2023 Hyundai KONA Review

The small 2023 Hyundai Kona, sometimes known as a low-riding SUV or a tall hatchback car, is one of our favorites because it is a practical and entertaining car to drive. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder base engine only produces 147 horsepower, but the optional turbocharged mill adds some spice to match the Kona's agile handling. The Kona, like other Hyundai vehicles, is loaded with a long list of standard amenities, including infotainment and driver aid technology, at a fair price. actually more than reasonable. Even if you're on a tight budget, you might find it easy to rationalize splurging on a higher-trimmed Kona model given that competitors like the Kia Seltos and the Volkswagen Taos cost thousands more to begin with. Regardless of whether you consider the Kona a sedan or an SUV, it is a bundle of feisty, funky joy to drive and may not have as much passenger or cargo room as some of its larger competitors.

Modifications for 2023

For 2023, Hyundai's safe-exit warning system, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert will all be standard on the Kona. This system keeps an eye out for oncoming vehicles or cyclists and alerts the driver and passengers when it's time to get out of the car. The optional Tech package for the N-Line model has been deleted, and its components are now either standard or not available on that trim. For instance, the N-Line now comes standard with a sunroof and a larger 10.3-inch touchscreen system, but the Limited model is now the only one with a Harman/Kardon radio and adaptive cruise control.

Which Trim To Purchase?

If it were our money, we'd choose the nearly fully equipped Limited model because it provides almost all of the most desired equipment without being too pricey. A sunroof, automatic climate control, fog lamps, leather upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver's seat are all included as standard features. By choosing the Limited, we also get the N-Line trim's spirited turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Power & Performance

The Kona has two available powertrains: the SE and SEL variants have a four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and a six-speed automated transmission. To reach 60 mph in our testing, an all-wheel-drive SEL model took 9.2 seconds; this arrangement could use a lot of caffeine. The far more potent 195-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine powering the Limited and N-Line variants is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and completed our testing's 60-mph dash in 7.3 seconds. Once moving, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic struggles at low speeds in parking lots and bumper-to-bumper traffic, reluctantly engaging and disengaging first gear until the driver applies more throttle. The Kona offers surprising amounts of excitement and agile handling. This doesn't translate to a bumpy ride on choppy roads; rather, the suspension offers quite the opposite, smoothing out vibrations and giving passengers a cabin that is well insulated from flaws in the tarmac. Perhaps the Kona's most dynamic flaw is the steering: When driving along the highway, the uncommunicative helm need repeated corrections despite feeling heavy-weighted.

Fuel Economy

The Kona has good EPA ratings compared to its competitors in this class of fuel-efficient mini-SUVs, but only mediocre ratings. Despite this, the Kona wowed us throughout our in-depth testing, outperforming a large portion of its rivals. The standard model with front-wheel drive, which is rated for 30 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, is the most economical option. With front-wheel drive, the turbocharged variant can achieve up to 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway; with all-wheel drive, those ratings drop to 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the interstate. In our testing, we were able to achieve 33 mpg with the base four-cylinder and 32 mpg with the turbocharged all-wheel-drive variant during our 75 mph highway fuel-economy test.

Interior & Comfort

Hyundai's designers succeeded in balancing comfort and convenience with the challenging task of conveying the appeal of the Kona's outward design to the interior. In keeping with the Kona's funkadelic exterior, high-quality materials, superior ergonomics, and soft seating give the impression of being sophisticated and grown-up. The steering wheel has integrated controls for the cruise control and audio settings and is covered in nicely-grained leather with contrast stitching. The Kona's cargo room is ideal for those upgrading from a small hatchback or sedan, but purchasers downsizing from a larger SUV will probably feel the pressure. In our test to determine the maximum number of carry-on bags that could fit, the Kona just barely edged out the little Mazda CX-3. 14 of our carry-on bags fit in the Kona, which is two more than the CX-3 but eight fewer than the Honda HR-V.

Infotainment

A touchscreen infotainment system with shortcut buttons that make it simple to navigate between popular menus is mounted atop the Kona's dashboard. The system was simple to use, although it took a while for it to react to inputs. Customers can upgrade to a 10.3-inch touchscreen if they prefer a bigger screen than the original 8.0-inch touchscreen. On the optional head-up display, which swings up from the dashboard and displays the vehicle's speed and other data, driving directions can be projected. Standard features include the ability to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; a wifi connection is an additional choice.

Safety

The Kona provides automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor as standard equipment, so buyers looking for popular driver-assistance systems will find them there. Other, more sophisticated functions are still optional. Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for more details regarding the Kona's crash test results. Important safety elements include:

Standard automated emergency braking

Standard lane-departure warning

Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty & Coverage For Maintenance

The Kona is covered by the same 10-year powertrain warranty offered by Hyundai, which is now recognized in the automotive industry as one of the most extensive warranties available. Additionally, the business now provides free routine maintenance, outperforming well-known competitors like Toyota.

Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles

Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles

Complimentary maintenance covers 3 years or 36,000 miles

Competitive Cars

Hyundai Kona vs. Honda HR-V

For 2023, the Honda HR-V will see a redesign. In addition to providing a more upscale cabin and larger cargo space than the Kona, it also delivers balanced driving dynamics and a wealth of standard tech features, just like its Hyundai counterpart. Due to its two spirited turbocharged engine choices, the Kona outperforms the HR-V in terms of performance (the Honda is only offered with a 158-horsepower four-cylinder).

Hyundai Kona vs. Hyundai Venue

The newest subcompact SUV from the company is the Hyundai Venue, which has some advantages over its corporate sibling. Both offer excellent handling and fuel efficiency, as well as a generous variety of tech and driver-assistance systems that come standard. Although the entry-level Venue is around $2,000 less expensive than the standard Kona, it has fewer features and a smaller cargo area. The Venue is also only offered with a sluggish 121-horsepower engine, which makes it more of a low-speed city car.