Powered by
Subscribe to the only car newsletter you’ll ever need

2018 Hyundai Kona review: first Australian drive

 

Good points

  • Zippy turbo’s engine and gearbox
  • Turbo’s sorted independent rear
  • Attractive, intuitive interior

Needs work

  • 2.0-litre’s choppier ride
  • Some harsh cabin plastics
  • ‘SUV tax’ over equivalent i30
2018 Hyundai Kona Highlander Acid Yellow Front End

Hyundai is a brand that is on the continual rise. Once known only for being cheap and cheerful, the South Korean marque continually proves naysayers wrong by serving up reliable, functional cars that remain – yes – often cheaper than their competitors. Flush with confidence, Hyundai are in the process of branching into luxury product with offshoot Genesis, and the sporty end of the market with the N sub-brand – but the mainstream still sits at the heart of the Hyundai badge. But with sales off 5.9 per cent this year, the time is ripe for Hyundai to address a conspicuous hole in its range: the lack of a small SUV. Insiders will know the Creta – Hyundai’s city SUV for the developing world – but with that car deemed unacceptable for picky Western markets, a superior alternative has been under development for some time. Enter this: the 2018 Hyundai Kona.

The Hyundai we know plays a straight bat when it comes to design – but the Kona throws that caution to the wind, with an extroverted, polarising look – something that Hyundai are unabashedly happy about. There’s certainly a lot going with the styling – the Kona has 10 different lighting functions at the front, and, combined with Hyundai’s new ‘cascade’ grille, the front end won’t be confused for another member of the small SUV set. Things are fresh at the rear, too, with a set of pretty individual cladded taillights.

2018 Hyundai Kona Elite Tangerine Comet Rear End

Inside, though, the Kona is less radical, sporting a layout similar – though not identical – to the brand’s new i30 hatchback. Quality, though, is noticeably off from the i30’s high benchmark, with greater use of harder plastics and less of a feeling of plushness. The Kona does, however, offer a cool level of interior customisation, with coloured seat belts and vent surrounds on the top-shelf Highlander trim.

The entry level Active starts at $24,500 and includes a healthy standard equipment list such as 16-inch alloys, air-conditioning, automatic headlights, a 7.0-inch infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, a reversing camera and LED daytime running lights, though it does not include any active safety equipment. The $26,000 Active safety pack does though, with equipment such as AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear traffic alert and lane keep assist now part of the equation.

2018 Hyundai Kona Active Ceramic Blue Front End Driving

The $28,000 Elite is expected to be the most popular model, with 17-inch alloys, leather upholstery, climate control and rain-sensing wipers as standard. The top of the local Kona tree is the $33,000 Highlander, which adds equipment such as 18-inch alloys, a heads-up display, LED headlights with automatic high beam and some segment-exclusive equipment such as heated, cooled and powered front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel and Qi wireless phone charging.

Uniquely for the segment, Hyundai is offering the two available drivetrains – a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive combo and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with all-wheel drive – in the four different model levels.

2018 Hyundai Kona Interior

We drove the broad spectrum of Hyundai Kona specification at the SUV’s local launch in the Canberra region, driving the car across high-speed motorways, pockmarked B-roads, urban backstreets and on gravel.

Armed with that information, does the Kona have what it takes to compare against sales favourites, the Mazda CX-3 and Subaru XV, as well as the excellent Toyota C-HR? Have they missed the boat or arrived fashionably late to the small SUV party? Based on the drive program at the national launch, Hyundai appears to be onto a winner with the Kona. Why is that? Read on.

Overall rating
Overall rating
7.5
Overall rating
7.5

Key specs (as tested)

Engine
Capacity
2.0 litres
Cylinders
4
Induction
Naturally aspirated
Power
110kW at 6,200rpm
Torque
180Nm at 4,500rpm
Configuration
Torque converter
Power to weight ratio
81.3kW/tonne
Fuel
Fuel type
Petrol
Fuel capacity
50 litres
Consumption
7.2L/100km
Average Range
694 kilometres
Drivetrain
Transmission
Automatic
Drivetrain
Front wheel drive
Engine configuration
In-line
Gears
6
Dimensions
Length
4,165mm
Width
1,800mm
Height
1,565mm
Unoccupied weight
1,353 kilograms
Cargo space seats up
361 litres
Cargo seats down
1,143 litres

About Chasing cars

Chasing Cars reviews are 100% independent.

Because we are powered by Budget Direct Insurance, we don’t receive advertising or sales revenue from car manufacturers.

We’re truly independent – giving you Australia’s best car reviews.

Terms and conditions

The estimate provided does not take into account your personal circumstances but is intended to give a general indication of the cost of insurance, in order to obtain a complete quote, please visit www.budgetdirect.com.au. Estimate includes 15%^ online discount.
^Conditions Apply

Budget Direct Insurance arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd ACN 003 617 909(AGS) AFSL 241 411, for and on behalf of the insurer, Auto & General Insurance Company Limited(ABN 42 111 586 353, AFSL 285 571).Because we don’t know your financial needs, we can’t advise you if this insurance will suit you. You should consider your needs and the Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision to buy insurance. Terms and conditions apply.

Indicative quote based on assumptions including postcode , 40 year old male with no offences, licence suspensions or claims in the last 5 years, a NCD Rating 1 and no younger drivers listed. White car, driven up to 10,000kms a year, unfinanced, with no modifications, factory options and/or non-standard accessories, private use only and garaged at night.

^Online Discounts Terms & Conditions
1. Discounts apply to the premium paid for a new Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance, Third Party Property Only or Third Party Property, Fire & Theft Insurance policy initiated online on or after 29 March 2017. Discounts do not apply to optional Roadside Assistance.
2. Discounts do not apply to any renewal offer of insurance.
3. Discounts only apply to the insurance portion of the premium. Discounts are applied before government charges, taxes, levies and fees, including instalment processing fees (as applicable). The full extent of discounts may therefore be impacted.
4. We reserve the right to change the offer without notice.