Hyundai Kona N
Can the N division’s magic touch translate from its hot hatches to a crossover? Turns out it can…
CHANCES ARE THIS COULD BE THE FIRST time you’ve read anything to do with Hyundai’s Kona, the crossover niche being one we tend to steer clear of: the automotive white goods of our roads; a necessity rather than a desire.
There are exceptions, there always are. Ford’s Puma (no, not that one) benefits from the company’s talented chassis engineers being afforded the time and resource to make sure it steers as sharply as all good Fords should. In ST trim we prefer it to our Focus ST Fast Fleet wagon, which took some time to get our heads around.
Sticking with the evo Fast Fleet for the moment, our Volkswagen T-roc R wasn’t as typecast as you would expect, either. It lacked a couple of layers of detail that the pre-mk8 Golf R allowed you to peel back as you stepped into its performance, but nonetheless the T-roc R proved the concept of a performance crossover can work if some thought and effort have been applied. Appling thought and effort is not something that Hyundai’s N division can be accused of shying away from. Its i30 and i20 N hot hatches have blown us away with their capability, character and the sheer enjoyment that they deliver time and time again. Rarely has so much been achieved in such a short time. And now the N magic is being asked to work outside of the supermini and hot hatch comfort zone, on a vehicle where performance typically counts for less than an increased ride height and some plastic bodywork protection. Building a performance SUV is relatively straightforward if you have access to a powertrain originally designed for a supersaloon, but it’s more of a challenge when your SUV is more hatchback-on-stilts than a vulgar status symbol.
In simple terms, the Kona N is an i30 N with an increased ride height and some of that aforementioned bodywork protection, albeit painted. It’s not even four-wheel drive, with the turbocharged 2-litre four driving the front axle only via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an electronic limited-slip differential. Visually, with its deeper side sills, front splitter and faux rear diffuser, it sits barely any higher from the ground than an i30 N, with the illusion of its enlarged form coming from the Kona’s deeper body panels. It’s taughter and more aggressive than either Ford’s Puma or VW’S T-roc as a result, but you still can’t help but feel the design team faced an uphill battle when it came to applying the detail required to provide the Kona N with its identity, the result being there’s a lot going on everywhere. From some angles it has that look of a car that was designed by a committee rather than by a team.
As with all crossovers you step up and then down into the Kona N, and if you drop the seat as low as it will go, as you would perhaps do in a hatch equivalent, within a mile or so you increase the height again to improve your view out.
The Kona N is nimble, and not only with the caveat ‘for a crossover’. N is rightly proud of the dynamics it has developed for its hot hatches and the same approach has been taken with the Kona. The steering is quick yet precise, with little of the numbness or remoteness you’d expect from this sector. Equally impressive is the strong body control, with roll resisted and an ability to change direction with a deftness and surefootedness that a few modern-day hot hatches struggle to better.
If you’ve come from a committed hot hatch you’ll be unlikely to pick up on the Kona N’s slightly brittle ride. It’s been wound back from an early prototype we drove some months ago and is still more forgiving than an i30 N’s, but in this sector some might find it too much. However, this does mean Hyundai’s first crossover N model has a chassis its two key rivals can’t match when it comes to exploring the available performance.
The standard adaptive dampers and N-specific Pirelli tyres combine to deliver a chassis with unexpected levels of detail, creating an unlikely cross-country hero. Combined with precise control weights and the Kona’s willingness to work with you when you begin to push it, rather than rolling over like a puppy, and you’re soon pitching it into every corner you approach and adjusting steering and throttle angles accordingly, just as you would in a well-sorted hot hatch.
What the engine lacks in tune it makes up for with punch, and while the i30 N’s six-speed manual would add another dimension, the eight-speed
‘It has a chassis that its key rivals can’t match’
DCT changes quickly and intuitively enough not to frustrate too much. Some bigger paddles with a more mechanical action would make it better still.
Conclusion? If you want a hot hatch but the roads near you are prone to featuring deeper puddles than is the norm and you therefore think a little more ride height would be sensible, you won’t go far wrong with a Kona N.
Engine In-line 4-cyl, 1998cc, turbocharged
Power 276bhp @ 5500-6000rpm Torque 289lb ft @ 21004700rpm Weight 1510kg (186bhp/ton) 0-62mph 5.5sec Top speed 149mph Basic price £35,395
+ Unexpectedly tight chassis
- Worthy of a better engine evo rating