2018 Hyundai Kona - Review

With its quirky styling, the Kona is set to perk up some fun. Choose from a 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four with a six-speed automatic transmission or a 175-hp turbo 1.6-liter inline-four with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional with both engines. A standard 7.0-inch touchscreen includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; an 8.0-inch unit with navigation and wireless charging is optional. An all-electric version is expected to debut in 2019.
2018 Hyundai Kona
We're glad they didn't name it Fargo.
The latest addition to Hyundai’s lineup in the United States, the Kona is not only the automaker’s first foray into the popular subcompact-crossover segment but also its first crossover in recent history to be named after a locale that’s not in the American Southwest. While the larger Tucson and even larger Santa Fe models evoke visions of dry desert scenes, the Kona trades on the tropical, breezy imagery of the Big Island of Hawaii located some 3000 miles to the west. More than just a catchy name, the Kona sports body lines said to be inspired by the flow of molten lava, which also stands as a visual metaphor for the active lifestyle of its target demographic.
-Highs
Tight build and rattle-free cabin, well-tuned dual-clutch automatic transmission.
-Lows
Some interior plastics not up to par, penalty-box rear seat.
Clean-Sheet Design
Riding on an all-new platform and assembled in Korea, the Kona is offered in four trim levels with two powertrains: The SE and SEL get a naturally aspirated, 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four paired with a six-speed automatic, while the Limited and Ultimate use Hyundai’s 175-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. (A manual transmission is not on the menu.) Front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup; all-wheel drive is a $1300 option. Hyundai had only top-trim Ultimate versions on hand for our drive in the car’s namesake Kona district on the Big Island.
The 164.0-inch-long Kona is a foot shorter than the next-in-line Tucson, yet its 102.4-inch wheelbase gives up only 2.7 inches to the next-size-larger Hyundai, resulting in a much shorter rear overhang. The chunky look is amplified by bulky fender cladding that extends to the headlamps in the front—those thin, upper strip lamps are LED running lights—and to the turn-signal and reverse lamps in the back. Hyundai says the front styling was inspired by an ancient helmet used by Spartan warriors and, in concert with the rest of the exterior features, embodies a Smart Armor design theme. Um, okay. Our Ultimate-trim example was fitted with 18-inch aluminum wheels wearing Goodyear Eagle Touring all-season tires; the base SE gets 16-inch alloys, while the SEL and Limited ride on 17-inchers.
Although the Kona is shorter than competitors—the 166.6-inch-long Jeep Renegade comes close while the Subaru Crosstrek dwarfs it at 175.5 inches—Hyundai put great effort into the interior packaging. The front seats have more than enough elbow and shoulder room for anyone this side of a sumo wrestler, and the center console is svelte enough to encourage manspreading of salacious proportions. Officially, the Kona offers 39.6 inches of headroom (38.0 inches with the optional sunroof) and 55.5 inches of shoulder room in the front, but it somehow manages to feel significantly more accommodating than the Honda HR-V with its 39.5- and 56.8-inch measurements.
Rear-seat space is a bit compromised, however. Although there’s plenty of head and shoulder room for six-footers, they’ll need to remove their legs at the knees before entering the rear doors. Materials quality varies from “say, these cloth-and-leather front seats are comfortable and supportive” to “some of the plastics are making me kind of sad.” While none of the cars in this segment offer awe-inspiring polymers, the cheap bits stand out in the Kona because the remainder of the interior is finished to a reasonably high standard. Shoppers drawn to the Kona’s Lime Twist exterior color can specify a leather interior with bright-lime accents on Limited and Ultimate trims for no additional charge. A contrasting roof in black or gray can be added to the SEL for $150.
It’s Still a Car
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