Hyundai Kona review: On a mission to convince the world the SUV is a fun car for young and funky people
The Hyundai Kona, with just the entry-spec, will set you back just over £16,000
RECYCLE the empties, mop up the sick, feed the stale sausage rolls to the dog – the party is officially over.
After enjoying years of booming sales, the motoring industry is reaching for the paracetamol and pulling the duvet over its head. The hangover from hell is coming.
These pages aren’t large enough to list the manufacturers who are down year-on-year.
And I’m not going to bore you with the exact reasons why the wheels have fallen off so dramatically (even if I could).
But the headline is car sales are down around 12 per cent.
Except, that is, for one or two brands, who are enjoying a small after-party on the hotel room minibar.
One of those is Hyundai, which has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing car companies since being helmed by the automotive dream team of Albert Biermann (engineering, formerly BMW) and Peter Schreyer (design, formerly VW Group).
Like it or not, they vow to treat us to 30 new models by 2021, including this — the Kona.
“No, not another b-SUV,” you might cry. But the Kona is bringing something decent to the party.
Unlike its sister company Kia, Hyundai’s prices aren’t yet edging upwards in line with the world’s realisation that they make great cars (give it time).
That means you can bag the entry-spec Kona for just a tickle over £16,000 and it comes with cruise control, air-con, DAB radio and daytime LEDs.
You’ll have to endure a one-litre turbo engine for that money though, which isn’t as pathetic as it sounds once you get behind the wheel, producing around 120bhp.
At the top end is a hearty 1.6- litre turbo petrol, which affords nearly 180bhp and makes sense for those who eat milage.
Optioning it in the Premium GT spec will cost £24,995, but it comes fully loaded and with AWD, so still phenomenal value.
And in 2018 you’ll be able to buy an all-electric version because, well, we’re all going to be forced to drive around in a hairdryer soon.
Price alone means Hyundai is offering something to consider.
The interior is well thought out, if too reliant on cheap plastics. Depending on your trim level, you’ll get a five, seven or eight-inch colour infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. When it comes to driving experience, the comparisons start to blur a little.
I’m not saying it’s lacking. It’s as attractive a proposition as any of its rivals — it’s just difficult to get very frothy over yet another small soft-roader.
If driving thrills are your thing, the closest you’ll get to that is in the 1.6-litre.
It’s punchy, and coupled with AWD handles nicely, although the ride can feel firm at times.
Hyundai’s mission is to convince the world this is a fun car for young and funky people. It is doing this with bold styling, modern tech and more colour combinations than Elton John’s wedding.
Practicality wise, it’s not winning the war. The Citroen C3 Aircross and Seat Arona both boast more boot space than the Kona’s 334 litres. And in the back it feels cramped.
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How well the Kona sells will come down to whether customers want something which stands out from the crowd in the painfully homogenised b-SUV segment, which now accounts for five per cent of all car sales.
And seeing as SUVs are no longer just driven by tweed-wearing gentlemen farmers, Hyundai can afford to be hopeful.
Party on, I say.
Key facts:
HYUNDAI KONA 1.0 T-GDi SE
Price: £17,495
Engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
Economy: 52.3mpg
0-62mph: 12 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Length: 4.1 metres
CO2: 125g/km