It’s a race to the top of the charts for the popular Hyundai Kona small SUV. With a brand-new generation released in mid-2023, VFACTS figures show the Kona is quickly bouncing back. It has been the second-most popular small SUV so far this year, according to March 2024 figures, taking up 10.3 per cent of the market share, only beaten by the popular MG ZS.
Slotting between the smaller Hyundai Venue and the larger Hyundai Tucson, the Kona brings in a radical new design inside and out, more space, updated engines, and more features. For this review we’re checking out the Premium 2WD with the 2.0 MPi engine, and the sportier N Line Premium with the 1.6T engine and AWD.
2024 Hyundai Kona 2.0 MPi Premium: Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder
Output: 110kW@6200rpm / 180Nm@4500rpm
Gearbox: CVT auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.0, 215/55
ANCAP: Four stars
Tare weight: 1427kg
Power-to-weight: 12.97:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 6.6L/100km
Our consumption: 7.2L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 47L/91 RONPower efficiency: 16.66kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.93 seconds*
0-100km/h: 9.79 seconds*
60-110km/h: 6.61 seconds*
1/4 mile: 17.25 seconds at 134.9km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.753g*
100-0km/h braking: 36.39m in 2.91 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.588g*
Decibel at idle: 40*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 85*
Starting price: $39,500
2024 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium: Specifications
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder
Output: 146kW@6000rpm / 265Nm@1600-4500rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 19×7.5, 235/45
ANCAP: Four stars
Tare weight: 1557kg
Power-to-weight: 10.66:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.6L/100km
Our consumption: 8.6L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 47L/91 RONPower efficiency: 19.21kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.81 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.86 seconds*
60-110km/h: 5.24 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.76 seconds at 147.6km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.753g*
100-0km/h braking: 38.94m in 3.09 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.588g*
Decibel at idle: 38*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 79*
Starting price: $46,500
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 Hyundai Kona 2.0L & 1.6T: How much does it cost?
Before we cut to the chase and talk numbers, the lineup is made up of the simply named Kona and the Kona Premium. The N Line pack can be added to both. There are also three powertrains to pick from; the 2.0 MPi naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with a CVT auto, the 1.6 GDi Kona Hybrid naturally aspirated four-cylinder with electric power and a six-speed dual-clutch auto; and the 1.6 T-GDi with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive. The N Line pack automatically comes with the 1.6 T-GDi.
The cheapest Kona 2.0 MPi starts from $32,000, and then the 1.6T N Line Premium peaks at $46,500 (excluding on-road costs). Among its popular opponents, the Kona is competitively priced, with 10 variants to choose from, excluding the Kona Electric. The most affordable Kona is $2000 cheaper than the cheapest Corolla Cross, $4k cheaper than the entry Volkswagen T-Roc, and about the same price as the cheapest Toyota CH-R. It is undercut by $2500 by the Kia Seltos and $5500 by the Mitsubishi ASX.
Hyundai offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with its vehicles. Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km with the 2.0-litre engine, and 10,000km with the 1.6-litre turbo engine.
2024 Hyundai Kona 2.0L & 1.6T: Interior & packaging
Jumping into the Kona Premium and you’re greeted with an interior that aims for practicality with a touch of flair. Storage areas are particularly open and bucket-like. A horizontal orientation, floating storage areas, and the lack of a gear selector in the centre area (shift-by-wire; standard on 1.6 Hybrid, 1.6T and all Premium variants) makes the space feel airy and open. The gear selector is moved to the steering column.
There is prominence of hard plastic materials in the base Kona, but the use of light colours in Premium variants (as an option) helps to give the overall ambience a boost. Base Konas get an Obsidian Black cloth interior and Premium versions offer a choice of leather in three colours; Obsidian Black, Light Shale Grey, or Sage Green.
Upgrading to the N Line vastly increases the level of elegance and refinement, with Alcantara and leather areas with red stitching and ‘N’ logos. You also score an N Line steering wheel, dark metal door handles, black headlining and pillar trim, and other dark metal dash trimmings.
To give you an idea of the space, the new Kona is 30mm taller, 145mm longer, and the wheelbase has grown by 60mm over the previous generation. Inside, that translates to a 77mm increase in legroom and 11mm more headroom in the second row. Rear seat passengers also gain backrest tilt adjustment. We find interior space to be among the biggest/best in its class.
Further back, and the boot space on offer is substantial. Using the VDA measuring standards, it swallows 407 litres of cargo. This can be increased to 1241 litres if the rear seats are folded down. They fold almost completely flat to maximise your space.
In comparison, the Corolla Cross offers 380 to 436 litres, the Toyota CH-R offers 318 litres, the Volkswagen T-Roc fits 445 litres, the Nissan Juke fits 422 litres, and the Kia Seltos squeezes in 433 litres. Although slightly down on some rivals, the new Kona offers a stack more room than the previous Kona; 332L.
Dominating the interior is a new floating panoramic 12.3-inch multimedia display and an additional 12.3-inch instrument cluster in Premium variants. They join together seamlessly to create a band of digital sophistication. The layout is beautifully simple, clutter-free and easy to grasp.
From here, you can access wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, and a front and rear camera view. The Premium adds surround-view cameras, sat-nav and an eight-speaker Bose sound system. Additionally, air-con controls are separated out for quick access.
Since its inauguration, the Kona has adopted a futuristic, quirky Californian external design. This second generation continues to turn heads in this department, but in a vastly different way to the first generation. The lumpy contours are gone. Now you get a smoother, simpler, and streamlined look. The wheel arches are less flared, it looks bigger above the waist, and lighting is more linear and runs the full width at the back (full-width front daytime LED for Premium models).
The feature list on all Kona models has been beefed up. Some of the standard highlights are Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite, which includes multi-collision avoidance, blind-spot sensors, front and rear parking sensors, driver attention warning, forward collision avoidance with function turning assist, rear cross-traffic avoidance, and door safe exit warning.
You also receive 18-inch alloy wheels, over-the-air Bluelink connectivity, distance-controlled cruise control, remote start via smart key, a wireless phone charging pad, height adjustable front seats, and four USB-C ports.
Upgrading to the Kona Premium adds blind-spot view monitors, 360-degree camera view, parking collision avoidance, remote parking, the sound system upgrade, a smart powered tailgate, that bigger 12.3-inch instrument cluster, ambient mood lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat, rain-sensing wipers, premium seats, and some trim upgrades.
2024 Hyundai Kona 2.0L & 1.6T: Powertrain & handling
The two engines we experienced produced differing results, as expected. The entry-level 2.0-litre engine is obviously inferior in terms of performance. It produces a rather rudimentary 110kW and a meagre 180Nm.
There is not much thrill to be gained from this powertrain, but it will carry out the daily duties without too much fuss. When the need arises to ascend a hill, overtake, or carry a full load, you will notice it starts whimpering for more. With a constantly variable automatic (CVT), it only exaggerates the breathlessness further. We timed 0-100km/h in 9.79 seconds, which is actually not overly slow for a base model in this class. But you do have to really put your foot in.
If you like to have a bit of oomph at your disposal, go for the 1.6 turbo engine. It moves with a healthy 146kW and 265Nm. Thanks to that turbo and extra torque you can really feel the difference on hills and when snap acceleration is needed. Not only that, it uses an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, providing a more authentic acceleration feel and more traction. We timed 0-100km/h in 7.86 seconds.
That extra performance does come at a small cost though. The 2.0-litre engine officially burns 6.6L/100km and the sportier 1.6-litre consumes one litre more at 7.6L/100km. To be fair, the 1.6-litre engine powers all four wheels and the 2.0-litre only powers the front wheels.
Our weeks’ worth of testing with each revealed an average of 7.2L/100km in the 2.0L and 8.6L/100km in the 1.6T. These figures are about average for current standards among non-hybrid engines of similar capacities. Thankfully, both can run on the lower grade 91 RON and E10 blend petrol.
There is also a difference in the suspension setup with both engines. Both incorporate MacPherson struts at the front. But the 2.0L gets a coupled torsion beam axle at the rear and the 1.6L engine scores a more dynamic independent multilink setup.
Behind the wheel, both types of suspension provide excellent levels of comfort and cushioning over bumps. In fact, they soak up rough Aussie road imperfections brilliantly. Only, the multilink setup feels slightly firmer and seems to perform better when pushed hard and fast around corners. The 1.6T Kona will tackle light dirt road duties better as well thanks to that all-wheel drive bonus and various driving modes (snow, mud, and sand). But it is not intended to take on strenuous terrain.
In the driver’s seat, the Kona is effortless to drive. The interior slips further into an EV design, and the steering is light. One small but impossibly ignorable gripe we have is the incessant speed limit warning alarm. Every time you exceed the speed limit that the car last detected from road signs, it beeps constantly. You can turn it off deep in the settings menu, but it needs to be turned off each time the car is switched on.
The biggest issue is, the warning goes off when you are genuinely following the road rules. For example, it can and does display a 10km/h speed limit sign in a parking lot, and then you proceed onto a road where the speed limit is more than 10km/h. It will beep even though you’re within the speed limit because it has not picked up the new speed limit until it passes the next road sign. The warning is so intrusive it would be enough for me to not buy the car.
2024 Hyundai Kona – 2.0L & 1.6T: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Fresh, unique and futuristic external styling: Hyundai designs really stand out these days as something fresh and future-thinking.
- Large 12.3-inch multimedia screen is standard on all models: A new precedent has been set. The Premium scores another 12.3-inch instrument cluster screen that seamlessly joins with the other screen.
- More interior space and practicality over the previous model: A welcomed change, with large storage areas and ‘floating’ designs.
- 1.6 T-GDi engine: It is a lively, zesty engine that is worth the extra cost
2024 Hyundai Kona2.0L & 1.6T: Key considerations before you buy
- Lots of hard surfaces inside: It doesn’t feel warm and cosy. Aside from the crisp large screens, there could be more soft-touch materials around. The N Line helps with its Alcantara trimmings.
- 2.0-litre engine and CVT: It’s slow and boring and struggles up long steep hills. Needs more torque.
- Incessant and inaccurate speed warning nanny is just horrid: It needs to use more accurate data before recommending anything.
- Hybrid powertrain with a 1.6-litre has also arrived: Definitely worth a look if you’re after economy while offering similar performance to the 2.0L.
2024 Hyundai Kona2.0L & 1.6T: Video
