Item: Hyundai Kona N
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

Powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, which together pump out up to 139bhp. The boost from the electric motor is available from a standstill, giving nippy acceleration away from the mark, and you can actually drive on electric power alone at low speeds for very short distances. 

1.6 GDi Hybrid

Hatchback

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

KONA

Stick to entry-level SE Connect trim because, as well as keeping the price down, you relatively small alloy wheels to stop the ride from becoming too uncomfortable. You also get air-conditioning (climate control with the Hybrid), dusk-sensing headlights and cruise control, as well rear parking sensors and an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system.

SE Connect

1.6 GDi Hybrid SE Connect 5dr DCT

16-gdi-hybrid-se-connect-5dr-dct

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Aston Martin DBX

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Audi RS Q8

Audi SQ2

Audi SQ5

Audi SQ7

Audi SQ8

BMW X2 M35i

BMW X4 M Competition

Cupra Ateca

Ford Puma ST

Hyundai Kona N

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Lamborghini Urus

Mercedes GLC 63 AMG

Mini Countryman JCW

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne Coupe

Porsche Macan

Skoda Kodiaq vRS

Volkswagen T-Roc R

Volkswagen Tiguan R

Volkswagen Touareg R

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Hyundai Kona N is quite a bit more expensive as a cash buy than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n22293">Ford Puma ST</a>&nbsp;but is cheaper than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> 2.0 TSI 310 4Drive, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n20444">Volkswagen T-Roc R</a>&nbsp;and other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2021/n20200">sports SUVs</a>.

The same pattern emerges if you're buying on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tag/car-finance-advice-and-guides">PCP finance</a>&nbsp;but&nbsp;the monthly payment will vary according to the various manufacturers’ deals. Remember to check the best prices on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Deals pages</a>.

Company car buyers will find that the Kona N sits in the highest benefit-in-kind (BIK) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/check-your-company-car-tax-rate/n1255">tax bracket</a>, which is the same as the Formentor and T-Roc R. The Puma ST incurs slightly lower BIK payments.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> came an impressive third out of 30 manufacturers in the 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. That’s way above Seat (which owns the Cupra brand) in 17th place, Volkswagen in 20th and Ford way down in 27th. The Kona N comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.&nbsp;

The standard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a>&nbsp;received a full five stars overall when it was crash-tested by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/top-10-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n20301">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;in 2017 (when the tests were less stringent), although there were issues noted with adult whiplash protection. Cars with a five-star rating that were tested later, such as the Formentor, could offer improved protection, but it’s hard to compare&nbsp;tests done in&nbsp;different years.

You get all the expected safety aids with the Kona N, including automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, blind-spot assistance and lane assistance.&nbsp;

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://p.whatcar.com/signup">here</a>

The Hyundai Kona N's 2.0-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine generates 276bhp and plenty of shove.&nbsp;Hyundai says that takes it from 0-62mph in just 5.5sec, which is more than a second faster than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n22293">Ford Puma ST</a>.

While the Kona N is&nbsp;not quite as responsive as the ST, with a moment of lag when you put your foot down while the turbocharger starts to spin up, it feels faster when it comes alive. By 3,000rpm, it's pushing you into your seat.

To help reduce lag, there’s also a big red ‘NGS’ (N Grin Shift) button on the steering wheel. Pressing it activates the overboost function and gives you an extra 10bhp for 20 seconds. It also makes the gear shifts a bit more brutal and makes the sound from the exhausts reminiscent of a machine gun.&nbsp;

It’s a nice party trick. The extra squirt of power and the quicker shifts are useful for overtaking but, to be honest, the engine still feels a touch too boosty, making it tricky to meter out the power smoothly.

That, plus the surprisingly aggressive limited-slip differential, means&nbsp;you often find yourself fighting against torque steering on heavily cambered roads. That’s when the driven wheels struggle for grip and pull you left and right under power.&nbsp;

Basically, you need to keep your wits about you and hang on tight, which for some will add to the thrill – and justify the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2021/n20200">sports SUV</a> label. If it sounds mildly alarming, the calmer set-up of the Puma ST might suit you better.&nbsp;The pops and bangs from the Kona N exhausts in NGS mode add drama, but we reckon most drivers will be happy they're not a permanent soundtrack.

Now, back to the gearbox. Your only option is the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, so the Kona N misses out on some of the more mechanical interaction you’ll get from the Puma ST’s standard manual 'box. It's&nbsp;quick to switch through the gears, though, and&nbsp;in auto mode it&nbsp;does a reasonable job of keeping you in the powerband.

In the normal, most relaxed drive mode setting, the steering is direct, with a good amount of weight to it. The suspension is satisfyingly firm, leading to little body lean and plenty of grip through corners.

Switching to the more aggressive Sport or N mode adds increasing amounts of steering weight and firmer suspension, to the point that N is best left for a race track, and is&nbsp;certainly too much for around town. You can mix and match these settings with the N Custom mode if you wish.

Around town, it's not quite as pliant as the Puma ST, which does a better job of taking the edge off potholes and larger imperfections. The Kona N fails to settle down on&nbsp;the motorway, which makes long journeys a little tiring. Wind noise is minimal, but there’s a fair amount of road noise from the big, 19in wheels and tyres, which are tailor-made for the model by Pirelli.

You get an old-school manual handbrake in the Kona N and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> says it’s there to "allow the adventurous to enjoy slides". Take from that what you will.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

The Kona N’s 2.0-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine creates 276bhp and plenty of shove. Hyundai says that takes it from 0-62mph in just 5.5seconds and it certainly feels like it. It’s not quite as responsive as the Puma ST’s engine low down, with a moment of lag (while the turbocharger starts to spin up) when you put your foot down, but feels faster when it comes alive. By 3,000rpm it is really pushing you into your seat.

http://example.com

2.0 TGDi

20-tgdi

The Hyundai Kona N&nbsp;sports SUV is the South Korean manufacturer's latest weapon against its&nbsp;staid image – as snidely summed up by the Fast and Furious film line: “You think I’d let you roll in a Hyundai?”

So, what exactly is the Kona N? Well, it is to the standard Kona what the Ford Puma ST is to the regular Puma. It aims to balance the everyday usability and practicality of a small SUV with the driving enjoyment you’ll get from a sportier car.

In short, if you – or, indeed, your family – have&nbsp;outgrown hot hatchbacks but are not willing to give&nbsp;up on driving pleasure, it might be the car for you.

To help the Kona N accomplish its mission, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a>&nbsp;has fitted a 276bhp 2.0-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine under the bonnet, with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox handling all that power.

Straight-line speed isn’t everything, though, so the N has also been equipped with a firmer suspension set-up than the ordinary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a> and an electronic limited-slip differential&nbsp;to make sure it goes round corners well.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2021/n20200">sports SUV</a> category&nbsp;is&nbsp;a fairly new phenomenon, and Hyundai is pretty new to the sporty genre full stop. The question is, then, has it come out with a car that doesn’t just go toe-to-toe with rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n22293">Ford Puma ST</a>&nbsp;but can also beat them fair and square?

Over the next few pages, this review will&nbsp;compare the Hyundai Kona N with those rivals to see just how good it is. We'll tell you whether it's good to drive, plus everything you need to know about its performance, practicality, interior quality, what sort of running costs to expect and more.

Once you've decided which make and model of car is the right one for you, make sure you get it for the best price by using our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It'll save you having to do any tedious haggling and currently features lots of good <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai/kona/hatchback/deals">Hyundai Kona deals</a>.

The driving position in the Hyundai Kona N is surprisingly low for an SUV, but that’s also true of the almost hatchback-like <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a>. That’s good for the sporty feel of the car, but if you want a higher-riding SUV, the more expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/estate/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a> is worth trying.&nbsp;

Seeing out of the front and side of the Kona N isn't too difficult because of its relatively thin pillars and tall windows. That's really helpful when you're pulling out of T-junctions and on to roundabouts.

As you look back over your shoulder, though, the Kona N’s broad rear pillars and small rear screen restrict a lot of your view. Happily, you get front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard to help you out.

The heated and ventilated front bucket seats are comfortable on long journeys and offer a good amount of side support for more spirited driving. They're covered in leather and suede, and the settings are electronically adjustable (including lumbar support).

Are there any negatives? Well, the front armrest is situated quite far back, so you can’t actually use it comfortably with both hands on the wheel.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> also gives you&nbsp;a splattering of N logos and an N sports steering wheel, making it feel much nicer – and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2021/n20200">sports SUV</a> like – than the standard Kona. There are still quite a few hard plastics dotted around the interior, but everything feels very well screwed together.

Overall, the interior is a step up from the cheaper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n22293">Ford Puma ST</a>&nbsp;but not quite as plush as a similarly specced Formentor.

The Kona N's 10.3in touchscreen infotainment system is mounted high up on the dashboard, making it easy to see and reach. It’s responsive, the graphics are crisp and the menus are easy to navigate.

The system includes built-in sat-nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring (so you can use your phone apps on the touchscreen). You also get wireless phone-charging and a head-up display.&nbsp;

For more information about the Kona’s driving position, see our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377/in-the-cabin">Hyundai Kona review</a>.

The Kona N comes as standard with 19in alloy wheels, electronically controlled bucket seats, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, heated door mirrors, heated steering wheel, keyless entry, 10.3in digital driver display, 10.3in touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, built-in sat nav and wireless phone-charging.

Engaging to drive and guaranteed to make you smile

There’s a reasonable amount of space in the front of the Hyundai Kona N, but not quite as much leg or head room as you'll find in some rivals, especially the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n20444">Volkswagen T-Roc R</a>.

Storage space includes a couple of cupholders between the seats and a large hidden cubby below the front centre armrest. There’s also a tray behind the gear lever (where the wireless phone-charging pad is located) and door pockets that are big enough for a couple of small bottles of water.

It’s a different story in the back. Rear passengers will find themselves more cramped than they would in, say, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n22293">Ford Puma ST</a>, let alone the bigger Formentor. That means people measuring in at six feet can expect to have their knees pressed against the back of the front seats, which won’t be comfortable on a long trip.

The Kona N’s boot is not that impressive, either. When we tested the standard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377/in-the-cabin">Hyundai Kona</a>&nbsp;we could only get four carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf. That’s fewer than you’ll get in the Puma ST, which can fit eight in total, including two underneath its boot floor, and&nbsp;the T-Roc R, which swallows six.&nbsp;

If you need to load larger items, you can increase the boot space by putting down one or both of the 60/40 split folding rear seats, which lay completely flat. The boot opening is quite wide in comparison to some rivals’, making it easier to get bigger items onboard.

The Hyundai Kona N successfully mixes sports car and small SUV, making it fast and engaging on winding roads but civilised and usable when driven normally. Compared to the Ford Puma ST and other rivals, the Kona N’s performance holds its own, but it’s let down by its lesser practicality, smaller interior and louder road noise at motorway speeds.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Precise, feelsome steering</li> <li>Agile, entertaining handling</li> <li>Reasonable ride comfort</li> <li>Smart and practical interior</li></ul>

Needing a&nbsp;practical load-lugger doesn't mean you need to scrimp on power and sporting prowess. In fact, most sporty manufacturers now have dedicated sports SUVs in their line-up with 0-62mph times to rival cars half their size.&nbsp;

Porsche, for example, offers two:&nbsp;the Macan and the Cayenne, both of which offer rapid performance and seriously impressive handling, as well as providing enough space for five people and a boot capable of fitting more than seven carry-on suitcases.&nbsp;

But even&nbsp;manufacturers not usually focused on track times are getting involved in this market. The Volkswagen T-Roc R is one of our favourites, too, with a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec&nbsp;and&nbsp;fuel economy of 31.5mpg. A sports SUV&nbsp;should satisfy anyone who doesn't want to trade speed for space.&nbsp;

Sports SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

The original baby SUV is the Nissan Juke, which remains a popular choice, but there are plenty of better rivals to consider instead. We’d recommend you look at either the Ford Puma or Skoda Kamiq, because they offer&nbsp;a great blend of practicality and value that keeps them&nbsp;clear of the opposition. Equally, if you’ve got more money to spend, the Audi Q2 and Volkswagen T-Roc&nbsp;are both fine choices.&nbsp;

Small SUV

Hyundai Kona N review

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Buying advice for the Hyundai Kona N covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

The Hyundai Kona N is quite a bit more expensive as a cash buy than the Ford Puma ST but is cheaper than the Cupra Formentor 2.0 TSI 310 4Drive, Volkswagen T-Roc R and other sports SUVs.,The same pattern emerges if you're buying on PCP finance but the monthly payment will vary according to the various manufacturers’ deals. Remember to check the best prices on the What Car? New Car Deals pages.,Company car buyers will find that the Kona N sits in the highest benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket, which is the same as the Formentor and T-Roc R. The Puma ST incurs slightly lower BIK payments.Hyundai came an impressive third out of 30 manufacturers in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey. That’s way above Seat (which owns the Cupra brand) in 17th place, Volkswagen in 20th and Ford way down in 27th. The Kona N comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. The standard Hyundai Kona received a full five stars overall when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2017 (when the tests were less stringent), although there were issues noted with adult whiplash protection. Cars with a five-star rating that were tested later, such as the Formentor, could offer improved protection, but it’s hard to compare tests done in different years.,,You get all the expected safety aids with the Kona N, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot assistance and lane assistance. For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

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