5 things to like about the Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover that was introduced in 2017 and still proves to be a strong contender in today’s automotive landscape. A veteran of the segment, It offers interested buyers and owners a unique exterior design along with a gasoline engine that produces great fuel efficiency figures. With that said, here are 5 things to like about the Hyundai Kona. 

If different is what you want in a vehicle then the Hyundai Kona will surely tick the right boxes. It comes with a unique exterior design that stays away from the typical look of other crossovers in its segment. The South Korean crossover adopts a dual-layer headlight look that is rarely seen in the local automotive market and executes it well. You have its signal and daytime running lights at the top, while its may headlights are found near the middle section of the bumper. Hyundai has designed it well as the Kona comes with a unique sporty design that will make it easily distinguishable even in a sea of traffic. It’s a head-turning design that will definitely get you noticed. 

The Hyundai Kona is equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine. While there are negative connotations when it comes to big displacement engines, the Hyundai crossover is very frugal when it comes to consuming gas. During our testing with the vehicle, we were able to get 7.6 km/L in the city and 21.5 km/L on the highway. Overall great fuel efficiency figures especially coming from a 2.0-liter engine.

While the exterior design of the Hyundai Kona is loud and proud, the interior of the vehicle is more subdued. The interior comes with a more minimalistic approach but is overall clean. There are no colors to break the dark-themed interior which makes it easier to clean. The plastics are masked in a matte finish and lean more towards the durable side especially in high touch areas. The Kona also features some bits of faux leather in the cabin particularly on the center console box that helps subtly uplift the interior. The textured fabric seats are soft and can comfortably keep you in place on twisting roads. Getting into a comfortable driving position is also easy even without the aid of a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. Although simple in terms of looks the interior is overall well-executed and radiates a clean look. 

Another area where the Hyundai Kona excels is its driving dynamics. Its 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine responds well both in the city and on the highway. While its power figures of 147 hp and 179 Nm of torque may seem low on paper, but in actual driving, it’s a different story. While the crossover may not have sportscar-like performance, the engine and transmission are quick to respond to your bidding. Even in eco mode, the vehicle can quickly get up to speed as the transmission is eager to get the vehicle moving forward. With its eager engine and transmission along with its balanced suspension and comfortable ride, the Hyundai Kona is definitely a crossover worth considering.

When it comes to safety the Hyundai Kona is well equipped. It comes with six airbags—two in the front, two at the sides, and two curtains. The crossover also comes with seat belt reminders for both the driver and front passenger. Aside from this, the Kona also gets standard features such as ABS with EBD, an engine immobilizer, and ISOFIX child seat anchors, as well as a tire-pressure monitor.