The Hyundai Kona wasn’t the first to the small SUV party, making its debut in 2017, but Hyundai certainly went all-in, with one of the most diverse selections of models you could buy, including electric and high-performance models. Some are better than others, but with a new model on the market since 2023, used Konas are becoming quite affordable.
Since launch there were petrol and diesel options to choose from, while an electric model debuted in 2018 (and continued ever since), and Hyundai added a hybrid in 2019 and the sporty Kona N in 2021.
The Kona launched into a busy class populated by the likes of the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008, but other models that you might consider if you’re in this market include the SEAT Arona, Volkswagen T-Cross and Ford Puma.
Hyundai has covered all the bases with the Kona, since its launch in 2017. Not only could you get petrol and diesel models, but also hybrid and Kona Electric versions, plus a high-performance Kona N. The Kona was replaced by a second generation in 2023 but we’re concentrating on the original model here, since there are plenty to choose from on the UK market.
Hyundai went down the Nissan Juke route with the Kona’s unusual styling, and while it’s not for everyone, it certainly stands out, and makes what is otherwise quite a straight-laced car a little more interesting to look at. The interior is much more sensible, prioritising functionality over style. The Kona is a relatively compact car and feels it, but still seats a quartet of adults easily enough, has a good adjustable driving position, and decent visibility aside from its thick rear pillars.
In terms of ride and handling, the Kona sacrifices a little of the former to benefit the latter. It can feel a little jiggly on some surfaces, particularly on the larger wheel options. Ultimately some rivals are more comfortable and others are more fun, but the Kona is at least easy to drive.
There have been a wide range of engines over the years, with petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric variants. All are pleasant enough to use, and the same goes for the light-shifting manual and easy dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, though we’d tend to stick to either the smallest petrol, or the hybrid and EV models.
The Kona isn’t short of rivals for your money and attention. The Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 are all long-standing models in this class and each has been replaced with a newer model while this first Kona was on sale. The Volkswagen T-Roc and Ford Puma have arrived since, while more recently the Toyota Yaris Cross has become a solid option if you’re interested in a hybrid - and plenty of cars in this class now have fully electric variants too.
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Our favourite petrol Kona is the 1-litre version, which while not being the smoothest engine of its kind, doesn’t use a great deal of fuel and has decent enough performance for a car in this class. If you’re looking at the Electric, the extra performance and range of the larger battery model is appealing.
While the basic S-spec model gets air conditioning and cruise control, it’s worth finding one of the better specified versions further up the range. SE should be your minimum (it got a touchscreen display with CarPlay and Android Auto from the start, which has future-proofed it to a degree), and the 17-inch wheels are about as large as you can go before the ride quality gets a little too firm.
Launched in 2017, the Hyundai Kona has been sold in a baffling array of trim lines over the years, some of which were offered throughout the first generation model’s time on sale, and others which disappeared or weren’t offered on certain models. We’ve tried to simplify things into the main options below but it’s likely you’ll find differences between the kit listed below and the car you’re looking at on the used market. Likewise, we’ve listed equipment for the petrol and diesel models sold from the outset, but Hybrid and Electric versions may have received different equipment.
The Hyundai Kona’s dimensions are:
The Hyundai Kona’s boot size is:
Even if the Hyundai Kona’s trim lines aren’t simple, taxing one should be. The Hyundai Kona Electric is currently free to tax, while the Hybrid, being an ‘alternative fuel vehicle’ according to the UK government, will cost you £170 per year. All others are £10 more than that, at £180 per year.
With a wide range of models there’s a wide range of insurance groups for the Hyundai Kona, starting in just group 8 for a 1-litre petrol in S trim, and rising to group 20 for some of the higher-specified models. The Kona Electric then spans groups 20-27, and the Kona N is also in group 27.
Read our full Hyundai Kona review