The modern world is a world of compromises. If a car is chosen on the basis of its looks, it usually lags behind in terms of performance and functionality unless it comes with a hefty price tag. Hyundai bridges this gap with most of their vehicle offerings and the brand new 2018 Hyundai Kona is a prime example. Dubbed as the SUV for the city, the 2018 Kona has a great looking exterior design, a functional and refined interior and overall a great driving experience whether in the city or on the highway.
BOLD AND UNIQUE EXTERIOR
The exterior of a car is the first thing that catches the eye and the 2018 Hyundai Kona is both aggressive yet stunning. While most compact crossover SUVs have a bolder exterior than the rest of their lineup, the 2018 Kona takes bold design to the next level!
A mean and aggressive look is seen throughout the exterior design of the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The front end is perhaps the most extreme when it comes to design, with a beefy, sculpted hood, sleek and narrow headlights, muscular wheel arches and a cascading grille design. The side profile reinforces the sporty look with a sloping roofline, bold body cladding and sleek accent lines. The rear end of the 2018 Kona features an overhang spoiler and narrow, sporty wrap around tail lights. Overall the pleasing shape of the Kona combined with unique, eye catching features and an optional two tone colour design come together for a truly unique exterior design that’s both pleasing and intriguing.
INTERIOR VERSATILITY
The two tone color scheme of the 2018 Hyundai Kona continues on to the interior as well with the colour package. Every bit of space has been maximized for efficiency and versatility. Logical and ergonomic placement of key controls and every bit of space has been utilized in an intelligent manner so that the occupants of the car get the maximum amount of leg room and cargo space.
The interior space is quite a bit large than one would expect when looking at the 2018 Kona from the exterior. Add the flat folding 60/40 rear seats to the 8 way power seats and you get a versatile interior that can adapt to many passenger and cargo configurations.
The 2018 Hyundai Kona also sports some unexpected features like a heads up display, projecting key driving information into the lower front windshield allowing the driver to keep focused on the road. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow seamless connectivity with your smart phone, while the Infinity audio system is top notch quality. The 7 inch (optional 8 inch) touch screen display fits nicely into the center of the dash and helps remove the clutter of buttons that would otherwise be required.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The 2018 Hyundai Kona drives like a car with the performance and handling, but feels like an SUV with the elevated seating position and the spacious interior. The 2018 Kona feels as mean and committed as its looks will have you believe. The base 2.0L four cylinder engine outputs 147hp and pairs with a 6 speed automatic transmission, while the upgraded 1.6L turbo charged four cylinder engine outputs 175hp and pairs with a seven speed automatic dual clutch transmission. The models sporting the 1.6L engine are also equipped with AWD, while the lower models running the 2.0L engine are FWD with the option to upgrade to AWD.
The steering of the 2018 Kona is very focused and dynamic allowing you to make tight turns with minimal effort. The balance of the car is also exceptional making driving truly effortless on even the most crowded roads. It definitely lives up to the tagline that Hyundai gives it – The SUV for the city. The 2018 Kona also features a drive mode that toggles the throttle response and steering stiffness creating the ideal combination for cruising or spirited driving.
The 2018 Hyundai Kona also sports some of the latest safety features. It’s made to be as safe as possible from the ground up, starting at its strong and sturdy core structure. This is nicely augmented by a myriad of safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Driver Attention Assist, Rear Parking Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
The posted fuel consumption rates for the 2018 Kona are impressive, but similar to comparables in the segment. Both engines achieve a combined city and highway fuel economy of 8.6 L/100km in the AWD configuration, while the 2.0L engine achieves a combined city and highway consumption of 7.9 L/100km with a FWD configuration. Quite impressive.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With a starting price of only $20,999 for the base model 2018 Hyundai Kona, the value is exceptional! This feature rich compact SUV that drives like a car is functional and versatile and the exterior will continue to inspire you with its aggressive and sporty design. Definitely one of the bolder compact SUVs on the market, the 2018 Kona has found its own little niche in the space.
