Bigger ’24 Kona is surprisingly sporty
Hyundai’s subcompact Kona SUV gets bigger and better equipped for 2024, with a new model that adds technology as well as interior room.
The Kona competes with subcompact SUVs like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross.
Despite growing considerably from the previous model, the 2024 is still shorter than any of those, though its 104.7-inch wheelbase is the longest of the bunch, a dimension that contributes to a tidy 17.4-foot turning radius that translates to good maneuverability in parking lots and tight spots.
I recently drove a nicely equipped all-wheel drive Kona N Line from the cobbled streets of Baltimore’s quaint Inner Harbor to interstate highways and the corkscrewing hill roads of the surrounding Maryland horse country.
Gasoline-powered versions of the Kona are in dealerships now. An electric version will go on sale later this year. There is no hybrid Kona.
Bigger, with more features
The 2024 Kona is 5.7 inches longer, 2.6 inches taller and an inch wider than the outgoing model. Cargo space grew about 6 cubic feet, making it big enough to hold two golf bags.
Curb weights increase about 100 to 200 pounds, depending on the model.
The additional size and weight exact a price in fuel economy, but not an unreasonable one. The 2024 AWD N Line I drove rated 24 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway and 26 in combined driving in EPA tests.
I got about 27 mpg in a day of enthusiastic driving.
Key features on the 2024 Kona include:
● 12.3-inch high-res instrument cluster
● 12.3-inch touch screen
● Ambient lighting
● Heated and ventilated front seats
● Heated steering wheel
● Dual climate control
● Bose audio
● Apple CarPlay and Android compatibility
● Wireless charging
Trim levels and prices
● Kona SE FWD: $24,100
● Kona SEL FWD: $25,450
● Kona N Line FWD: $30,650
● Kona Limited FWD: $31,650
● Kona SE AWD: $25,600
● Kona SEL AWD: $26,950
● Kona N Line AWD: $32,150
● Kona Limited AWD: $33,150 (Prices exclude destination charge.)
Like an EV, inside and out
The Kona uses the third generation of Hyundai’s K-platform. It was designed to accommodate both gasoline and battery power with as few compromises as possible, so the upcoming EV has a different floorpan to accommodate a lithium-ion battery under the passenger compartment.
The EV and gasoline models’ exterior designs are intentionally very similar. The gasoline Kona has a narrow strip of LED lights across its nose for running lights, mimicking a look some EVs effect. Designers also minimized the visual impact of the gasoline Kona’s grille, another key to making it look like the EV, which has no grille.
Other signature styling features both models share include flared fenders and a Z-shaped character crease on the SUVs’ sides.
A short gear selector is mounted on the steering column of both electric and gasoline models. It’s a quirky control – rotate the top of its tip forward for drive, the bottom forward for reverse – but I suspect owners will get used to it quickly.
Happily, the controls for climate, audio and other frequently adjusted features are more conventional, with dials and buttons for oft-used functions.
The gasoline Kona has active grille shutters to reduce drag. Power comes from either a 147-horsepower 2.0L fourcylinder engine linked to a continuously variable automatic transmission or a 190-hp turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder linked to an eight-speed automatic. The 2024 model ditched the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic paired with it in the ’23 because owners couldn’t get used to how the dual-clutch felt.
Available safety and driver assistance features
● Adaptive cruise control with auto curve slowdown
● Front collision avoidance assist
● Pedestrian detection
● Blind spot and cross traffic alert
● Blind spot view monitor
● Surround view cameras
● Lane keeping assist
● Lane centering
● Driver attention assist
● Automatic high beams
● Rear occupant reminder
● Safe exit alert
● Intersection alert
● Parking distance alert
● Rear brake assist
● Remote parking assistant
Driving impressions
The Kona N Line I tested was surprisingly sporty. The steering was very direct and nicely weighted, providing direct response at highway speed and around tight country curves.
The suspension was comfortable on rough surfaces and composed on hilly backroads. The N Line’s 19-inch tires have an acoustic lining contributing to a quiet interior that made for easy concentration. The eight-speed transmission shifted fast and smoothly.
The 1.6L engine delivered adequate power for highway acceleration, but the inevitable-but-unannounced Kona N performance model will be worth the wait for drivers desiring a zippy little SUV.
Why get one?
The 2024 Kona’s value, features and style make it a strong competitor for other subcompact SUVs.