[TEST DRIVE] Hyundai's Kona SUV is new and improved with a heftier price tag to match

Industry

Published: 31 Jan. 2023, 17:16 Updated: 31 Jan. 2023, 17:18

[TEST DRIVE] Hyundai's Kona SUV is new and improved with a heftier price tag to match

The latest Kona SUV, a fully revamped version in five years [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

PAJU, Gyeonggi - No. 1 in terms of exports, but the most hated Hyundai vehicle in Korea. Ironically, these two titles belong to one car: Kona SUV.

A total of 195,603 Kona SUVs were sold overseas last year, the most popular vehicle from a Korean automaker.

However, only 8,388 were sold domestically, even less than the hydrogen-powered Nexo SUV.

First introduced in 2017, Kona used to dominate the country's small SUV market with its iconic design and affordable prices. But it steadily lost its reputation after a series of fire incidents, and was eventually discontinued in 2021.

The Kona made a comeback after five years, with a completely transformed design, improved features and solid identification.

The Korea JoongAng Daily recently got behind the wheel of a green-colored Kona, equipped with 1.6-liter gasoline, on an 80–kilometer (50-mile) journey through Paju, Gyeonggi. The fully revamped model was introduced in Korea in gasoline and hybrid versions on Jan. 18.

The interior of the Kona is decorated with some lime colors, which gave the car a more luxurious look. [SARAH CHEA]

The steering wheel of the Kona [SARAH CHEA]

The unique green color, which the company calls "Mirage Green," was extremely appealing. The interior is decorated with some splashes of lime color, which gave the car a luxurious look.

The horizontal LED headlamp definitely stood out, giving the vehicle a trendier and futuristic look. From the side, the vehicle boasts a sporty look, resembling the much bigger Tucson or Ioniq 5 SUVs.

The inside was unexpectedly spacious, as a gear knob was moved next to the steering wheel. If I didn't know its segment, I would not think this was a small SUV.

The back seats were also spacious as the seats in the front have decreased in size by 30 percent compared to the previous version.

A reporter who is about 6 feet tall, however, said his head almost touched the roof.

The inside of the Kona SUV [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

The wheelbase, the distance between the front and back wheels, increased by 60 millimeters compared to the previous model.

Driving was quite satisfactory, especially with some safety features. When the vehicle gets close to a car in front of it, it warns the driver with an alarm. If the driver does not reduce the speed, the vehicle automatically presses the brake pedals.

The upgraded advanced driver assistant system is another strong point.

The highway assistant system let the vehicle drive on its own at a set speed while maintaining a set distance from the car in front in the center of the lane, without the driver’s hands touching the steering wheel.

If the driver's hands are removed from the steering wheel for more than 10 seconds, a warning alert goes off.

The center console is simple and offers spacious storages [SARAH CHEA]

These kinds of advanced features are usually not common for a small SUV, which tends to be cheaper and this is probably why Hyundai Motor markets this vehicle as a "rule breaker."

Equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline model, the SUV generates a maximum of 198 horsepower and 27 kilograms-meter of torque.

After some three-hour test drive, the recorded fuel economy was 12.7 kilometers per liter, in line with the official figure of 13 kilometers.

The trunk capacity increased by 30 percent to 723 liters and even expands to 970 liters when the second row of seats is folded down.

The latest Kona SUV [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

The price tag may be the only downside. The sticker price of the SUV begins at 25.4 million won ($20,650), some 3 million won more expensive than the previous version.

That is only 470,000 won cheaper than Tucson, a mid-size SUV from Hyundai.

Delivery began on Jan. 26. A fully electric version of the Kona is expected to be introduced in the second quarter.