The Kona name conjures up images of an idyllic Hawaiian island paradise that offers respite from the cruel winters endured by most North Americans. Kona is also the name of Hyundai鈥檚 new compact utility model that recently landed on our shores.
Sadly, Hawaii has nothing to do with the vehicle, but Kona does have a pleasant ring to it, making it more memorable than some alphanumeric mash-ups used by other automakers.
Utility vehicles of all sizes are part of a revolution in automotive design that shows no signs of slowing down. And they鈥檙e taking a big chunk out of the traditional four-door family car鈥檚 popularity.
The compact and subcompact utility classes have been particularly active and even include vehicles such as the Toyota C-HR and upcoming Nissan Kicks that don鈥檛 even offer all-wheel-drive as an option.
By contrast, the Kona 鈥� and most other vehicles in the class 鈥� can be equipped with either front-wheel drive (perfectly acceptable for Hawaiian Islanders or for those living in warmer climes), or all-wheel drive.
Hyundai鈥檚 designers have done a masterful job styling the Kona, from the shape of the grille, to the muscular-looking flared fenders. Dark cladding artfully wraps around the entire circumference. Hyundai refers to this treatment as 鈥渦rban smart armour.鈥�
The properly stanced Kona is constructed on a new platform with ample ground clearance for tackling rough roads and nasty weather. It鈥檚 also easy for passengers to enter and exit.
Those in front will enjoy reasonable head, shoulder and legroom, but it will be a tighter fit for adult-sized folks in back, where headroom and kneeroom are literally touch and go.
The gauges and control panel are all pretty straightforward and the seven- or optional 20-centimetre touchscreens each come with actual knobs for operating the audio system (shockingly rare these days) as well as the ventilation system.
For cargo space, the Kona sits mid-point between the Mazda CX-3 and the Honda HR-V, whether the rear seat is upright or folded flat.
Kona buyers can choose from two engine/transmission combinations. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder is standard with base trims and makes 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It鈥檚 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift controls.
Optional is a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder that puts out 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet. Here, you get a seven-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission.
Note that all-wheel drive is optional with the 2.0 but is standard when the turbo is selected. It includes a fully independent rear suspension instead of the less sophisticated torsion-beam setup found in front-wheel drive versions.
The base engine also delivers the same combined city/highway AWD fuel-economy rating as the turbo: 8.6 l/100 km.
Those values will likely degrade somewhat should you activate the Sport mode, which alters throttle response and transmission shift points, and dials in more direct steering feel.
The Kona is available in five trim levels, beginning with the Essential that鈥檚 priced at $22,900 (including freight). That gets you most basic equipment, but moving up to the Preferred and Luxury tacks on 17-inch alloy wheels (16-inchers with wheel covers are standard).
Along with the 1.6-litre turbo, the top-end Trend adds a power sunroof, leather-covered seats and 18-inch wheels. The fully loaded Kona Ultimate includes navigation, rain-sensing wipers, head-up display, wireless phone charging and the 20-centimetre touchscreen.
Blind-spot warning and backup cross-traffic alert are included in all but the base models, but a more comprehensive suite of active-safety tech comes with Hyundai鈥檚 available Smart Sense package.
In an expanding segment, the Hyundai Kona鈥檚 artful and detailed design, acceptable cabin and stowage volumes, decent fuel economy 鈥� and memorable name 鈥� make for a package worth considering.
