Hyundai Kona, is not a savage at all

In the car industry, people like to say that the car has “grown up”. For example, when a new model generation is on the starting blocks. Thus; This is the case with the Hyundai Kona. The SUV, which was launched in 2017, has been available in its second generation model since 2023.

And the word “adult” often means “adult.” Kona was 4,165 meters high in 2017. Today it is 4,355 meters; and these almost 20 centimeters more make a big difference. Up to five passengers will find plenty of space (and storage) in the luxurious, high-quality interior.

Briefly about the interior: The front row of driver-oriented seats is emphasized by a floating horizontal dashboard with two integrated 12.3-inch panel displays, which emphasize the high-quality character of the five-seater.

And the keyword high-quality: volume control, menu navigation and infotainment response time are high. And one more detail: the designers moved the so-called gear selector lever from the central console behind the steering wheel. This allows more storage space in the open console.

The increased size benefits the trunk space

An increase in size is also seen in the trunk of the electric opening. This increased by 30 percent to 466 liters. The 40:20:40 split rear seat offers more flexibility and capacity increases to 1,300 liters when fully folded. Hyundai still counts the Kona in the B segment, which is one of the smaller cars. Well-intentioned people could certainly give him Korean in the C section, the compact class.

But the growth in size was not the only innovation with Kona. The original rustic SUV design has given way to a futuristic silhouette. LED light strips on the front and back are characteristic here.

By the way, all versions of Kona are based on the design of the electric differential, which introduced the shape of the design. A design approach perhaps unusual, but clearly reflecting the Korean manufacturer’s ambitious electrification strategy.

As usual, the Kona EV available in the highest equipment variant called Prestige Line already has the old works with high-end equipment. If you add a few features to the standard price of 51,000 euros, the cost is 55,870 euros. The price is also reasonable because there are many services.

Among other things, two-tone paint, front and rear seat heating, front seat cooling, heated steering wheel, inductive charging bed, rear view camera, USB-C ports, heat pump and car-function of burden. This means that the Kona can also be used to operate and charge electronic devices – for example, from hair dryers to toasters to e-scooters.

Strong suspension and precise handling

In terms of driving technology, the electric Kona is invisible; in the best sense of the word. A maximum of 218 hp synchronous motor drives the front wheels well with moderate traction. The steering and brakes work precisely and the taut electric motor is easy to control even when cornering quickly. The four driving modes (Normal, Sport, Eco and Snow) are clearly highlighted and the consumption is just over 20 kilowatt hours per driving foot. Fast charging, on the other hand, works on a smaller scale. In that test, the Kona did not reach more than 80 kilowatts.

Conclusion

The larger Kona proves to be economical, everyday friendly and excellent in terms of fuel consumption. However, it is far from being a bargain, even if the standard equipment is already generous.

Written by Oliver Koch