Hyundai Kona
FIRST UK DRIVE We drive mid-spec model that is the range’s sweet spot
Why mid-spec SUV is sweet spot of the range
IT’S only a matter of weeks since we drove the all-new Hyundai Kona on European roads (Issue 1,496). But our first taste of the brand’s baby crossover left us a little cold. While it didn’t do much wrong, it failed to offer anything out of the ordinary.
The car we drove was a high-spec turbo petrol in Premium SE guise. That version sat on big 18-inch rims, which made us think the Kona could be worth a fourth star in a more appropriate spec and on smaller wheels. As things stood, the smallest Hyundai SUV was middling at best.
Now we’ve driven the more sensible SE car in the UK. This version is £3,700 cheaper than the Premium SE model and unlike the car in our pictures, sits on standard 17-inch wheels. It still comes with a seven-inch screen, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, all-round electric windows and a reversing camera. Yet on a Hyundai PCP plan, it costs £36 less per month when you put down a deposit of just over 20 per cent.
The good news is the smaller wheels soften the car’s ride without affecting handling. Where the larger wheels crashed over potholes, the 17-inch rims are more settled. Body control is impressive, and the steering weighty. We’d like more feel through the wheel, but grip is great.
The three-cylinder engine packs plenty of punch, too. It’s the same unit as in our European test car, and with 118bhp it’s among the more powerful cars in this class. On paper, it’s slower than the entry-level 93bhp SEAT Arona, but it feels quite a bit quicker than the numbers suggest. The sixspeed gearbox offers an additional ratio, too, meaning it’s quiet at high speeds.
Many buyers are drawn to cars like this due to the prospect of added practicality. Hyundai will look to tempt customers from superminis and small family cars, but when it comes to outright space, rivals have the edge. Most Konas get a spacesaver spare wheel, which means boot capacity is restricted to a miserly 334 litres. A Citroen C3 Aircross has up to 510 litres with its rear seats slid forward. Space in the back is fine for adults, but an Arona has more headroom.
The Kona’s cabin is solidly built, however, and while there are a few scratchy plastics lower down, everything feels well laid out and the switches operate with a quality feel.