Hyundai Kona review

The Hyundai Kona is a car that clearly uses its design to draw in buyers. It's not that rewarding to drive, with lifeless steering and not much dynamic polish, although Hyundai has attempted to address this shortcoming with revisions to the 2021 facelifted model's chassis and suspension set-up.

The manufacturer has succeeded in improving the Kona's ride, particularly over pockmarked surfaces, but there's not as much passenger or luggage space on board as you'll find in some competitors.

About the Hyundai Kona

The all-electric Kona EV sets high standards in the class with its long range and decent price tag, but the standard version is in the middle of the pack if you're after an alternative to a Nissan Juke or Renault Captur.

Other small crossover rivals include the Peugeot 2008, Citroen C3 Aircross, SEAT Arona and Vauxhall Crossland, not to mention the Stonic from sister brand Kia.

Hyundai has introduced a new 1.0-litre mild-hybrid powertrain with 48-volt hybrid tech, that sits alongside the full hybrid and the pure-electric versions. The 1.0 T-GDi is a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol motor, producing 118bhp and 172Nm of torque.

The full hybrid model employs a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor for a total output of 139bhp. On the Kona EV front there is a choice of the standard version with a 39 KWh battery, producing 134bhp, or a variant with a 64 KWh battery delivering 201bhp.

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In terms of price, the mild-hybrid Kona ranges from around £21,000 for the entry-level SE Connect model, to over £26,000 for the top-spec Ultimate version. The full hybrid is priced between £24,000 and £29,000, while the all-electric model starts from almost £28,000 (after the £2,500 government grant) and rises to just over £37,00 for the Ultimate version with a 64kWh battery.

SE Connect, Premium and Ultimate trim levels are offered across the range, with standard equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and smartphone connectivity. Customers also have the option of upgrading to the sporty N Line specification, with more aggressive front and rear styling, 18-inch wheels and branded trim.

For an alternative review of the latest Hyundai Kona SUV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk