Who won the Best Subcompact SUV for the Money Award?
And the Winner is: The 2020 Hyundai Kona FWD Ultimate Edition You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: The Hyundai Motor Group is the fifth largest automaker in the world. Hyundai vehicles are sold in 193 countries, through some 5,000 dealerships worldwide. Hyundai sells cars, crossovers and SUVS in nearly every size category to get a piece of the automotive action. In the subcompact SUV class they build and sell the Kona SUV.
The Kona SUV won the Best Subcompact SUV for the Money Award because of its superior combination of quality and value. The Kona boasts a top notch cabin, with lots of standard features, and it’s way more fun to drive than all of its competitors.
While the Kona packs plenty of style and versatility in its compact SUV body, it still has a lot of competition in it’s class. What is the Hyundai Kona up against? The Kona competes with the Mazda CX-30, Kia Soul, MINI Cooper Countryman, Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Venue, Buick Encore and the Subaru Crosstrek. All good SUV’S in their own right, with features that appeal to each buyer.
The Hyundai Kona rises to the top of the group because it has more bang for the buck, with the best price to value ratio, and it’s in a class all by itself. The Kona comes in 5 different trim levels, with the base SE model starting at an incredible low price of only $20,400. The next 4 models are SEL, SEL Plus, Limited and the Ultimate Edition. The top of the line Ultimate comes with every option available, and still has a base price under $28,000.
This week Hyundai sent me a 2020 Hyundai Kona FWD Ultimate Edition SUV with a base window sticker price of $27,750 to test drive and review. The options on the test car are: Carpeted Floor Mats for $135. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,095 destination charge, came to $28,980. The low price is one of the big reasons the Kona was awarded the best subcompact SUV for sale today.
Loaded with every comfort, safety and technology option available, the Kona Ultimate Edition still costs less than $29,000. Plus it gets 32 MPG on the highway, 28 MPG in city driving, and has a combined rating of 30 MPG. The greenhouse gas rating is a 7, out of 10, and the smog rating is a 5, out of 10.
Both respectable emissions numbers, topped off with a nice 30 MPG miles per gallon average fuel economy rating. Plus it has an overall 5 Star Safety rating, the highest safety rating you can get, from the NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Kona Ultimate has a best in class 175 HP horsepower 1.6L liter Turbocharged GDI 4 cylinder engine, bolted to a 7 speed Ecoshift Dual Clutch Transmission with Drive Mode Select. With settings for Normal, Eco, and Sport, you can use Drive Mode to instantly adjust the driving dynamics, and road feel of the SUV, all on the go. This makes the Kona Turbo just a blast to drive, all the time.
The window sticker lists over 75 line items that come as standard equipment in the Kona Ultimate Edition. From Forward Collision Avoidance
Assist with Pedestrian Detection, to Blind Spot and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning, to Lane Keeping Assist, this model has every technology feature available in a subcompact SUV. This is where the value for the price award comes from. More options, for less money, than the competition.
Add in the comfort, style and convenience accessories and you can see what the winning SUV comes with: 18” alloy wheels, LED headlights, tail lights and daytime running lamps, a Power Tilt & Slide Glass Moonroof, Smart Cruise Control, Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers, Power windows and door locks, Tilt steering wheel, 60/40 split rear seats, Leather trimmed interior, Heads Up Display, 8” color touch screen center stack, Android Auto, Applecar Carplay, Siriusxm radio, Navigation, Remote Start and a 315 Watt Infinity Premium Audio System with 8 Speakers. Plus many, many more.
Then Hyundai adds the Cherry on top of the Sunday. With every Hyundai you get America’s Best Warranty. This all inclusive warranty starts out with a 5 year/60,000 mile bumper to bumper New Vehicle Warranty, then adds in a 10 year/100,000 mile Powertrain
Warranty, plus a 7 year/unlimited mileage Anti Perforation Warranty, and tops it off with a 5 year/unlimited miles Roadside Assistance Program. This is the best factory warranty package from any car company, for free.
When you’re ready to buy a subcompact SUV, the Kona Ultimate Edition has got to be at the very top of your wish list. Best in price, value, options and warranty, this is why the Hyundai Kona won the Best Subcompact SUV for the Money Award. So, before you sign on the dotted line, call, click or visit your local Hyundai dealer for a fantastic and fun Kona test drive today.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©” .
This Bottom Line Review is provided by: Tony Leopardo © Autowire.net. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net or visit Autowire.net at www.autowire.net