Test drive 2024 Hyundai Kona Hybrid: Everything has been thought of

Was the previous generation Hyundai Kona a top seller! The electric variant is selling like hotcakes. The car is relatively unknown and its appearance has been planned quickly, so it’s time for the new generation Hyundai Kona. During this test drive we were on the road with the hybrid version. Good technology that benefits from use.

What is the Hyundai Kona Hybrid?

It is the second generation Kona in hybrid version. This small SUV was very popular with electrics because of the low rental cost. The design is now outdated and an update was badly needed. That worked well, although the look remains tasteful of course.

The drive has a 1.6 petrol engine with 105 hp, as well as an electric motor with a maximum power of 36 hp. The 1.56 kWh battery is charged with energy recovery and driving the gasoline engine, so plugging is not possible.

An invention

As the title says: everything has been thought of. Often it’s the little things that make the driver’s life easier and improve comfort.

If you’re in a parking garage and can no longer get into your car, you can use your Kona key to drive the car forwards and backwards independently from a parking space. Without anyone in the car! Once you open the door, the seat moves back for more room to get in. When you close the door, you will be pushed forward to the required seating position.

In addition to the usual blind spot detection, there are cameras in both mirrors to see the blind spot. You can see these images on your digital clock panel when you turn on the flashing light.

Cup holders usually take up a lot of space. This is optional with Kona. You can make them appear with the touch of a button and you can also make them disappear again. This way you have enough space in the center console if necessary.

How does the Hyundai Kona Hybrid drive?

It is a great car with a lot of comfort, which is also reflected in handling. Comfort is evident during many kilometers of highway. Not really a sports car, if you press the pedal fully, the Kona has a hard time finding grip. Most people will not buy this car for sports, but more for comfort and ease of driving. The switch from an electric car to petrol is hardly noticeable, apart from the tachometer. Even after a journey of 150 km, you get out without any problem. This means that the seats are ergonomically designed. The top of the backrest is on the narrow side, which can be irritating for people who are broad in the shoulders.

Strong

We Dutch people want nothing more than to drive from A to B as cheaply as possible. On paper, the consumption of the Kona hybrid is 4.7 liters per 100 km. In practice this is certainly possible, during testing we reached 4.8 liters per 100 km. Certainly not bad for a car weighing more than 1400 kg during the winter months!

As mentioned earlier, the extension of blind spot detection using cameras is very important. This is not very useful in the dark and in the rain. Kona also knows how to position itself beautifully in the middle of the lane, without sudden steering movements. The car is full of cameras. Front, rear and 360-degree cameras make parking easy. There are many useful features in Kona. As mentioned earlier, you can have the car directly leave the parking space and the interior is practically put out. As you approach the tunnel, the air circulation in the Corner is automatically activated. This means that no more dirty fumes come in from outside the car. You often forget this yourself and only find out in the middle of the tunnel, it’s too late!

Small points

Driver assistance systems are great, but they can also be overkill. The Kona has a sensor above the steering wheel that detects whether the driver is keeping his eyes on the road. If you talk to a passenger or look to the side for more than a few seconds, you will receive warnings with symbols and audio signals. This also applies to driving too fast, even if that is one kilometer per hour. Fortunately, these warnings can be turned off, but again for each trip. Free tip: put them in your favorites.

While most automakers want to get rid of as many buttons as possible, the Kona still has a lot on the dashboard. Below the touchscreen is a row of shortcut keys that can easily fit on the screen. You can charge your phone wirelessly or through a cable. The signs around these charging ports are vague and add little.

The Kona is and still is an unknown car that few people pay attention to. This generation has been thoroughly refreshed and updated, but if you’re looking for an attractive and/or sporty car, it’s best to save up to the Ioniq 5 N.

Equipment

The test car is the Kona Hybrid Premium Sky version in Ecotronic Gray Pearl. As the name suggests, this car is very well equipped. The test car costs €42,990, including all options. The car has a panoramic roof with tilt, heated seats for all seats, cooled front seats, Bose premium sound system, electric tailgate, 18-inch wheels and so on.

The starting price is €34,995, for which you will get the Comfort version. Adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, parking sensors throughout, multiple driver assistance systems and paddle shifters are standard here. The latter also allows you to adjust the level of regenerative braking. For €2,500 more you can order the Comfort Smart. This includes a heated steering wheel and 18-inch wheels, the entry-level model’s 16-inch wheels certainly don’t match the car’s size.

There is also a Premium version and an N-Line version, both of which will cost you €40,995. The Premium version focuses more on comfort and the N-Line is definitely Hyundai’s sports department. If you want to add a paneled and tilting roof over these top versions, you get the Sky variant. A little more than €1200, but you can enjoy the starry sky. However, you can do it yourself meeting at Hyundai.

Conclusion Hyundai Kona Hybrid

If you consider it important to get to your destination as comfortably and as relaxed as possible, this could be the car for you. All of these innovative devices take a lot of work out of your hands as a driver. It is a car for adults with enough space for a small family. A large stroller and other luggage will not fit in the Kona. For this you will have to go one size up towards the Hyundai Tucson. Hopefully there will be an update to turn off the annoying warnings completely and not for every trip. Looks are sensitive to taste, but the new Kona is a car that can last for a few years and won’t become outdated in a hurry.