Hyundai Kona N — Driving thrills in a small crossover


MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(February 26, 2023) Hyundai's Kona N is the "Ultimate Driving Machine" for the those of us on a budget. It's wildly fun to drive never mind that its a subcompact crossover SUV and a member of a rather large family that offers four ways to travel. In addition to the N, the Kona klan consists of the standard model that is motivated by a 147 horsepower four-cylinder engine paired to a continuously variable transmission, a turbocharged N-Line model that elevates horsepower to 195 ponies, and an all-electric. 


At the top of the food chain is the N — N equals performance in Hyundai parlance — sporting a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder cranking out 276 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 289 pound-feet of torque at 2,100 rpm. There's an overboost button that for 20 seconds dispatches an additional 10 horsepower.

FYI — In 2018, its first year of existence, the Kona won Utility Vehicle of the Year in the annual North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year competition. And while we think the electric version of the Kona would make a great second vehicle for any family who could scrape up just north of 30 grand, there's an all-new Kona EV on the horizon. Might want to wait for that one.


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But for today's discussion — after a rather delightful week of tossing around a Sonic Blue example — is the incredible Kona N.

Not only does the N go from point A to point B in a rewardingly swift time, it handles and corners like a true sports car. Never mind its slightly raised crossover hatchback ride height, we found that the Kona happily stuck to the asphalt through some tire-squealing tuns on our favorite rural paved road "test track." And all the while creating a great popping and crackling exhaust note. (Turn on the Sport setting to access those great sounds).

The Kona N is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 276 horsepower. But press a red button on the steering wheel and you will call up an additional 10 ponies for a 20-second burst. The engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic creating a rather sophisticated powertrain for a car in this segment. It can propel the little Kona from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, according the Car and Driver testing, and can finish off a quarter mile run in 13.5 seconds.

How fast is that? Car and Driver says the Kona N is faster than the prodigious 306-horsepower Honda Civic Type R.

The N was a pleasure to drive, but with two caveast — it can become a bit noisy in the cabin. More sound insulation would be welcome. And the stiff ride does not suit all rear ends.

All the sporty elements you would expect 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.



All this good stuff comes at a surprisingly low purchase price considering this new age of runaway inflation. There is only one loaded-to-the-gills-with-good-things version for $35,995 including destination charge. Actually our test car did have a couple of low-price extras — $400 for Sonic Blue paint and $250 for roof rack cross rails bringing the bottom line to $36,645.

The Kona received a major refreshening for 2022 and there are no changes for 2023. A new front-end treatment including a new wide-mouth grille, new wheel designs, updated exterior lighting elements, and faux front and rear skid plates came in '22.

Up-market features on the Kona N include a head-up display, 10.3-inch infotainment screen, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, individual tire-pressure monitoring, tilt-telescoping steering wheel, power mirrors, automatic full-LED headlamp sand cruise control. And there are actual knobs to control the climate-control system and audio adjustments. We were disappointed that a car of this caliber did not come with adaptive cruise, a feature found on several "lesser" Hyundai products.

The well-shaped seats provide plenty of support. But we found legroom a little tighter than we like for rear-seat passengers, and cargo room is less than some others in the segment measured at 19.2 cubic feet behind the seats and 45.8 cubic feet with seatbacks folded. But with a level cargo floor, there is plenty of space for hauling travel gear or a big stop at Costco.

Like all Hyundai products the Kona N comes with a 5-year/60,000-mile comprehensive warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

2022 Hyundai Kona N

Essentials

Base price: $35,995; as driven, $36,645
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 276 @ 5,500 rpm (286 with overboost)
Torque: 289 pound-feet @ 2,100 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual clutch
Drive: front wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 102.4 inches
Length: 165.9 inches
Curb weight: 3,340 pounds
Turning circle: 38.3 feet
Luggage capacity: 19.2 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 45.8 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons (premium recommended)
EPA rating: 20 city, 27 highway, 23 combined
0-60: 4.8 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Volkswagen Golf TDI, Honda Civic Type R

The Good
• Great engine/transmission combination
• Excellent handling traits
• Loaded with features

The Bad
• Stiff ride

The Ugly
• Loud inside at highway speed