2021 Hyundai Kona N review

A spicy new compact SUV has arrived Down Under with power and performance to match some of the best performance hatchbacks.

The Hyundai Kona N is a new kind of car.

Inspired by high-riding performance models from European luxury brands, Hyundai has transformed its Kona SUV into a machine capable of thrilling keen drivers.

It’s the only affordable high-performance SUV on sale today, and represents a surprisingly fun option for folks looking for something out of the ordinary.

Priced from $47,500 plus on-road costs (about $52,000 drive-away), the Kona N is a fair whack more than the basic model on sale for $28,990 drive-away.

The Hyundai Kona N costs more than $50,000.

But you get a lot of changes for the money, including a carefully reinforced body shell engineered for high-performance driving. There’s also a turbocharged engine, eight-speed dual-clutch auto transmission, big brakes and machined 19-inch alloys with Pirelli P-Zero rubber.

There are multi-mode shocks, a bi-modal exhaust and digital dashboard with clever apps such as a GPS-based lap timer.

Kona N customers also benefit from a body kit, sports seats and leather-trimmed steering wheel with shift paddles and special buttons that let you tailor the car to its environment.

Those elements build on strong standard features including twin 10.25-inch displays loaded with smartphone mirroring, sat nav, wireless phone charging, a digital radio and Harman Kardon stereo.

It is the only affordable performance SUV on sale right now.

Safety gear includes six airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keep assistance, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alerts.

Options include metallic paint ($595), and a premium pack ($3000) adding a sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display, ambient lighting and more.

As with most new cars, the Kona is supported by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with capped price servicing. Unlike most cars, Hyundai N models are covered for non-competitive track days.

Our Kona test drive took place south of Sydney, moving through the Southern Highlands before laps of the Wakefield Park circuit near Goulburn.

Setting off in the car’s most conservative driving mode, the Kona presents as a taut crossover with firmer suspension than most, with an effortlessly brisk engine that makes short work of green light getaways.

The warranty for Hyundai N cars cover non competitive track days.

The high driving position offers a clear view of the road ahead.

Smooth gearshifts, easily grasped infotainment and a silky-smooth transmission work in its favour.

Like the best hot hatches and performance SUVs, the Kona N is an easy car to live with every day. Just like those cars, its character changes entirely when you dig deeper.

The standard Kona makes do with 110kW. But this N model claims almost double that, or 206kW/392Nm that swells further during brief periods of overboost.

The result is a 0-100km/h sprint dispatched in 5.5 seconds – almost a full second faster than the entry-level Porsche Macan SUV.

The trade-off is seriously thirsty fuel economy – officially 9L/100km of premium, but you’ll use more in the real world.

Like the renowned i30 N, the Kona’s most aggressive driving modes bang through rapid-fire gearshifts with percussive effect, oversized exhaust tips crackling on the overrun when you approach a bend.

It’ll drink more than 9L/100km of premium fuel in the real world.

A little higher and heavier than its hatchback cousin, the Kona N nonetheless feels more like a hot hatch than a fast SUV. It’s easy to place with confidence and doesn’t wilt when you attack a series of bends or attempt a few hot laps on circuit.

Powerful brakes and chunky tyres work in its favour.

Suspension that seems a little too firm at sedate speeds works at pace to deliver poise rarely – if ever – found in affordable crossovers.

Enthusiasts will appreciate the option to completely deactivate traction and stability control.

While lesser Kona models are available with all-wheel-drive, the halo model here powers the front wheels through a limited-slip differential.

The combination works well in dry conditions, pulling out of corners with rare gusto.

While the regular Kona is no dynamic star, Hyundai’s new N model is remarkably engaging.

Given how effectively Hyundai’s N Division transformed the pedestrian i30 hatch into a performance car, the Kona N’s excellence should not have come as a surprise.

VERDICT 4/5

Rapid, well-equipped and relevant to today’s customers, Hyundai is on to a winner with the new Kona N.

HYUNDAI KONA N VITALS

Price: From $52,000 drive-away

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 206kW/392Nm

Warranty/Service: 5-year/unlimited km, $1675 for 5 years

Safety: 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert.

Thirst: 9L/100km

Cargo: 361 litres

Spare: Temporary

Originally published as 2021 Hyundai Kona N review