Damien O’Carroll reports that here’s the big secret about the Hyundai Kona – it isn’t anywhere near as weird as it looks.
While, on the outside, the Kona is a riotous explosion of bold styling cues and wonderfully insistent lines, underneath all that it is pretty much a higher-riding i30. Which is a really good thing.
The Kona is essentially a car for people who want to think they are adventurous, but really aren’t. Which is fine because, after all, that is most of us.
While the Kona wears all of it’s adventurous outrageousness on the outside, the inside – much like its underpinnings – is far more conventional and very much a Hyundai.
This brings the usual blend of modern, yet conservative and safe design, excellent build quality and lots of plastic, albeit of a generally good quality.
It is brilliantly comfortable, and slightly monochrome, but generally a very nice place to be.
Under the bonnet lurks a choice of Hyundai’s 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine hooked up to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission driving all four wheels or – in the case of our test car – a 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a six-speed a conventional automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Just like an i30.
And, indeed, this Elite 2WD model is pretty much exactly like an i30 to drive – meaning it is a satisfyingly dynamic car that does pretty much everything right.
The typically predictable and safe FWD handling is complemented by a smooth, unflustered ride that is nicely compliant.
With its two different powertrains, the Kona is almost a car with two different temperaments, with the AWD 1.6 turbo being a better open road car, while the 2.0-litre FWD is the superior car around town.
Where the AWD car’s dual clutch transmission can be somewhat clunky around town, the FWD car’s conventional auto is far smoother and more predictable, making easy, steady progress around city streets.
Out on the open road, however, the 2.0-litre engine doesn’t quite have the free revving enthusiasm of the turbo engine, and you have to work it a lot harder too.
But it is the 2.0-litre FWD car’s ease of use around town that is its true highlight, with that comfortable interior and flexible interior space adding to its usability.
Being an Elite model, our test car came well equipped as standard, with a lot of previously high-end safety and driver assists making their way into the Kona’s equipment list.
Things like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist and high beam assist are all standard, while leather upholstery, electric seats and wireless phone charging also feature.
And here is the Kona’s king hit – you get all of that, those fantastic (if polarising) looks and that strongly sensible undercurrent of conventionality for $36,990.
While it doesn’t do anything outside what is expected of it, the Kona is a wonderfully adventurous car that is also completely safe and sensible. It is also very well equipped, easy to live with and remarkably well priced.
Specifications:
Body type Five door SUV
Drive Front wheel drive
Engine type Inline four-cylinder petrol
Engine capacity 1999cc
Max power 110kW @ 6200rpm
Max torque 180Nm @ 4500rpm
l/100km (Combined) 7.2
C02 emissions 169g/km
Boot capacity 361/1143 litres
Spare tyre Space saver
ANCAP rating Five star
Price $36,990
