The All-New Kona N | Hyundai’s Pocket Rocket SUV
I always thought that SUVs and sporty driving would never fit together. But then Hyundai shows up and says, “The KONA N is not your ordinary SUV. It’s a True Hot SUV. It’s N.” Wow Hyundai, this sounds promising! Also, one of my fellow journalists here at Car Journalism already tested the I20 N and was really amazed by it that I expected the Kona N to be nothing less. Let’s check if Hyundai’s words are correct!
Sporty Cute Looks
Let’s start with the outside. The Kona N is a pretty little SUV, which automatically makes it playful to me. Because of its size, it's a perfect city car the whole family can enjoy. Despite its cute looks we also have the sporty details which make the Kona N a whole lot cooler than the normal version. There are a lot of things that catch the eye, like, the N exclusive red accent skirts around the lower body which are really contrasting in combination with the performance blue color. Also, the 19-inch light-weight forged wheels with red brake calipers create a powerful look.
Hyundai made the nose a lot cleaner with beautiful small daytime running lights and an exclusive N-specific grille with integrated N-logo. You also immediately notice the large double-wing roof spoiler at the back, it provides enhanced downforce and includes the iconic triangular third brake light. The two large exhaust pipes and the pretty diffuser at the back make it look just perfect. The combination of the looks and the sound of this little one made a few people turn their heads to take a second look.
Enter The Pocket-Rocket
On the inside, you’ll see performance-blue accents with some matching red details. On the steering wheel, you’ll have blue stitching and 2 blue and 1 red button. The two blue buttons make it easy to choose between the drive modes and the red one is the NGS (N Grin Shift) boost button. The red color of this button is really contrasting which makes the steering wheel look more sporty. Also, the infotainment is themed in blue & red. It fits pretty well because of the matching performance blue exterior color. The inside feels sporty with a small, nicely feeling steering wheel and eye-catching buttons. The seats are great and they give a lot of lender support. I had the suede ones and I really loved them because I’m not a great fan of full leather seats. The pedals and the gear lever are made to look sporty and because of the leather, the lever and handbrake do feel great. Yes, there’s an actual physical handbrake.
The new 10-inch infotainment and digital cluster system provide a playful driving experience. The lap timer and N track map add to this. The N Track Map pin-points your location when driving on tracks and automatically calculates your lap time. Hyundai gave it a bit of a race game graphic, exclusively for the N models. Complete the experience by using the racing HUD for focussing on the track or road for the true video game feel.
Real Rocket Power?
Let’s talk about the driving experience you'll get with this car. I’ll keep it simple: Amazing! It’s super smooth, very playful, and sporty. Hyundai made sure that each N drive mode you select has a distinct exhaust note. From restrained in normal mode, to a crackling “after-burn” growl in N mode, simulating a WRC car during fast upshifts or overrun. It’s so hard to keep your foot off of the gas with this one, you just want to hear that crackling “after-burn” the whole time! Because this car is pretty small, it feels so playful and it asks to be played with. With its 280hp and 392Nm torque 2.0L turbocharged GDI engine with 8-speed wet DCT, it feels so powerful for such a little car. It comes with a few features that make it feel like a race car on the road. The N Corner Carving differential for example. This electronic differential transfers the power to each of the front wheels. Thanks to this you’ll take every fast corner a lot more stable. Hyundai also gave the Kona N traction control, so it would be manageable in different conditions like mud or snow. There are 4 modes: Snow, Deep snow, mud, and sand. This sort of makes it feel like a 4x4.
But what does that Red button do?! This tempting little thing is the N Grin Shift (NGS) button that gives you a sort of “boost”. It makes the car shift right back to the perfect gear for maximum acceleration, but it only lasts for 20 seconds. So, sorry, it’s not an actual nitro button like in Fast&Furious! Last but not least we have N Power Shift (NPS), which kicks in when the car is accelerating above 90% of its power. The torque drop during upshifts is reduced and sends maximum power to the wheels. Even the ones that want to take this car on the track will have something extra: The N Track sense (NTS) shift. It’s an automatically activated system that recognizes a dynamic driver style and makes everything smoother so the driver only has to worry about steering.
The Ultimate Pocket Rocket SUV?
So this car is the whole package. It’s cute, sporty, and practical. Hyundai did a great job. But like every car, the Kona N comes with a price. In Belgium, you can buy the Kona N starting at €40.499. The only thing that can change this price is the exterior color. The performance blue for example is an extra €650. I believe it’s a great price for what you get and especially for a car that gives you a smile on your face while driving it.
