Hyundai Kona Review

The first-generation Hyundai Kona succeeded because it offered buyers something a little different from the usual small-SUV crowd. The second-generation car keeps that spirit but adds much more of the substance buyers in this class now expect.

It is larger than before, much roomier in the back and far more convincing as a family car. The old Kona’s rear-seat space and boot were two of its weakest areas. Hyundai has fixed both, and the latest Kona now feels much more competitive on practicality.

The styling will continue to divide opinion, but that is also part of the car’s appeal. In a class full of sensible, samey-looking crossovers, the Hyundai Kona still stands out. More importantly, the cabin is much easier to get along with than the extrovert exterior might suggest. The dashboard is cleanly laid out, the infotainment is very good and there are enough physical controls to stop everyday use becoming annoying.

This review focuses on the petrol and hybrid Hyundai Kona models. There's an all-electric version - check out our Hyundai Kona Electric review for more info.

That leaves three main options in the regular range. There is an entry-level 1.0-litre turbo petrol, a more powerful 1.6-litre turbo petrol and a self-charging hybrid. Of those, the smaller petrol and the hybrid make the strongest cases. The more powerful 1.6 petrol is harder to recommend because it never feels polished enough to justify its extra cost.

For most buyers, the Hyundai Kona 1.0 T-GDi N Line is the best place to start. The 1.0-litre petrol is peppy enough for everyday use, cheaper than the hybrid and better suited to the Kona than the awkward 1.6-litre turbo.

If you spend a lot of time in town or simply want the smoothest powertrain in the range, the Hyundai Kona Hybrid is well worth considering. It is not dramatically quicker than the 1.0-litre petrol, but it feels more relaxed around town and should be more economical in mixed use.

Advance trim already includes plenty, but N Line adds the styling and extra kit that make the Hyundai Kona feel more complete without pushing too far into expensive territory.

The current Hyundai Kona petrol range starts at £27,100, while the self-charging hybrid starts at £31,505. Top-spec hybrid models in Ultimate and N Line S trim rise to £35,640.

That means the Hyundai Kona is not quite the budget SUV some buyers may still expect from Hyundai, but it remains competitively priced once you account for the generous equipment and the five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.

The Volkswagen T-Roc is one of the clearest alternatives if you want a small SUV with a more conventional look and a slightly more polished feel on the move. The Skoda Kamiq is also worth a close look if comfort and straightforward practicality matter more than the Hyundai Kona’s standout styling.

The Ford Puma remains a key rival because it is better to drive and just as easy to recommend in mainstream trim. The Renault Captur and Nissan Juke also deserve a look, while the Toyota Yaris Cross is an obvious alternative if hybrid power is high on your list.

The Hyundai Kona’s edge is that it brings strong infotainment, good practicality and generous equipment together in a package that still feels a bit different from the norm.

The latest Hyundai Kona is much more practical than its predecessor. There is now enough rear-seat space for adults to sit comfortably, and the cabin feels noticeably more generous than before.

Boot space is a genuine strength. The Hyundai Kona offers 466 litres with the rear seats up, regardless of whether you choose petrol or hybrid power. That is 30 per cent more than the previous Kona, and it puts the Hyundai Kona firmly among the stronger cars in this class for luggage room.

For context, the Hyundai Kona’s 466-litre boot is bigger than a Ford Puma’s 456 litres, a Volkswagen T-Roc’s 445 litres and a Nissan Juke’s 422 litres. It also edges a Renault Captur Hybrid’s 422 litres. The 40:20:40 split rear seats fitted to all but the entry Advance also add useful flexibility.

The Hyundai Kona measures 4,350mm long, 1,825mm wide and 1,585mm high. That makes it larger than before and helps explain the step forward in rear-seat space and boot capacity.

It is still compact enough to feel easy in town, but it now has much more of the footprint buyers expect from a family-friendly small SUV.

Every Hyundai Kona gets an impressive infotainment set-up. All versions use the same broad twin-screen layout, with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen integrated into one curved housing.

The system is one of the better ones in the class. The menus are logical, the screen is responsive and the graphics are crisp. Navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Hyundai has kept proper physical controls for the climate system, which helps everyday usability enormously.

This is an area where the Hyundai Kona punches hard, because some rivals still manage to look less modern or prove more frustrating to use.

The Hyundai Kona’s interior is a bit of a mixed bag. The design is modern and interesting, but some of the materials feel a little cheap for a car at this price point.

There are harder plastics than you might expect, especially lower down and across some of the dash and door trims, though the overall build feels solid and likely to stand up well to family life.

The regular Hyundai Kona range offers three main powertrains.

The 1.0-litre petrol is the pick of the conventional engines. It is not especially quick on paper, but it feels willing enough in everyday use and does not struggle as much as the numbers suggest.

The 1.6-litre turbo is more powerful, but the way it delivers that performance is not especially polished, especially with the automatic gearbox. It is hard to recommend over the cheaper 1.0-litre or the smoother hybrid.

The hybrid is the most convincing version if refinement and efficiency matter most. It is not fast, but it is smooth enough and well suited to low-speed and mixed driving.

There are numerous areas in which the Hyundai Kona impresses, but the way it drives is not right at the top of that list. It is stable and secure enough, but there are rivals with a more settled ride and more engaging handling.

The suspension can feel a little jittery and unsettled on poorer road surfaces, while the steering does not give you much confidence when the road turns twisty. It never feels unsafe, just a bit ordinary.

The hybrid is the smoothest powertrain in the range. The 1.0-litre petrol is reasonably refined too, with a characterful three-cylinder note that is more noticeable than troublesome. The 1.6-litre turbo is the least impressive of the three, especially when paired with the automatic gearbox.

The Hyundai Kona achieved a four-star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested in 2023. That is respectable rather than class-leading, but the standard safety package is generous.

All models get a strong spread of driver-assistance systems as part of Hyundai’s SmartSense package, while higher trims add features such as blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance and surround-view monitoring.

The 1.0-litre petrol returns up to 48.7mpg officially, which is perfectly respectable for a small SUV. The 1.6-litre turbo is a little thirstier at up to 45.6mpg.

The hybrid is the most efficient option, with an official figure of up to 60.1mpg. That makes it the natural choice if low fuel bills are high on your priority list.

Hyundai continues to cover the Kona with its five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. That remains one of the best manufacturer warranty packages in the business.

Hyundai’s approved-used programme also includes a minimum 24-month used-car warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance on eligible cars, which adds another layer of reassurance if you are buying nearly new.

Insurance groups start at 14 for the cheapest versions and rise to 22 for higher-spec petrol models. Hybrid versions broadly sit between groups 16 and 18.

That means the Hyundai Kona is not especially cheap to insure, but nor should it be prohibitively expensive for the class.

The standard VED rate from the second year onwards is £200 a year for petrol and hybrid cars registered on or after 1 April 2017.

None of the current Hyundai Kona range crosses the £40,000 list-price threshold, so there is no Expensive Car Supplement to worry about