Pushed: 2019 Hyundai Kona Elite Is A Crossover You Would possibly Truly Need
Rewind a decade or two and it wasn’t tough to purchase new automobiles which had been, nicely, kinda horrible. Issues are slightly completely different these days.
It doesn’t matter what sort of car you’re available in the market for, you possibly can relaxation assured that there shall be ample choices from completely different automobile producers and all of them shall be ok. Positive, some are sure to be higher than others and have their very own distinctive character, however you’d be hard-pressed to discover a horrid automobile presently on sale – at the least within the Western world.
This is a wonderful factor for purchasers. It signifies that it doesn’t matter what they select, they’ll discover themselves behind the wheel of a automobile loaded with security options, a lot of which had been unthinkable a decade in the past.
Sadly, the general higher high quality of automobiles available on the market does imply a lot of them are fairly bland, forcing automobile producers to think about new methods to make their merchandise enchantment to customers. Take the Hyundai Kona, for instance.
A crossover with a enjoyable persona – who would have guessed it?
The South Korean automobile producer took off the wraps to its child crossover in the direction of the top of 2017. To set it other than the tasteless and dreary crossovers available on the market, Hyundai made it stand out with a placing design and a fun-loving character. I not too long ago spent per week with the automobile and was pleasantly stunned by what I discovered.
Proper off the bat, it’s essential to notice that I’ve preferred the look of the Kona from the second it was launched. Many individuals suppose it’s ugly, however I feel it’s cute. The cut up headlight design is polarizing, however I discover it’s distinctive, and the identical stands for its total design.
Hyundai may have taken its in style i30, tweak its inside and exterior styling a bit, and name it a day. It didn’t. As a substitute, they created an all-new design which has gone on to affect the look of its different fashions, most notably the Santa Fe, Palisade, and Venue with their comparable twin headlight designs.
The figures solely inform a part of the story
First, the specs. Hyundai gave me the keys to a 2019 Kona Elite, which in Australia, is the mid-level trim choice, sitting above the Go and Lively however beneath the Highlander and Iron Man. The Elite is out there with both the marque’s 2.Zero-liter petrol Mpi four-cylinder with a six-speed automated transmission driving the entrance wheels or a 1.6-liter petrol T-GDi four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch and all-wheel drive. Ours had the previous.
This Atkinson-cycle engine produces 147 HP at 6200 rpm and 180 Nm (132 lb-ft) of torque at 4500 rpm. That will not seem to be a lot on paper (and it isn’t), however it’s definitely sufficient for the day by day driving wants of the overwhelming majority of motorists, particularly these taking a look at one thing just like the Kona. Throttle response is great and the automobile skips off the road properly, often spinning the entrance tires in moist situations. Attending to the velocity restrict requires no fuss and even if you pin the throttle and the revs climb, the engine stays surprisingly quiet, making for a really nice driving expertise.
Additionally Learn: Iron Man Swimsuit-Impressed Hyundai Kona Will Value You At Least $30,550
The front-wheel drive mannequin we examined incorporates a torsion beam rear suspension, however Hyundai has tuned the set-up particularly for Australian roads. The result’s a small crossover that rides very properly and gives a constructive quantity of really feel via the highway.
Nobody driving a Kona shall be enamored with the automobile’s total dynamics, nonetheless. The Kona sits on slender 205/60 tires and might simply be pushed into understeer if you happen to’re slightly overzealous coming into a nook within the dry. If it’s moist, it’s possible you’ll end up in a fairly sticky state of affairs. These factors shouldn’t come as a shock and the Kona isn’t precisely a automobile which inspires you to drive quickly. I might be shocked if 10 per cent of Kona drivers had ever been via a flip quick sufficient to invoke any understeer anyway…
Along with the nice throttle response, the Kona Elite’s brakes are nicely calibrated and never overly grabby like some others within the class and the steering is properly weighted.
A cabin that’s a pleasure to spend time in
What I preferred most concerning the Kona Elite was its inside. Sure, it’s primary, and those that’ve pushed an i30 will discover that many widespread components. Nevertheless, the cabin is an inviting place to take a seat and our purple check automobile featured a bunch of eye-catching satin purple accents to essentially make it stand out and add to the enjoyable and lovable character of the Kona. There was purple across the air vents, starter button, shift lever, and throughout the perimeters of the entrance and rear leather-based seats; even the seat belts had been brilliant purple.
Within the middle of the dashboard is a 7.Zero-inch touchscreen with the identical interface as different Hyundai and Kia fashions. It’s easy to make use of and has a really restricted studying curve that means you’re in a position to soar in from some other automobile and rapidly perceive the menu system. The steering wheel is a wonderful measurement and the shift lever can also be good and has a Hill Descent Management operate, although it curiously seems to be like a handbook shifter when seen from a distance.
The modern roofline of the Kona provides you the impression from the skin that the automobile lacks any headroom on the rear. That’s not true, At 6’1, I typically take care of restricted headroom in automobiles of this measurement however was in a position to comfortably match within the rear with my head simply barely grazing the headliner. The legroom is slightly comprised, nonetheless. In the meantime, the trunk gives up 361 liters of house with the rear seats upright and 1143 liters with them folded away. That is roughly on par with others within the class such because the Toyota C-HR, Mitsubishi ASX, and Mazda CX-Three.
A compelling bundle
A Hyundai Kona Elite just like the one I examined, full with the premium Pulse purple paint in addition to the purple leather-based trim, inside pack, and styling pack, begins at $35,295 AUD ($24,399) which is quite a bit. The Kona Elite vary tops out at over $38,000 AUD ($26,269) with the 1.6-liter turbo and all-wheel drive system whereas the Kona Iron Man exceeds $44,000 AUD ($30,395)
All in all, the Hyundai Kona is a crossover which you can also make a professional case for purchasing over a standard hatchback. It’s enjoyable, edgy, comfy, and greater than able to fulfilling the necessities of most customers.
PHOTO GALLERY
extra photographs…
Photos: Carscoops.com / Brad Anderson
