2020 Hyundai Kona: Sub-Compact CUV is Urban Smart, Sporty and Versatile
Blending a hip attitude, style, sportiness and luxury not generally expected from a sub-compact, Hyundai has targeted youthful “urban adventurers” with its sub-compact crossover utility vehicle, the 2020 Hyundai Kona.
Blending a hip attitude, style, sportiness and luxury not generally expected from a sub-compact, Hyundai has targeted youthful “urban adventurers” with its sub-compact crossover utility vehicle, the 2020 Hyundai Kona.
Introduced in 2018 with what Hyundai called “urban smart armor” exterior styling, Kona displays an aggressive demeanor complemented by a low and wide stance, and has packed the vehicle with niche-leading safety technology and advanced infotainment features in a compact footprint. Hyundai has also paid attention to performance and safety, offering two engines – one of which is a turbo system – and Kona has been awarded Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and five stars from the federal government. The package tops off with a composure designed to exhibit confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments.
Since its launch in 2018, Kona gained standard driver assistance features last year, including forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and pedestrian detection and an all-electric Kona model. For 2020, Kona adds available adaptive cruise control and a new SEL Plus trim that is up-tweaked with more standard equipment. And on the Kona Limited trim, if you select Sunset Orange exterior paint, it comes with new Orange interior accents. Next year, the Night Edition trim joins the lineup
Slotting just below the larger Hyundai Tucson, the subcompact CUV is so well packed that my test Kona, in Ultimate trim, required only slight accessory add-ons, and an upgrade to AWD. Kona is outfitted with a standard floating touchscreen with Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto™ capability; and Hyundai Smart Sense with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Driver Attention Warning, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.
My test Kona Ultimate (top-of-the-line) trim came standard with a Heads-up Display, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen display with navigation, High Beam Assist
Parking distance warning, Rain-sensing wipers, HomeLink® and compass, Infinity® premium audio with 8 speakers including subwoofer, and external amplifier, a 4.2-inch color Multi-Information Display, Blue Link® Connected Car Services, Blue Link® connectivity and guidance packages, and wireless device charging.
Kona’s exterior is designed to exude adventure, power and elegance for the niche, while showing a willingness to take on soft-road activities. Kona plays to Hyundai’s family identity with a cascading grille, featuring a sporty mesh pattern, flanked by flared, wing-like fenders that dominate the front visage.
The sub-compact Kona measures 164.0 inches long, 70.9 inches wide and 61.0 inches high on a 102.4-inch wheelbase, providing a forgiving minimum ground clearance of 6.7 inches. The lightest Konas weigh in with a curb-eight of 2890 pounds and the heaviest with the turbo engine can reach 3276 pounds.
The distinctive features of the exterior continue inside with a strong horizontal character line creating a wide and spacious feel. The sleek and simple layout interior incorporates advanced infotainment features and a standard floating seven-inch touchscreen. HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) controls are surrounded by soft, fluid details that contribute to a sensuous experience and enhance the comfort-focused environment.
The cabin shows average-but-not spacious room for the niche, with front headroom of 38.0 inches (with sunroof and 39.6 without it) and rear headroom of 37.8 inches. Legroom is comfortable up front at 41.5 inches and tight as expected in back at 34.6 inches. Shoulder room is generous at 55.5 inches in row one, and 54.5 in row two.
Kona targets efficiency with its powertrains and offers a choice of two gasoline engines. On the SE, SEL and SEL Plus trims a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Atkinson engine is standard, and produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Limited and Ultimate trims offer the Gamma 1.6-liter 4-cylinder direct-injected, turbocharged engine generating 175 HP and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. The turbo engine is coupled to a seven-speed EcoShift® dual-clutch manual transmission.
The 2.0-liter engine is rated at 27mpg in city driving and 33mpg on the highway for FWD and 25/city, 30/highway for AWD; and the 1.6 turbo that powered my test ride was rated at 28/city and 32/highway for FWD and 26/city, 29/highway for AWD. I averaged 27.2mpg during a week of mixed-use runs. Acceleration is predictable and confident, with hill ascends and passing achieved easily. On the track, a steady 7.7-second zero-to-60mph dash and 16.1-second quarter-mile were accomplished.
The 2020 Hyundai Kona is offered in five trims (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited and Ultimate). The SE starts at $20,300 with the 2.0-liter engine and 6-speed automatic transmission in FWD, and ranges to $27,950 for the Ultimate trim I tested with the 1.6-liter turbo and 7-speed EcoShift Dial Clutch transmission in AWD.
In Surf Blue exterior paint and a Gray interior, my Ultimate tweaked up with AWD for $1400. The Ultimate trim was so well-packed with standard equipment that only all-weather carpeted floor mats were added for $165 and mudguards were installed for $120. With an $1175 Freight charge added, my 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate stickered at $30,810 for the top-of-the line and seemed to be well in-line with the luxury and quality that were included in the package. You can also get into a lesser-scale Kona for $8,000 less, and Retail Cash Bonuses of up to $2500 may be available from your local dealer, with zero-percent financing options also offered.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Introduced in 2018 with what Hyundai called “urban smart armor” exterior styling, Kona displays an aggressive demeanor complemented by a low and wide stance, and has packed the vehicle with niche-leading safety technology and advanced infotainment features in a compact footprint. Hyundai has also paid attention to performance and safety, offering two engines – one of which is a turbo system – and Kona has been awarded Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and five stars from the federal government. The package tops off with a composure designed to exhibit confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments.
Since its launch in 2018, Kona gained standard driver assistance features last year, including forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and pedestrian detection and an all-electric Kona model. For 2020, Kona adds available adaptive cruise control and a new SEL Plus trim that is up-tweaked with more standard equipment. And on the Kona Limited trim, if you select Sunset Orange exterior paint, it comes with new Orange interior accents. Next year, the Night Edition trim joins the lineup
Slotting just below the larger Hyundai Tucson, the subcompact CUV is so well packed that my test Kona, in Ultimate trim, required only slight accessory add-ons, and an upgrade to AWD. Kona is outfitted with a standard floating touchscreen with Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto™ capability; and Hyundai Smart Sense with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Driver Attention Warning, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.
My test Kona Ultimate (top-of-the-line) trim came standard with a Heads-up Display, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen display with navigation, High Beam Assist
Parking distance warning, Rain-sensing wipers, HomeLink® and compass, Infinity® premium audio with 8 speakers including subwoofer, and external amplifier, a 4.2-inch color Multi-Information Display, Blue Link® Connected Car Services, Blue Link® connectivity and guidance packages, and wireless device charging.
Kona’s exterior is designed to exude adventure, power and elegance for the niche, while showing a willingness to take on soft-road activities. Kona plays to Hyundai’s family identity with a cascading grille, featuring a sporty mesh pattern, flanked by flared, wing-like fenders that dominate the front visage.
The sub-compact Kona measures 164.0 inches long, 70.9 inches wide and 61.0 inches high on a 102.4-inch wheelbase, providing a forgiving minimum ground clearance of 6.7 inches. The lightest Konas weigh in with a curb-eight of 2890 pounds and the heaviest with the turbo engine can reach 3276 pounds.
The distinctive features of the exterior continue inside with a strong horizontal character line creating a wide and spacious feel. The sleek and simple layout interior incorporates advanced infotainment features and a standard floating seven-inch touchscreen. HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) controls are surrounded by soft, fluid details that contribute to a sensuous experience and enhance the comfort-focused environment.
The cabin shows average-but-not spacious room for the niche, with front headroom of 38.0 inches (with sunroof and 39.6 without it) and rear headroom of 37.8 inches. Legroom is comfortable up front at 41.5 inches and tight as expected in back at 34.6 inches. Shoulder room is generous at 55.5 inches in row one, and 54.5 in row two.
Kona targets efficiency with its powertrains and offers a choice of two gasoline engines. On the SE, SEL and SEL Plus trims a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Atkinson engine is standard, and produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Limited and Ultimate trims offer the Gamma 1.6-liter 4-cylinder direct-injected, turbocharged engine generating 175 HP and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. The turbo engine is coupled to a seven-speed EcoShift® dual-clutch manual transmission.
The 2.0-liter engine is rated at 27mpg in city driving and 33mpg on the highway for FWD and 25/city, 30/highway for AWD; and the 1.6 turbo that powered my test ride was rated at 28/city and 32/highway for FWD and 26/city, 29/highway for AWD. I averaged 27.2mpg during a week of mixed-use runs. Acceleration is predictable and confident, with hill ascends and passing achieved easily. On the track, a steady 7.7-second zero-to-60mph dash and 16.1-second quarter-mile were accomplished.
The 2020 Hyundai Kona is offered in five trims (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited and Ultimate). The SE starts at $20,300 with the 2.0-liter engine and 6-speed automatic transmission in FWD, and ranges to $27,950 for the Ultimate trim I tested with the 1.6-liter turbo and 7-speed EcoShift Dial Clutch transmission in AWD.
In Surf Blue exterior paint and a Gray interior, my Ultimate tweaked up with AWD for $1400. The Ultimate trim was so well-packed with standard equipment that only all-weather carpeted floor mats were added for $165 and mudguards were installed for $120. With an $1175 Freight charge added, my 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate stickered at $30,810 for the top-of-the line and seemed to be well in-line with the luxury and quality that were included in the package. You can also get into a lesser-scale Kona for $8,000 less, and Retail Cash Bonuses of up to $2500 may be available from your local dealer, with zero-percent financing options also offered.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
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