Hyundai Kona OS AWD 1.6L Petrol

The fastest AWD Kona you can buy also has a great list of standard features – As I am impressed by Kia, I’m also incredibly impressed with the current build quality of Hyundai’s products. The Kona is no exception. For the price, you’re getting yourself into a vehicle that has been thoughtfully put together, with a good mix of the cheaper stuff, along with quality materials. On the outside, both paint and the plastic… Read more

trim all appeared to be of a superior quality. Even the twin chrome exhaust tips looked and felt of a grade even greater than some European equivalents (no fakery here!) As they weren't just a facade of an exhaust exit, rather it looks like proper R and D went into making these tailpipes. In this top trim, leather seats and soft-touch materials helped justify the higher asking price over lower trims. Stand-out quality was found in the dual 10.25 inch displays, both for the infotainment and the driver’s display. Hyundai’s infotainment system has some of the best responses to touch inputs in the industry. The tablet-like UI employed here is simple to use, helping elevate the quality of interaction you have with this vehicle. The driver’s display is ultra-crisp and smooth in its animations, again, helping improve the sense of quality in this cabin. Small in their size and frequently used, they have a lasting impact slightly reducing the overall sense of quality. Some quality let-downs came in the form of a cheaper feeling interior door handles and the cheap nature of the drive mode select button.

The Kona N-Line Premium, tops the standard petrol-powered versions of the Kona line-up at $47,093 drive away. This is quite a step up. Conversely, you’re getting a better motor, gearbox, all-wheel drive (AWD)and more features than you’d ever expect you’d need at this price point. The Kona is up against the likes of the Nissan Juke, the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Subaru XV/Crosstrek.

The Kona needs to be serviced every 10,000km or once a year.

Hyundai is less interested in showing a breakdown of each year of servicing, instead wants you to purchase a pre-paid servicing plan.

For the full five years or first 50,000km of driving, Hyundai will charge you $1,595; this is reasonable. This works out to about $319 a year.

Harman/Kardon. Ever heard of them? I’m sure you have. If not, they’re some of the best in-car speakers you can buy and have been seen in even the likes of Range Rover. I just haven’t yet seen these speakers fitted to the likes of a Hyundai. Again, Hyundai is outshining its former self with improvements like this. The premium speaker system used in the Kona was exceptional for the price.

As much as the Kona N-Line Premium looks the part, it’s not going to fulfill the full-fat N experience you might be chasing. This Kona has a 1.6L four-cylinder petrol motor pushing 146kW at 6,000rpm and 265Nm at 1600-4500rpm. 0-100km/h times haven’t been officially announced, but many publications quote the capable little SUV hitting 100 in the mid to low 8 second range. That’s respectable for a small SUV in this segment, in which cars usually achieve a time closer to 10 seconds. The 0-100 time is aided by the AWD drivetrain and dual-clutch transmission partnered with the turbocharged motor. I adored the grip this AWD system offered, as I never once experienced slippage under enthusiastic acceleration in situations where I normally would with other front-wheel drive systems.

I’ve read some complaints regarding the Kona N-Line’s gearbox, but I’ve looked for a reason to hate it and still can’t find one. I understand that even though this is the sports-orientated version of the Kona, shifting gears using the manual mode isn’t the best experience. Instead, you should leave the gearbox to do what it does best in auto. The vehicle’s 7-speed dual clutch transmission certainly does a far better job at shifting than the dual clutch unit in the Nissan Juke. Shifts can occasionally feel a bit abrupt under harsh acceleration with the Kona, however in every other instance the gearbox performs without a hitch.

There’s a larger set of wheels fitted to this trim, translating to a stiffer overall ride. It’s not back-breaking, but you are going to feel a little more on the road than a more comfort-orientated SUV. Handling is aided by the AWD system and a stiffer suspension setup. The Kona is able to tackle tighter corners and start accelerating sooner out of them thanks to this setup. Claimed fuel efficiency for the Kona is 6.9L/100km, but I achieved as high as 13.5L/100km during my time with the Kona.

The Kona N-Line adds some much needed flair to this interior with the addition of N badges sewed into the seats, an N-Design steering wheel and an N-Design shifter. Leather seats also elevate the interior to a more luxurious level, helping justify the price tag.

With all the seats folded-up, the rear boot space equals 351L, and the maximum boot space you can get with the second-row folded is 1143L. Upon opening the boot, it becomes apparent that the Kona isn’t a replacement for a family car. This car is more suited for a family of 3, or a spacious option for 1 to 2 people. The boot is small and feels cramped once you’ve placed two suitcases in there. The seats fold in a 60:40 split, which is ideal for a family of 3 and allows you to fit more cargo in the back whilst carting around two passengers. As a 5’11” human, the rear seats were too tight for me. Even though this is a four door small-SUV, the second-row was cramped and not comfortable on long journeys. These seats should be reserved for smaller passengers or used exclusively for shorter journeys.

Unless you want more power or a more economical option in the form of a hybrid or EV, the Kona N-Line offers one of the best value for money propositions along with a premium driving experience and list of features in the small-SUV segment.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

The most exciting car I’ve owned! – I recently picked up my new Hyundai Kona N-Line in cyber grey. It’s my first Hyundai and the service and buying experience has been wonderful. It’s just completed its first 1,500 service and it drives beautifully. It’s not the most economical but having previously owned a diesel with a larger tank capacity I knew I was going to have to adjust. … Read more

It is well feature packed for the price. I would like to see closed storage in the centre console but it will probably teach me not to collect stuff in there! So many charging options for front and rear passengers, and rear vents are a real bonus with the kids! They’ve told me it’s the coolest car I’ve owned and I agree. A real pleasure to drive, I love getting into it each day!

Bloody amazing ! – A real "driver's car"! Never thought I'd say that about a Hyundai, but this car is the best thing I have ever driven. The turbo AWD is so sure-footed and wants to gooo! Throw it into a few corners and hit the throttle as you exit. The combination of DCT transmission, AWD with torque vectoring, teamed with Australian tuned suspension delivers an… Read more

awesome feeling of control. "Normal" drive mode is great for sedate shopping trips but put it into "Sport" mode and it becomes a different car. Acceleration improves noticeably and the steering tightens up making it far more direct. On that subject, Hyundai have used electric power steering in this car and that makes it more programmable, to suit the driving context. At highway speed it also tightens up which makes the car feel really solid on the road. There is absolutely zero vibration or play in the steering wheel at 120km/hr. You could balance a cup of coffee on there and not lose a drop. Very reassuring ! Makes the car feel bigger and heftier than it is. The latest safety tech is all there and works unobtrusively, not as neurotic as the Mazda that my wife drives. The Infotainment screen is large and really intuitive to use. I believe the older models lacked GPS but my 2020 model has it included. Otherwise you can use Google maps via your Apple Carplay. I love the green highlights in the cabin - a refreshing change from charcoal on black. Some journos complain about the use of hard plastics but there aren't any where you rest your limbs. And who cares about the bits you never touch ? I'd rather my money went into performance. All round a fantastic package, including 7 year warranty. No wonder it won Drive Car of the Year and Small SUV of the Year in North America. Note that the power and acceleration is significantly better in the turbocharged model and there is not much penalty in fuel consumption. Turbo AWD is an option on all trim levels and SmartSense safety tech is now included on all models. So my advice is to take the turbo engine (which includes AWD and independent rear suspension) and trade off cabin features and metal paint to fit your budget. Turbo is the way to go. But then I'm someone who hates slugs !

Loved it so much we bought 2! – Bought the base model in tangerine comet for $27888 when there was a 1.1% finance offer, it’s an amazing car! The acceleration in the 1.6 turbo is a surprise, that’s for sure. Handling is very good, love the apple car play. Nice to be a little higher on the road. Looks like a big SUV only scaled down. Easy to park. Our second one is blue lagoon… Read more

and has the active safety pack which I absolutely love. The blind spot indicators really work, the lane keep assisting has different levels from off to actively keeping you in lane, the direction that something is approaching you when reversing in car parks is great (works with people also) and the auto emergency braking/stopping a bonus you hope to never need. It has kicked in a couple of time, very useful. I use this car every day to commute to work in Sydney traffic. It’s such a pleasure to drive, I no longer bother with the train. It’s fine for long trips for 4 adults however boot space is limited. We did a trip with 5 to Melbourne from Sydney and had to share the middle back seat around as it wasn’t comfortable. Service frequency is high which is a pain but I don’t mind so I can keep them running at top performance. The only issue is occasionally the cruise control won’t stay on however it resets after the engine is turned off. A great car! Highly recommend.