2023 Hyundai Kona evaluation | CarExpert

The Hyundai Kona is again, larger than ever.

Though it solely launched in Australia in 2017, the Kona is a stalwart in one of many nation’s best-selling SUV segments – however it’s one which has quickly been made to look a bit quaint by newer rivals.

From the larger Kia Seltos and the extra luxurious Mazda CX-30, to the hybrid-powered Toyota Corolla Cross, the sport has modified and the Kona was getting left behind.

That’s the place the second-generation mannequin you see right here is available in. It’s larger in each dimension to higher battle the Seltos, encompasses a extra trendy inside to higher battle the CX-30, and packs a hybrid to tackle the – you guessed it – Corolla Cross.

It’s greater than only a box-checking train. Though a number of the key particulars have been reimagined to higher cowl off a contemporary crop of rivals, the brand new Kona options an angular design that builds on the inspiration laid down by the funky first-generation automobile.

It additionally debuts a brand new infotainment system for Hyundai, full with the power to wirelessly settle for software program updates all through its life.

There’s a little bit of floor to cowl right here.

How a lot does the Hyundai Kona value?

Pricing is up throughout the board for the brand new Hyundai Kona. The entry-level mannequin is $5100 costlier than the automobile it replaces, whereas on the prime finish the N Line Premium is $3300 pricier than the mannequin it replaces.

It now begins at $32,000 earlier than on-road prices for the entry-level petrol, climbing $46,500 plus on-roads for the flagship N Line Premium with both 1.6 Hybrid FWD or 1.6T AWD drivetrains.

Even within the context of the value hikes hitting most automobiles in Australia, that’s important – though Hyundai defends it by arguing the brand new automobile is larger and higher outfitted than earlier than.

On the backside finish, it’s aligned with a Kia Seltos Sport ($32,700) and Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD ($33,980 ).

On the prime finish, it goes head-to-head with the Seltos GT-Line ($44,900) and Corolla Cross Atmos 2WD Hybrid ($47,030), together with the Nissan Qashqai Ti ($47,390) – all costs exclude on-road prices.

2023 Hyundai Kona pricing:

• Hyundai Kona
  • 2.0 FWD: $32,000
  • 1.6 Hybrid FWD: $36,000
• Hyundai Kona N Line
  • 1.6 Hybrid FWD: $40,000
  • 1.6T AWD: $40,000
• Hyundai Kona Premium
  • 2.0 FWD: $39,500
  • 1.6 Hybrid FWD: $43,500
• Hyundai Kona N Line Premium
  • 1.6 Hybrid FWD: $46,500
  • 1.6T AWD: $46,500

All costs exclude on-road prices.

What’s the Hyundai Kona like on the within?

The most important problem with the final Kona was a scarcity of area inside. The brand new mannequin resoundingly addresses the issue.

It appears to be like and feels considerably extra grown up up entrance, and there’s lastly sufficient room within the rear to comfortably carry adults behind adults. Just like the Kia Seltos and newest Nissan Qashqai, it feels extra like a smaller mid-sized SUV than a grown-up compact.

It’s additionally way more trendy up entrance, with a model of the dual-screen show rolling out throughout the Kia and Hyundai ranges. Even base vehicles get a high-resolution 12.3-inch central show and a smartly-integrated ‘primary’ digital speedo, whereas higher-end fashions have twin 12.3-inch screens.

Presentation is spectacular throughout the vary. The clear design appears to be like flashy, and options like dual-zone local weather management even on base fashions go some solution to justifying a part of the value rise.

The flip facet? There’s nonetheless plenty of low-cost, exhausting plastics, from the perimeters of the dashboard to the highest of the doorways.

Base fashions characteristic a T-bar shifter and an open centre console with respectable cupboard space, however transferring up the vary will get you an e-shifter on the steering column that frees up a wide-open centre tunnel that calls to thoughts the electrical Ioniq vary.

The view over the broad bonnet is extra commanding than earlier than, and it’s simpler than ever for taller drivers to get comfy.

Hyundai’s newest know-how is a step ahead, with flashy graphics, easy menus, and a full characteristic set. It’s additionally the primary to get touches for right-hand drive like shortcut buttons on the right-hand facet of the display, in straightforward attain, quite than hidden away on the top-right nook.

Base fashions with out satellite tv for pc navigation get wi-fi Apple CarPlay, and it’s coming to higher-end fashions with navigation later this 12 months – lastly. It’ll be out there for anybody who collects their automobile earlier than the rollout, doubtlessly with an over-the-air replace.

Though the fundamental dials are neat sufficient, the digital sprint supplied in higher-end fashions does liven the cabin up. Within the N Line, flicking into Sport provides you a red-and-white kerb define across the rev counter and speedo… though we’d nonetheless wish to see extra customisation potential, as is obtainable in Volkswagen Group merchandise.

Rear seat area is miles higher on this Kona than the final, beginning with the wider-opening doorways.

Adults don’t must contort themselves to squeeze in anymore, which is a step ahead, and as soon as again there you get ranges of legroom and headroom akin to a Kia Seltos.

The air vents and USB-C ports are family-friendly touches, and the broader rear bench will protecting warring children at bay extra successfully than earlier than.

ISOFIX on the outboard seats and a trio of top-tether factors are current, as is a fold-down central armrest.

Boot area within the Kona has improved from 374L to 407L with the arrival of the bigger new second-generation automobile right here. With the rear seats folded there’s 1241L of area.

It’s a way more usable area than earlier than, with a height-adjustable ground and a slot behind the boot to retailer the bags cowl.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The entry-level engine within the Kona stays a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol making 110kW of energy and 180Nm of torque.

It runs the extra environment friendly Atkinson Cycle, and is mated with a CVT – identified within the Hyundai world as an IVT – with eight digital steps.

New for Australia is the choice of a hybrid powertrain within the Kona Hybrid. It combines a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine with an electrical motor, hooked as much as a 1.32kWh battery pack.

The electrical motor makes 32kW of energy and 172Nm of torque; mixed system outputs are 104kW and 265Nm. It’s hooked as much as a six-speed dual-clutch transmission – you’ll discover the identical drivetrain within the associated Kia Niro HEV, in addition to the upcoming Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid.

The range-topping 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol makes 146kW of energy and 265Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed torque converter automated. Gone is the outdated seven-speed DCT.

Claimed gasoline financial system within the base 2.0L petrol is 6.6 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle. That jumps to 7.6L/100km within the 1.6L turbo, and drops to a thrifty 3.9L/100km within the hybrid.

How does the Hyundai Kona drive?

There’s a definite distinction between the bottom Kona and the 1.6-litre turbo.

We began within the base mannequin, which instantly thwacked and thumped its method down a few of Sydney’s worst roads in chilly, moist climate.

Not one of the best first impression – though the automobile settled down properly as soon as we’d moved away from tarmac that seemed prefer it’d lately been shelled.

Hyundai says it’s put actual effort into refining the most recent Kona, and there’s little doubt the entry-level engine is extra polished than earlier than. It’s quieter underneath gentle hundreds, and the CVT is an efficient instance of the breed.

It doesn’t simply flare revs right away, as a substitute leaning on what restricted torque there’s earlier than doing a reasonably convincing impression of a torque converter, full with slurred shifts.

For all that Hyundai has improved, the two.0 nonetheless feels extra enough than standout. It’s happiest at metropolis speeds, the place it might slur round with out feeling too strained, however whenever you put your foot down it feels as if it’s working exhausting.

Overtaking at freeway speeds takes a little bit of planning, and also you’ll must be keen to place up with a little bit of noise within the cabin.

If that’s not an issue, the Kona is in any other case effectively arrange for lengthy stints behind the wheel. It handles pimply Australian nation highways remarkably effectively, with an unruffled manner that conjures up critical confidence.

It tiptoes the tough tightrope between management and luxury remarkably effectively for a (comparatively) inexpensive, (comparatively) compact SUV.

Shifting to the 1.6-litre turbo N Line with all-wheel drive brings a wholesome enhance in punch.

The on-paper enhancements (36kW and 85Nm) are felt instantly in the actual world, the place the N Line accelerates extra effortlessly – even whenever you squeeze the accelerator quite than stamping on it.

The dying of the dual-clutch transmission – changed with an eight-speed torque converter – has made it friendlier on the town. The final N Line was liable to jerking off the road, and may very well be flummoxed when you lifted off the throttle on the fallacious time.

This time round, it feels extra comfy in stop-start site visitors.

Though it’s barely slower to shift on the transfer, Hyundai’s DCT was by no means as fast or intelligent as a Volkswagen unit anyway, so the loss isn’t as keenly felt.

The punchier powertrain is backed by a steering and suspension tune that makes the N Line really feel extra purposeful. It doesn’t go so far as the previous-generation Kona N, however there’s positively a sportier bent that may please eager drivers.

Given we don’t know if Hyundai will develop a correct Kona N for this era, anybody who desires extra may want to begin seeking to the aftermarket to make your N Line a bit angrier.

Frequent to the entire vary is Hyundai’s suite of SmartSense energetic driver assists.

The adaptive cruise management does an excellent job sustaining a spot to the automobile in entrance, and the lane-keeping help decisively nudges you again between the white strains when you stray.

Hyundai’s lane-centring system, which extra actively controls the automobile’s place within the lane quite than intervening whenever you stray, is a bit too hands-on for my liking, although.

The motive force consideration monitoring can also be liable to false positives, flashing whenever you really are trying on the highway… which makes you look away. Extra refinement is required.

What do you get?

Kona highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with 215/55 tyres
• LED headlights, daytime operating lights
• LED tail lights
• Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
• Keyless entry and begin
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Rear air vents
• 4.2-inch digital instrument show
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Bluelink linked companies

Kona Premium provides:

• Blind Spot View Monitor
• AEB in reverse
• 3D surround-view digicam
• Facet parking sensors
• Acoustic entrance windscreen
• Rear privateness glass
• Darkish gray cladding, silver skid plates
• LED dual-projector headlights
• LED entrance, rear indicators
• Energy tailgate
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Bose 8-speaker premium sound
• Leather-based upholstery
• 10-way energy driver’s seat
• 8-way energy passenger seat
• Premium leisure entrance seats
• Heated, ventilated entrance seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats
• Auto-dimming inside mirror
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Ambient lighting

N Line Package deal provides:

• Exterior
  • N Line bumpers, skid plates, facet skirts
  • Gloss black rear spoiler
  • N badging, wheel caps
  • 19-inch wheels with 235/45 tyres (2.0 MPi)
  • 18-inch alloy wheels (Hybrid)
  • Chrome twin exhaust
  • Black mirror caps, beltline
  • Physique colored cladding
• Inside
  • Leather-based/Alcantara trim
  • N steering wheel
  • Crimson air vents, seat highlights
  • Darkish steel trim highlights
  • Black headlining
  • Alloy pedals
  • Sports activities scuff plates
• 2.0 MPi extras:
  • LED dual-projector headlights
  • LED entrance, rear indicators
  • Energy tailgate
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
  • Auto-dimming inside mirrors
  • Rain-sensing wipers

Is the Hyundai Kona protected?

The brand new Kona hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP or ANCAP but.

Commonplace security tools consists of:

• 7 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
  • Ahead, Reverse
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Blind-spot help
• Lane-keep help
• Parking sensors
• Secure exit warning

How a lot does the Hyundai Kona value to run?

The Hyundai Kona is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Upkeep might be required each 15,000 kilometres or 12 months within the 2.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre hybrid, and each 10,000 kilometres or 12 months within the turbocharged petrol.

The primary 5 companies in each the two.0 and the 1.6T will set you again $399 every – though that’s good for 75,000km of motoring within the 2.0, and 60,000km within the 1.6T because of their completely different distance necessities.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Kona

The brand new Hyundai Kona strikes on from its predecessor in a lot of key methods.

It’s larger in and out, and the powertrains on provide at launch have been polished relative to those who got here earlier than.

Though the appears to be like gained’t be for everybody – particularly in tennis ball yellow – it additionally presents effectively in particular person. Hyundai and Kia are taking some calculated dangers with their newest designs, and that strategy has paid off right here.

What’s to complain about? Nicely, that further area and polish comes at a value. Regardless of which method you spin it, a $5000 hike on the backside finish of the vary hurts.

If you happen to can dig deeper into your pockets, you’re getting a way more resolved little SUV – a head-to-head with the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30 beckons…

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