It is the latest addition to the Korean brand. The new Hyundai Kona comes to cover one of the most booming segments of the market, that of urban SUVs. At 4.17 meters in length, it ranks below the Tucson and will have to compete with well-established models such as the Renault Captur or the Peugeot 2008.

At the presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show, he did not leave anyone indifferent. The brand has high expectations with this model: they have worked hard to make it as attractive as possible and it shows at first glance.

Hyundai Kona design

The latest generation of vehicles launched by Hyundai have undergone a radical design change, they are introducing much more international lines than before. Let’s analyze this Hyundai Kona in parts:

• Front : the grill directly reminds us of the new i30, but with much more original headlights, separated into two parts, something that reminds us a bit of the Citroën C4 Picasso. The front underbody are adorned with a protective black plastic that is joined with very marked wheel arches and with a very original shape. E l set is a very SUV front, with guards on all sides, but do not fool yourself, do not go off – road with it, unless you want to go through the workshop very often.

• Rear : this part slightly reminds us of the Mazda CX-3, with sharp pilots positioned horizontally. As with the front, the Korean brand has provided it with numerous protective plastics, both in the lower part of the bumper and on the sides.
• Side : the most striking are the wheel arches, much bulkier than usual. This will avoid the marks that we all inevitably suffer in cities, protecting much of the side of the vehicle.

Inside

As with all of Hyundai’s current range, the interior space is above average. This Kona lives up to a good compact when it comes to interior space.

In the front seats it has a space very similar to that offered by its brother, the Hyundai i30, which says a lot about how well resolved it is, since it is 17 cm shorter than this. The dashboard is quite minimalist, in the style of the newcomer Citroën C3 Aircross.

It has a large screen located in the best possible place, and this is appreciated if we are looking at the GPS in the city, so as not to divert our eyes excessively. This screen is complemented by a series of buttons very well distributed and quite large. It is a very well-resolved, practical, modern and easy-to-use dashboard.

The quality of materials is correct, at the level of most of its competitors, but they convey a feeling of solidity that is not typical of a vehicle of these characteristics. We are convinced that it will cope very well with the passage of time.

In the rear seats  they do not reach the level of the i30 but they stay quite close. They are very usable by two tall adults, with very wide dimensions except in the width for the shoulders, something common in the segment, but where it defends itself much better than rivals such as the Captur.

The trunk, at 361 liters, falls slightly below its more direct rivals : the Captur offers 377 liters and the C3 Aircross has managed to extract 401 liters from its small SUV. The Ford Ecosport is far behind, at 310 liters.

Dynamic

The Hyundai Kona will not disappoint the user of an urban SUV, in the city it moves with great ease, wandering around as if it were a utility vehicle and with the advantage of seeing slightly above the traffic. On fast roads he is very poised, halfway between the i20 and the i30, this places him in a very good place given the good work of the smallest.

On mountain roads, like most of its rivals, its higher center of gravity hurts it, showing slight body roll, but it moves smoothly at legal speeds. In this environment, a Ford Ecosport comes out better standing, since it has a stiffer chassis and a firmer suspension than our protagonist.

Engines

Here we will not see news, since the engines that it mounts have already been seen in other models of the brand; initially the Hyundai Kona will only mount blocks of gasoline that already mount the i30 or the ix20.

The engine of access to the Kona will be the well-known three-cylinder 1.0 T-GDi, with 100 or 120 hp. The latter is the best option for performance, since it takes 12 seconds to perform the 0 to 100 km / h, a correct figure for the type of use that these small SUVs have.

For those looking for something more performance, Hyundai has made available a 1.6 T-GDi that yields 177 hp. This engine is compulsorily with four-wheel drive and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In summer 2018, the Hyundai Kona will enjoy diesel engines, with the 1.6-liter as the protagonist.

Prices

Part of the € 18,889 for the 1.0T-GDi version of the most basic finish to the € 31,790 that the Hyundai Kona costs with the 1.6 T-GDi engine with automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The prices are very similar to its main rivals and it will not be an incentive to opt for one model or another.

Aesthetically we believe that the Korean brand has hit the nail on the head with this Hyundai Kona. In addition, it enjoys a very spacious and usable interior, not only for use in the city, but for the long trips of small families.

Arguments are not lacking to succeed, only time will tell us the acceptance that this small SUV will have, of course it starts with the advantage of belonging to the most demanded segment currently, although also one of the most competitive.