Hyundai Kona Hybrid | Test Drive

6 May 2022 Redazione Tested

HYUNDAI KONA HYBRID

Words Marco Rallo / Photos Richard Montagner

Benchmark. Yep, we could consider this thing done by now, after all when it comes to numbers and you’re able to carry on an evolution of exponential quality level as Hyundai has done in recent years, it is no wonder that every model of the Korean brand is capable to represent the point of reference. For the Kona it is some sort of a classic tale in which one Disney cliché after another gave birth to one of the best crossovers available in the list. Quality, usability and engines for every need: these are the three main ingredients that contribute keeping it among the undisputed protagonists of the market and with the restyling at the beginning of 2021, the goal of the company is to gather further customers, without for this reason neglecting the very ends of its range such as the constant commitment to electrification and that towards the most performing N division.

While waiting to drive the new Kona N, we brought the new Full-Hybrid to the office, the one that is aptly defined as the ideal model for the typical customer of the crossover segment. In addition to diesel, mild-hybrid and 100% electric engines, the version of our test promises to offer the ultimate compromise in terms of fuel consumption and drivability, using a 4-cylinder hybrid engine outputting 141 hp. It is in fact the sum of all the factors that makes the Kona the best solution for the needs of the hectic city routine, without however forgetting the practicality of a five-door, five-seater body with a large trunk and distances that won’t head for gas pumps.

Impossible not to notice that you are dealing with the restyling, given that the Kona has significantly updated its design at the front, with the new grille that thanks also to dark plastic profiles and thinner headlights gives a more captivating and distinguishable look to the car. The proportions on the side profile and at the back remain substantially unchanged, where we still find the split optical groups, as well as effective black plastic bits that help to streamline the overall look. Like any self-respecting crossover, we pay particular attention to the fundamental aspects for a 360-degree coexistence and so with dimensions of a more classic hatchback, we have space for people and luggage, making use of on-board technology of a higher category you would expect.

There are two digital screens, both 10.25 inches, one arranged in the upper part of the dashboard and which allows you to manage all aspects of the infotainment, including one of the best satellite navigators out there as well as maximum connectivity, now indispensable on cars of this kind. Only the climate controls remain physical – fortunately – and the shortcuts for the system itself. In front of the driver there is the other display that integrates speedometer and digital tachometer, but also a precise on-board computer that varies its design according to the driving mode chosen, which in turn will act on the throttle response, the ratio of the 6-speed automatic gearbox – equipped with paddles on the steering wheel – and related fuel consumption.

When it comes to hybrid, one immediately tends to think that the car in question is solely aimed at fuel saving and reducing emissions, but in the case of the Kona Full-Hybrid there is much more. In fact, if approximately 4/5 liters are needed every 100 kilometers, it is the smooth driving feel that makes this model the ideal step for those looking for savings at the pump, without relying on the many implications of an exclusively electrified model. The seating position remains one of the strength points of this model: high enough to grant excellent visibility on all sides, but at the same time close enough to the ground, thus ensuring an exceptional connection with the chassis and the road below. There are no performance ambitions here – for that you get the N – but one of the things that struck me when I drove a Kona for the first time in my life is just how pleasant it is even when used away from the urban environment. The finishes are almost perfect, the work of the gearbox is precise even if left in automatic mode and the low weight makes the 141 horses of this 1.6 hybrid enough to move with a decent agility.

Traction is entrusted only to the front wheels, but also thanks to a weight that does not exceed a ton and a half, in order to unbalance the excellent behavior of the Kona you really have to exaggerate, perhaps with road conditions that are anything but normal. Starting at € 22,250 you can put your hands on the petrol 1.0-cc, going up to € 23,600 for the 120 horsepower Mild-Hybrid. The next step is represented by the diesel hybrid powered by a 136-hp 1.6 and which starts at € 25,400, finally reaching the Full Hybrid of our test, with prices starting at € 27,400. As mentioned, there are also 100% electric variants, namely the 39 kWh which with 136 hp promises an average range of about 305 km at a price of € 36,100 and the 64 kWh which with 204 hp runs up to 484 km and starts at € 45,250. At the top of the range the Kona N, which combines practicality and performance offered by a frame that will be pure pleasure, 280 hp and prices starting at € 42,500. You read that right, everyone can find the perfect Kona.

HYUNDAI KONA HYBRID 1.6 GDI HEV 2WD

Engine 4 cylinder Full-Hybrid, 1.580 cc Power 141 hp Torque 147 Nm

Traction Front-Wheel-Drive Transmission 6-Speed Automatic Gearbox Weight 1.451 kg

0-100 kph 11,1 sec Top Speed 185 kph Price from €27.400