2023 Hyundai Kona

　　

2023 Hyundai Kona Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　As a subcompact SUV with a reasonable price, the Kona is one of our favorite little runabouts. It offers a lot of features for the money, a city-friendly footprint, and quick acceleration from two optional powertrains. In 2022 the Kona was refreshed with new exterior styling, added power for the optional turbocharged engine, and a new sporty N model. The changes were a big step forward for the Kona, which is probably why the updates for 2023 are minimal.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$119/mo  for Kona SE

　　Kona SE

　　SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,140 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,640 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,950 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,450 MSRPN Line 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $27,850 MSRPN Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $29,350 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $28,950 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $30,450 MSRPN 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) - $34,950 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　These are some small sins, such as an underpowered base engine and lots of hard plastic throughout the interior, but they're easily forgiven in the grand scheme. Though the Kona is one of the better extra-small SUVs around, you might also want to look at the Volkswagen Taos, Chevy Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30 and Buick Encore GX. These models are a bit newer and can offer a few advantages over the Kona.

　　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 snappy acceleration and playful handling. In zzdcar' testing of a Kona with the turbocharged engine, we measured 0-60 mph in just 7.2 seconds, very quick time for this class of car. Hyundai has also made incremental improvements over the years to the dual-clutch automatic transmission that's paired with the turbocharged engine. It's simply one of the better transmissions in the class. But there is the occasional hesitation when pulling away from a stop.

　　Around turns, the Kona is surprisingly composed and grippy. The steering doesn't give you much feel for the road, but on the whole this is an enjoyable little SUV to drive. The brakes bring the Kona to stop smoothly in town and provide average emergency-braking power.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Kona? The Kona rides a bit stiffer than competitors, and that makes this little Hyundai feel a bit busy over rough pavement. But overall it's a worthwhile trade-off to get the car's tight handling. Road noise is a bit intrusive, but that's not uncommon for the class. Overall, the Kona is pretty quiet.

　　The Kona's front seats are supportive and have plenty of adjustability, but they lack side bolsters for extra comfort. The back seats are flat and broad but not too upright. The climate control is a simple two-knob system that doesn't require the touchscreen to operate. The seat heaters in our test vehicle worked promptly on cold mornings.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below