2022 Hyundai Kona N Review & Test Drive : Automotive Addicts

As I consider about the electrification of vehicles remaining a fact, it is difficult to say goodbye to vehicles like the one I get to enjoy with this week – a general performance-oriented variation of the Hyundai Kona, the Kona N. Even though the Kona N is not particularly unique-motor vehicle-quick, it is a rather fun and exciting automobile showcasing what manufactures can very easily do with small, turbocharged engines wrapped up in a compact lightweight package deal.

The Hyundai Kona has been a welcomed subcompact crossover since its introduction in 2018 and around the earlier pair of a long time, it has received further trims for a sportier charm, and lately a new Kona N model that injects the brand’s “N” functionality attributes. In getting to practical experience the Kona N this 7 days I can attest to all those overall performance attributes implementing to most of the motor vehicle, which include the interior, handling, appears to be, and electric power with a exclusive smile-inducing attribute – far more on that afterwards.

Overall performance and Driving Character

It’s challenging to area the new Hyundai Kona N as it touts the exact same subcompact form of the other Kona trims but has a instead potent motor for its class to the tune of 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque from a 2.-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine powering the front wheels only. The motor gets mated to an 8-pace DCT (dual-clutch transmission) that fires off snappy shifts and can be instead aggressive making use of the right generate placing. With this sort of a powertrain, the Kona N receives placed in a compact basket to contend with autos like the Mercedes-AMG GLA35, Mini Countryman John Cooper Operates All4, or BMW X2 M35i. Exterior of people smallish crossovers, the competition could technically extend to automobiles like the Honda Civic Sort R, Volkswagen Golfing GTI or even the VW Golf R if you overlook the SUV-ness of the Kona N.

See Also: 2022 Hyundai Kona N-Line Evaluation & Check Push

The effectiveness features of the Kona N are pretty unique in that there are various approaches of configuring the motor vehicle. There is an interesting and committed N manner that opens up two customization modes exterior of a preset N drive mode accessed as a result of one of two steering wheel N buttons. The default N mode would seem to set up the auto to extract the most out of the powertrain devoid of disabling steadiness and traction regulate. The two Custom made N modes let you to dial-up individual factors of how the adaptive dampers are set, steering wheel hard work, motor reaction, transmission aggressiveness and change patterns, digital constrained-slip differential setting, security/traction manage placing, and exhaust audio setting. It is rather shocking to see Hyundai layout so lots of customization possibilities for the Kona N, which is somewhat assumed of as a taller Veloster N working with a related powertrain set up.

Dialing up the N modes, which are independent from the regular Sport generate method enacted by a switch knob subsequent to the shifter, is a whole new experience and even further defines the several personalities of the Kona N. Think of it as a Jekyll and Hyde experience that alterations its demeanor at the push of a button. To just take things to the stratosphere, the Kona N has a further trick up its drive-mode sleeve with the exceptional N Grin Shift (NGS) manner that is enacted by pressing a purple button on the steering wheel. Of course, which is truly the title of it! The NGS mode is fantastic for about 20 seconds wherever it allows an around-raise functionality to incorporate 10 horsepower (complete of 286 HP) and aggressively shifts the DCT 8-velocity transmission at the optimum doable RPM of the motor. Right here the Kona N feels like you have a DRS (Drag Reduction Program) or “push to pass” manner but following making use of the total 20 seconds of “grinning” you need to wait a when for the engine to get better right before trying it yet again. There is also a start manner that does a neat slipping of the automated moist friction clutch to restrict front wheel spin but does very well to get the Kona N up to 60 mph in about 4.9 seconds.

The Kona N feels like it is on rails – pushing the boundaries of a tall-statured very little crossover. The brakes are powerful with larger 14.2-inch rotors up entrance and 12.4-inch rears more than other Kona trims both clamped down by solitary-piston calipers.

I uncovered myself normally laughing a little bit at the Kona N from its enamel-shattering rigid suspension when set in any manner apart from the softest location (which is not extremely gentle to start off with), to the exhaust burbles and pops, and even the audio of the turbocharger and intake manifold sounding like a fancy Dyson vacuum. Hyundai engineers absolutely had to giggle a small when they packed in the several capabilities of the Kona N. However, it’s good to experience these kinds of a automobile in knowing a brand nevertheless can have a very little exciting and humor in their motor vehicles potentially as a previous hurrah for fuel-burning engines.

Total, the Kona N feels like a pocket rocket but usually does not supply steady electrical power, which I rather attribute to the 100-diploma warmth in this article in Florida in the course of my time with the pocket rocket. The Kona N is more of a pleasurable machine for those who may possibly have preferred the Veloster N but required the extra house out back again available by authentic doors and a taller cargo hatch. It’s a actual hoot to generate, belief me!

Exterior and Inside

To set the Kona N apart from the rest of the Kona line there’s a good deal to digest outside the house of the functionality factors. For a person, the Kona N sporting activities 19-inch wheels with summer season efficiency tires, large dual exhaust ideas, exceptional system cladding, purple exterior accents, and purple brake calipers. Inside of, there are a couple of merchandise that set it apart mostly bordering the hugely bolstered front heated seats that have leather-based trim and suede inserts to assistance grip your overall body.

The Kona N comes properly packed with functions achieving the amount of the Kona Confined trim, which involves the highlights of a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, solitary-zone automatic local weather regulate, electric power driver’s seat with ability lumbar guidance, 8-speaker Harmon Kardon audio process, wireless smartphone charger, and a 10.25-inch electronic gauge cluster that characteristics an supplemental N mode screen bringing up a unique functionality show of motor vehicle facts.

Gasoline Financial system

The Kona N even now will get decent gas milage if you make use of the Eco drive manner and never use the Grin-inducing N travel modes. The mileage is marginally down from the other Kona trims where you can muster out the EPA estimates in the genuine planet of 20 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg mixed.

Safety

Just like the Hyundai Kona Restricted, the Kona N will get the total array of active protection functions (ahead collision avoidance help w/warning, lane-maintaining help, lane subsequent aid, driver attention warning, blind-location monitors/collision avoidance aid, rear cross-targeted traffic collision avoidance guide, risk-free exit warning) but can be thoroughly disabled on the fly by bringing up Custom-made N drive modes.

Value

Wherever Hyundai actually nails it, apart from obtaining a fairly exclusive tiny crossover in the Kona N, is the rate exactly where there are no possibilities to incorporate on – all the things is incorporated. At the conclusion of the working day, you can have all this “grinning” fun for $35,495, which is a cut price for one thing that is as pleasurable as this distinctive subcompact crossover pocket rocket.