Hyundai has been a trailblazer in the automobile industry, manufacturing reliable, high-quality cars with a unique style. So it’s no surprise that their launch, the Hyundai Kona, has turned heads and captivated audiences everywhere. The Kona is a subcompact SUV that features state-of-the-art technology, making it a sight to behold. Its fluid exteriors, combined with its powerful engine, make it one of the most practical choices for navigating the city daily.

Engine and performance
The Hyundai Kona has two four-cylinder engine options available. At the entry-level, the car is equipped with a 147 horsepower 2.0-liter engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, while a 190-horsepower 1.6-liter engine with eight-speed automatic transmission is optional.

Apart from these fuel options, the Kona also has a hybrid variant that relies on electric power instead of gasoline. What truly stands out about this full-parallel hybrid drive system is that users don’t have to charge the car. Instead, this is completely managed by regenerative braking that charges the battery automatically. The hybrid model can deliver up to 141 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque.

Fuel economy
With the base powertrain, the Hyundai Kona has a fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. But with the all-wheel drive and more powerful turbo engine, this economy drops to 24  mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Infotainment and technology
Even though the car is an ode to the future, the knobs and buttons inside the Hyundai Kona have been practically designed to provide optimal comfort to the drivers. That is why the car has several knobs and buttons for audio and climate control, so the driver can easily use the system without having to turn their attention.

Standard infotainment features in the Hyundai Kona include a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, a six-speaker stereo, HD radio, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two front USB-C ports, two rear USB-C ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. Besides these, other infotainment and tech features such as navigation with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an eight-speaker premium Bose audio system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 4.2-inch driver information display, remote keyless entry, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, remote start, a sunroof, and dual-zone automatic climate control are optional.

Comfort
Over the years, the Hyundai Kona has seen major improvements in its interiors. For instance, buyers will find that a more stretched wheelbase and a longer body length give them access to a little extra legroom in the more recent models. While the Kona continues to be Hyundai’s second-smallest SUV offering, it is now more spacious and features a rather futuristic-looking design that can be enhanced with available ambient lighting, a column-mounted shifter, and leather upholstery. Apart from this, there is a lot of convenience offered to the driver with a 6-way adjustable and manual height adjustment for the driver’s seat.

The car’s listed cargo space is 63.7 cubic feet behind the front row and 25.5 cubic feet behind the second row, making it a decent partner for weekend trips with the family.

Safety and driver assistance
The Hyundai Kona is equipped with a bunch of safety and driver-assistance features that make it a pleasure to drive. The standard features include a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, driver-attention monitoring, rear-seat alert (that reminds the driver to check for proper buckling up in the back), forward automatic emergency braking, vehicle exit warning, and high-beam assist.

In addition to these, buyers can also add  available safety features, such as highway driving assist,   front and rear parking sensors, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control,  remote smart parking assist, surround-view camera system, and blind-spot view monitor.

Warranty
Hyundai offers some of the best warranty plans in the industry, and their plans with the Kona are no different. In addition to their complimentary scheduled maintenance, which covers the car for three years or 36,000 miles, buyers can also get the standard warranty, which covers five years or 60,000 miles, or the Powertrain warranty, which covers the car for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Trims
The Hyundai Kona is available in four different trims, namely:

1. SE:  Prices for the base model of the Hyundai Kona start at $25,625.

2. SEL:  The SEL, too, is equipped with the base powertrain, with prices starting from $26,975.

3. N Line:  The N Line may be more agreeable with certain buyers for a wider selection of features and accessories. Prices for this trim start at $32,175, and the car comes equipped with all the features included in the SEL’s optional convenience package.

4. Limited:  The Limited trim is the top of the Kona line, with prices beginning at $33,175. Notable features in this trim include a hands-free power liftgate, a universal garage door opener, synthetic  leather upholstery, a surround-view camera system, and a  heated steering wheel.