Reviews of the Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is a small SUV that is perfect for those looking for their next family car. Available at an affordable price, the Kona impresses with its polished cabin, spacious interior, and loads of technology.  

Rivals to the Hyundai Kona include the Skoda Kamiq, Ford Puma, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Peugeot 2008. 

Our Hyundai Kona review covers:

• Futuristic exterior styling 
• Minimalist interior that's practical 
• 466-litre boot
• Petrol or hybrid powertrain 
• Four trim levels 

Pros:

• Spacious interior with plenty of tech 
• Good to drive at cruising speed 
• Unique styling

Cons:

• Hybrid engine is mediocre 
• Poor ride quality at low speeds 

The first thing you'll notice about the Kona is its unique exterior design. It's arguably one of the most futuristic-looking cars on the market, with its full-width light bars at the front and back, long bonnet, and chunky styling. It wouldn't look out of place on a sci-fi film set! 

The Kona is now in its second generation and is longer, wider, and taller. That translates to more interior space. In the front, there's ample room for a pair of adults to get comfortable, and in the rear, even taller passengers will have decent leg and headroom. Storage space is also generous, with handy spaces for your phone and gadgets on the central divide. 

The Kona's boot space is 466 litres, better than that of the Ford Puma and Volkswagen T-Cross. If you need more space, fold the rear seats and you get 1,300 litres. The boot isn't just spacious; it's also practical. The bumper sits low, which means that there's no boot lip, making loading and unloading heavy items relatively easy. 

Matching the Kona's futuristic exterior is its minimalist and tech-laden interior. It's heavily dominated by the dual-screen setup on the dashboard, which houses the infotainment system and the digital driver display. Both are easy to use thanks to the physical buttons on the dash, which can't be said for the Volkswagen T-Roc. 

The dual-screen setup comprises a 10.25-inch infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display that are sharp and responsive. The former comes with built-in sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The standard Advance trim offers most features, but you'll need to upgrade to a higher trim to get a wireless charging pad and an upgraded stereo system. 

Speaking of which, the Kona comes with four trim levels: Advance, N Line, N Line S, and Ultimate. 

Advance comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and keyless entry. 

N Line adds front and rear heated seats, interior ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, a power-operated tailgate, and a wireless phone charging pad. 

N Line S has an electrically adjustable front seat, Alcantara and leather seats, a surround-view monitor, a blind view monitor, and a BOSE premium sound system. 

Ultimate has an electrically opening glass sunroof and a black leather seat trim. 

The Kona is available with either a petrol or full hybrid engine. 

There are two petrol engines available, a 1.0-litre unit or a 1.6-litre unit. The former returns 120hp and goes from 0 to 62mph in 11 seconds, while the latter has 198hp and reaches 62mph in under nine seconds. 

There's also a full hybrid available. It combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a battery-powered electric motor, returns 140hp, and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 11 seconds. Depending on the situation, the hybrid switches between the petrol engine and electric motor, making driving around town a breeze. 

There is a fully electric version of the Kona available in the form of the Kona Electric.

The Kona is a decent car to drive around town, but there's no denying it's more suited to motorway cruising. 

The hybrid version is best suited around town. It's responsive from a standstill and returns good fuel economy, which is helped by Kona's regenerative braking technology. Thanks to its high driving position, you also get a good view of the road, making it relatively easy to navigate tight city streets and car parks. 

Issues appear with the Kona's ride quality at low speeds and you'll feel potholes and bumps in the road. If you live in a rural area with poor road quality, we'd recommend going for the Skoda Kamiq. 

As you increase to motorway speeds, the engine works quite hard, and there will be a bit of noise, but once there, things calm down. We'd recommend the 1.6-litre petrol engine if you do a lot of long-distance driving, as it provides that bit more oomph than the other two. 

Prices for the new Hyundai Kona start from £22,766.00 OTR* or to lease from £191.76 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Hyundai Kona? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.