2020 Hyundai Kona Review

　　

2020 Hyundai Kona Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The 2020 Hyundai Kona is one of our favorite compact SUVs. Its small size makes it easy to park, yet it has enough trunk space for all sorts of gear. There's a lot of appealing value here, too. Even the lower trim levels provide desirable features such as smartphone compatibility, forward collision warning and heated front seats. Spend more and the Kona gets even more impressive with a robust turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive and, new for 2020, available adaptive cruise control.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$128/mo  for Kona SE

　　Kona SE

　　SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $20,300 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $21,700 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $22,100 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $23,500 MSRPSEL Plus 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $23,950 MSRPSEL Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $25,350 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $26,100 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $27,500 MSRPUltimate 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $27,950 MSRPUltimate 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $29,350 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Certainly, no vehicle is perfect. Road noise is often present, and the turbocharged engine's transmission can be slow to shift at times. The interior quality is also lackluster. But the 2020 Hyundai Kona is still impressive, and it continues to be one of our top-ranked extra-small SUVs. We definitely recommend taking one for a test drive, especially if you're looking for a small vehicle that's versatile and fun to drive.

　　Notably, the 2020 Hyundai Kona is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.

　　Notably, we picked the 2020 Hyundai Kona with 1.6T engine as one of zzdcar' Cheapest New Cars for 2019.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Kona drive? The Kona is a sporty subcompact SUV with above-average acceleration and handling. In zzdcar testing of a Kona Ultimate (with the turbocharged engine), we measured 0-60 mph in just 7.2 seconds, which is a very quick time for this class of car. The Kona is surprisingly composed and grippy through turns, too. It maintains control and doesn't exhibit excessive body roll.

　　However, the turbo engine's dual-clutch automatic transmission can be slow to engage when accelerating from a stop. Once the Kona gets going, upshifts are usually smooth, but downshifts are always a little rough. Maximum braking performance is also underwhelming.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Kona? The Kona's suspension irons out smaller imperfections and takes the edges off just about any bump. But over larger bumps, the Kona tends to be busy and bouncy. Road noise is a bit intrusive, too, but that's not uncommon for the class. Overall, the Kona is quieter than competitors in city driving.

　　The Kona's front seats are well-shaped and pretty supportive, with plenty of adjustability. The available leather upholstery is stiff, and the cushions are noticeably firm. In back, the seats are flat and broad but not too upright. The climate control struggles a bit to cool the entire cabin when it's sweltering outside. But the rest of the time it's effective at keeping you comfortable.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? It's hard to ignore the Kona's plasticky feel, but overall the interior is easy to live with. The buttons are grouped logically and clearly labeled, and Hyundai's infotainment interface has a logical menu structure. The relatively narrow roof pillars allow for good forward and side visibility. The backup camera's wide, clear picture fills in the gaps when reversing.

　　There is a suitable amount of space for the driver and front passenger. Rear-seat headroom is decent for the class — more than enough for average adults — but legroom is tight, especially behind a tall driver. Fortunately, there is generous space under the front seats for the rear passengers' feet. The relatively short doors can be opened wide even in tighter parking spaces, making for good access.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Kona is a feature-rich vehicle, with lots of standard and available technology features that work well. We also like the optional Infinity stereo system that provides plenty of bass response and good sound quality. The navigation system gets the job done with an easy-to-read display and useful turn-by-turn prompts. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

　　Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are fitted on all but the base trim, and a more extensive suite of features is available. Adaptive cruise control is a new addition for 2020. The Kona's systems are consistently accurate, avoiding false alarms in our time with the vehicle.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Kona really only falters in terms of utility when compared directly to class leaders. Thanks to a low liftover height and a wide load floor, the trunk is easy to use. But compared to similar SUVs such as the Honda HR-V, the Kona comes up short on maximum cargo space.

　　There are lots of water-bottle-size pockets, a diminutive cellphone tray, and a relatively small console box and glovebox. So while small-item storage is decent, it lacks variety. The car-seat anchor points are clearly marked and close to the surface, but they're tucked between firm cushions.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The 1.6-liter AWD Kona gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in combined driving. That's a few mpg behind AWD-equipped competitors, but this engine provides more power. On our evaluation loop of mixed driving, our test Kona averaged 28.3 mpg, so drivers should be able to match the EPA estimates in real-world driving.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Kona a good value? The base car has a good set of features at an affordable price, but choosing the much more appealing 1.6-liter optional engine makes for a pricey subcompact SUV. Everything feels robustly built, but only the primary touch points, such as on the steering wheel and shifter, have been treated with soft-touch materials. The alternating textures break things up visually, but there's no hiding the dreary plastic.

　　Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty continues to be an industry standout, and the five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is also better than coverage for the other vehicles in this class that we'd buy.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The Kona is easy to use, and it gives you a bit more of that SUV-style seating and view. Handling is better than you'd expect. In this class, it's hard to have more fun. In a lot of ways, the formula is right. But a handful of problems and polarizing styling limit the Kona from being truly great.

　　

Which Kona does zzdcar recommend?

We recommend upgrading to the Limited trim level for its turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, though it represents a significant price increase over the base SE model. It's similar in fuel economy to the base engine, yet it provides a significant increase in power. And if you opt for the available all-wheel-drive system, the upgraded rear suspension improves handling and ride quality to boot.

　　

2020 Hyundai Kona models

The 2020 Hyundai Kona is a five-passenger subcompact crossover SUV that is available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited and Ultimate. Hyundai doesn't offer any optional packages, but there are added features available on each trim.

　　The SE, SEL and SEL Plus models are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 132 lb-ft of torque) that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Ultimate trims get a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder (175 hp, 195 lb-ft) that's mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

　　Front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive is available as an option for all Konas and comes bundled with a more sophisticated rear suspension design and a lockable center differential. The latter enhances traction at low speeds in off-road or snowy conditions.

　　Standard features for the SE trim include alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and a six-speaker audio system.

　　The SEL trim adds extras such as roof rails, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring and satellite radio. The SEL Plus throws in many convenience and tech features such as a sunroof, a power-adjustable driver's seat, an eight-speaker Infinity audio system, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and Hyundai's Blue Link communications system.

　　Stepping up to the Limited trim gets you all of the above plus the turbocharged engine, LED headlights and taillights, upgraded exterior trim, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

　　The range-topping Ultimate trim comes loaded up with rear parking sensors, pedestrian detection for the forward collision mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, automatic wipers, a head-up display, an 8-inch touchscreen and a navigation system.

　　

2020 Kona Highlights

Trim: SESELSEL PlusLimitedUltimateSE

　　

Base MSRP	$20,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$128/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles