically, yet in technique, the distinction is enormous. Its freight location simply isn’t valuable or as deep. We took care of to fit as well less midsize bags in the Kona than in the Crosstrek or Kicks. We also took care of to fit even more things in the smaller sized Hyundai Location many thanks to its creative two-level flooring. Still, the Kona is far better than a CX-3 or C-HR.
What are the efficiency and also gas economic situation?
This area is commonly rather basic for various other subcompact SUVs, yet not so the Kona as it’s offered with 2 turbocharged gas engines and also an electrical powertrain.
The entry-level engine used on the SE and also SEL trim degrees is a 2.0-liter normally aspirated inline-four that makes 147 horse power and also 132 pound-feet of torque. It’s coupled with a standard six-speed automated, and also can be had with either front-wheel or four-wheel drive. Some rivals do not use AWD in any way (C-HR, Kicks, Kia Heart). Gas economic situation is 27 mpg city, 33 freeway and also 30 integrated with FWD. It decreases to 25/30/27 with AWD, which is a substantial decrease nowadays.
Going Up to the Evening Version, Limited and also Ultimate trim degrees brings a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four production 175 hp and also 195 lb-ft of torque that surprise virtually every rival. This engine includes a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and also is once more offered with either front-wheel or four-wheel drive. Regardless of a large distinction in power, both engines return virtually the very same gas economic situation. The turbo obtains 28/32/30 with FWD and also 26/29/27 with AWD.
However, for max performance, there’s the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric, envisioned listed below. Its solitary electrical motor creates the matching of 201 hp and also 291 lb-ft of torque. It’s front-wheel-drive just. Electric array is a remarkable 258 miles and also its performance generally approaches the Chevrolet Screw, and also simply a bit far better than the Kia Niro Electric and also Nissan Fallen Leave.
What’s the Kona like to drive?
The Kona is a remarkably active little crossover, despite the variation you obtain. Guiding is well-weighted and also fast, and also the vehicle edges with just light body roll. The terrific exposure and also little dimension additionally include in its fun-to-drive nature. The trip is certified and also well regulated, yet is a little bit tight about a Honda HR-V or Nissan Kicks.
The base 2.0-liter engine is right on the same level with the competitors, which implies it suffices. It gets on the sluggish side and also obtains buzzy when floor covering the throttle, yet it’s likewise happily receptive. Its torque converter transmission selects equipments efficiently and also fairly immediately. There’s also a Sporting activity setting that develops transmission and also throttle action also additionally. Completely, it makes an engaging situation to miss the turbo engine.
Naturally, the turbo engine makes its very own engaging situation. Its 175 horse power, 195 pound-feet of torque, and also succeeding velocity surprise practically whatever else in the section. It’s a distinction you can definitely value and also discover. It has an extremely solid mid-range and also makes the Kona really feel truly stylish. It can be a little bit loud like the 2.0-liter, yet the power offsets it. The turbo engine is coupled with a dual-clutch transmission that absolutely moves faster than the automated and also succeeds at choosing a great equipment. It’s likewise a renovation over previous Hyundai dual-clutch transmissions, preventing their reluctant reactions at reduced rates, yet it likewise isn’t as smooth as the 2.0-liter engine’s automated.
Most Of the very same vibrant qualities relate to the Kona Electric, and also if anything, the included battery weight in fact boosts it by decreasing the center of mass. As an electrical vehicle, it profits from the common quiet wave of all-electric torque when increasing and also from the hefty regenerative stopping that makes one-pedal driving feasible. As a tiny, urban-focused electrical vehicle, the Kona Electric radiates.
What extra can I review the Hyundai Kona?
Hyundai Kona vs Honda HR-V, Jeep Insurgent and also Kia Heart
Our detailed complete contrast examination of subcompact crossovers. The Kona racked up well yet did not triumph.
2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Evaluation|Living, liking the life electric
Learn more specifics concerning the electrical Kona based upon a week our numerous editors invested with it.
2018 Hyundai Kona SEL 2.0-liter Evaluation|Decrease and also conserve cash
We examine a Kona with the base 2.0-liter engine and also the sweet-spot SEL trim degree.
2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate 1.6 T Evaluation|The muscle mass has actually shown up
We likewise examined the range-topping Ultimate with the turbocharged engine upgrade. Checking out every one of these evaluations will certainly offer you a well-shaped, thorough check out the whole Kona line-up.
What functions are offered and also what’s the cost?
The 2021 Hyundai Kona beginning cost of $21,540 is rather sensible offered its basic quality and also the quantity of conventional tools you obtain. The prolonged five-year guarantee assists, as well. Subcompact SUVs can be sparsely geared up to begin, yet the Kona SE obtains conventional alloy wheels, automated fronts lights, chauffeur support technology (see safety and security area), a blind-spot mirror, a height-adjustable chauffeur seat, towel furniture, a six-speaker stereo, a standard touchscreen user interface, Apple CarPlay, Android Vehicle and also 2 USB ports.
The SE is great worth, yet the SEL is probably also much better when it comes to $1,800 you grow wheels, blind-spot caution, back personal privacy glass, roof covering rails, closeness access and also push-button begin, warmed seats, a leather-wrapped wheel and also satellite radio. The various other trims are likewise fairly valued, yet this appears like the wonderful place.
All rates listed below consist of the $1,140 location cost. Four-wheel drive is a $1,400 choice on them all. In terms of the Kona Electric, maintain in mind that it is qualified for a $7,500 government tax obligation credit rating plus enhancement feasible state credit scores.
You can locate a failure of each Kona trim degree’s functions, specifications and also neighborhood prices below on Autoblog The Kona Electric is below.
SE: $21,540
SEL: $23,340
SEL And Also: $25,190
Evening Version: $26,740
Restricted: $27,340
Ultimate: $29,190
Electric SEL: $38,330
Electric Limited: $42,940
Electric Ultimate: $46,540
Electric Slide: Marcia Griffiths
What are its safety and security tools and also collision scores?
Every 2021 Hyundai Kona comes criterion with ahead accident caution, automated emergency situation stopping, lane-keeping aid, and also chauffeur negligence surveillance as conventional functions. The SEL includes blind-spot and also back cross-traffic caution. The Ultimate trim degree after that includes back car park sensing units, automated emergency situation stopping with pedestrian discovery, automated high light beam fronts lights and also rain-sensing wipers.
The federal government provided the Kona an ideal 5 star for general, side and also front collision security. The Insurance Policy Institute for Freeway Safety and security provided the 2020 Kona its highest possible honor of Leading Safety and security Select as an outcome of making the highest possible score of “Great” in all collision examinations, the highest possible ahead accident avoidance score of “Superior” and also having actually optional fronts lights ranked “Great.” The only powerlessness in IIHS assessment consist of “Poor” ranked fronts lights on base designs (this is common for the sector) and also youngster seat LATCH supports with “Limited” access.
West Shore Editor James Riswick and also Information Editor Joel Stocksdale added to this testimonial.
Associated Video Clip: