UPSIDE TO DOWNSIZING
VALUE
You can get into a Kona from about $27,000 driveaway, but this is the works-burger version, which costs about $43,800 on the road, roughly the same as the cheapest model in the familysized Santa Fe range. The extra cash buys you a more powerful engine, leather trim, a two-tone paint job and more equipment. Built-in satnav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and digital radio are displayed on a larger centre screen, while music is pumped through an Infinity premium audio unit. Other goodies include wireless charging for compatible phones, a sunroof and head-up display. At this price, some of the cabin plastics look and feel a little cheap. Warranty is five years and you can pre-pay for five years of servicing for $1475. Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km for Konas with the 1.6litre turbo, compared to 15,000km for the 2.0litre engine. A $500 cashback offer applies during April.
COMFORT
The power-adjustable front seats are heated and ventilated, while a heated steering wheel and windscreen are ideal for frosty winter mornings. It’s relatively easy to find a comfortable seating position and vision is clear all round. In the rear, the story is less convincing. The seats are a little upright, there’s not a great deal of legroom and no rear air vents. The bigger, low profile wheels and stiffish suspension also transfer more bumps and vibrations to the cabin than you’d expect from a $40,000 car.
SAFETY
The Highlander gets all the bells and whistles when it comes to driver aids. Aside from auto emergency braking that can detect pedestrians and cyclists, it has blind-spot warning, lanekeeping assistance and smart cruise control that keeps a safe distance to the car in front. It will dip the high-beams for oncoming traffic and sound a warning if it senses a potential collision when you’re backing your car out of the driveway. The
Kona has six airbags and scored a five-star rating in independent crash tests in 2017.
DRIVING
It corners confidently, with minimal leaning and pitching when changing direction or braking. But the trade-off is less cushioning from bumps, potholes and other road imperfections. It can also skip about when confronted with mid-corner corrugations. No complaints, though, about the lively 1.6-litre turbo and quick-witted sevenspeed dual-clutch auto. Together they ensure you’ve always got enough grunt, while returning decent fuel economy. Hit the sports button and the throttle becomes more responsive, while the transmission holds on to gears longer.
VERDICT
The Kona has a perky 1.6-litre turbo, loads of equipment and standout styling, but it’s a better value proposition at the cheaper end of the model range.