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Every now and then, engineers at vehicle manufacturers get bored. I can't blame them; their company has them creating vanilla SUVs and crossovers for the masses, completing a checklist as they go. But engineers are humans too and they want to have a little fun. We've seen some amazing creations come from bored engineers. Bored engineers gave us the phenomenal Jaguar XJ220 after working on the project on weekends. Now, we have the Hyundai Kona N, a vehicle that, for all intents and purposes, shouldn't exist.
Related: Hyundai i30 N and Kona N (2022) First Drive review
What you have is a vehicle that resembles the already strange Kona, with its crossover design and practical proportions, draped in distinguishable Performance Blue and fitted with a fire-breathing engine and a drivetrain to match. What's so strange about this? I hear you ask. The performance SUV is nothing new. You're quite correct, but the performance crossover is not an area we're particularly familiar with. So, has Hyundai's N Division identified a gap in the market or are they just having some fun?
Styling
Forgetting the rather noticeable blue paint, the Kona N isn't too far removed from what you've become accustomed to. It's still largely the same shape and has body-coloured fenders, a different grille, a set of side skirts and some big wheels. This could simply be the creation of someone who checked every conceivable option in the accessories brochure only that it's not. It has rolled off of the floor wearing 19-inch alloy wheels, a front bumper with a large airdam and diamond-like mesh detail with a dark grey H emblem that sits lower than on regular models.
This bumper is flanked by gunmetal accents and trimmed with a red lip. It's also rather hard to miss the N logo off to the side too. The thin DRL elements that rest in the upper corners tie in with the faux vents on the leading edge of the bonnet and lend themselves to a rather aggressive and purposeful demeanour.
You're not seeing wrong, the ride height is lower than that of a standard Kona and it's exacerbated by the 19-inch wheels and ultra-low profile tyres that the Kona N wears. The side skirts get a similar treatment to the front with the Performance Blue colour broken by the black centre section and red detailing. Closer inspection reveals an embossed N logo.
Step around the back and it's rather hard not to notice the massive, twin exhaust tips, oval in shape, that peer out from either side of a large diffuser element. Higher up, there's a double-element wing that Hyundai claims is a functional piece of aero. In all, it sends a clear signal to those waiting behind you at the light that they may not be privy to this view for much longer.
Space & Interior
It's rather hard to concentrate on anything else in the interior because of the steering wheel. It's not oddly shaped or anything, it's just full of buttons. We saw this first on the i30N and in the Kona N they've stepped it up a notch. Not only does the multifunction wheel have the controls for audio, cruise control, driver information display and driver assistance systems, but it also has two N buttons under each of the side spokes for activating one of the N driving modes, but it has a prominent, red NGS button as well. Alfa Romeo uses this position as their start button but the N Grin Shift boost button on the Kona activates a 20-second boost function that optimizes the gearbox and engine dynamics for overtaking and hot lap action.
The front seats offer substantial electric adjustment and have deep bolsters that hug you and hold you in place. I criticised the first Kona for having less than comfortable seats and as racy as these are, they're surprisingly not all that bad. A long, cross-country jaunt will have you begging to stretch your legs and give you back a break.
The rear of the Kona is slightly cramped and while it is possible to seat five adults in the Kona N, it's best suited for 4 adults. The N treatment has also robbed the Kona of some of its practicality and where one gets 544 litres in the boot of a regular Kona, the N only offers 374 litres.
Comfort & Convenience
Ah comfort... what a novel idea. Particularly novel to the engineers of the Kona N. The Kona N is not comfortable, whatsoever. Any illusions that manifest of this being a practical, comfortable, usable daily driven crossover should be dismissed right away. The engineers merely made it look like an SUV but you're not getting the increased ride height, the additional space, or comfort from the Kona N. This is where it completely misses the mark. Far too much emphasis has been placed on making the Kona N perform that all daily drivability has been lost. Even when you select the softest settings for the suspension, differential, gearbox, steering and engine, it's still extremely firm and this is only compounded by the rubber band-like low-profile tyres.
Another area where the engineers completely missed the memo is in the uptake of the dual-clutch gearbox. As you lift your foot off of the brake the clutches engage and the car jolts forward, not in a gentle, progressive manner that is predictable but rather in a half-hearted launch that sees you slamming on the brakes again. Everyone in the car will soon become rather tired of your apologies when this happens. There is a setting to switch off the creep function, but this can only be accessed in one of the Sport modes, which means you have to choose between the stiff suspension or the creep function. It's a no-win scenario.
What you will get that's agreeable is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as a host of other connectivity options. Simple enough to use, the screen houses the primary interface for vehicle settings, setup and control. The dedicated N menus allow you to tailor two programs to select that allow you to tailor the car's setup to your personal preference. I recommend leaving the steering weight as light as possible.
Performance
If ever there was a basket that the engineers placed all their eggs in, this is it. There's no denying that the N Division is good at what they do, they've made the Kona N go, stop and turn like a housefly. Under the hood you will find a 209 kW turbocharged petrol engine that gives you a stout 392 Nm torque. It sends power through a robust and clever DCT gearbox with no fewer than 8 gears to choose from. The power is then sent to the front wheels through a 'corner carving' electronic limited-slip differential that makes parking and reversing a nightmare, but makes corners the highlight of the drive. This diff also makes it harder to park (as if the gearbox wasn't enough to contend with) and reduces the turning circle from 10.6-meters in the regular Kona to 11.6 in the N.
The Kona N is not shy of performance. If you're looking for a performance vehicle, the Kona N is one of them. Bang for you buck, it's right up there. It will even do the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 5.5-seconds - if you can get the settings right. This is a tall order because frankly, there are just too many settings. As mentioned, you can choose one of three engine programs, one of three suspension, gearbox, ESC, steering, and even exhaust note. Save your combination as one of two custom profiles or choose from the Eco, Normal, Sport or Sport+ presets (accessible through the steering wheel and a dial in the centre console). That's all before you select one of the various traction modes as well! There are just too many settings that one has to play with to get the most out of the Kona N.
Which Hyundai Kona is better: The 1.0-litre turbo or the 2.0-litre model?
Fuel Economy
Compact SUVs and crossovers are supposed to be somewhat fuel-efficient, no? That's usually the case but you will average around 12 l/100km in the Kona N with daily use and minimal flexing of its performance capabilities. Plant your foot and you can look at 22 l/100km. Traffic will yield 14s while the open road will see this number drop to a respectable and palatable 8.8 l/100km. It's far cry from Hyundai's claim of 8.9 on the combined cycle.
We compared Hyundai Kona engines, and the efficiency crown goes to…
Safety
I was quite fond of the safety features and driver's aids that you get with the Kona N. I liked the sensor that lets you know when the vehicle in front of you has moved off, perfect for those times when you're stuck in traffic and daydreaming. The blindspot assist not only alerts you to cars in your blindspot when changing lanes but will sound a warning if you turn when there's a car alongside you. Handy in those dual turning lane situations as a reminder to not cut it too tight.
You also get a hearty complement of 6 airbags, a comprehensive TCS and ESC system along with rather fantastic brakes to help check the car up. The lane keep assist is one of the better ones in effect today and gently guides the car on the highway while the rear cross-traffic alert helps you when backing out of a parking space.
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Price
There's only the single Kona N model and it retails for R749 900. When you consider the prices of hot hatches, this isn't too bad. When you think of performance SUVs, it's a bargain. But then again, you're not getting much of an SUV, so we'll stick to comparing its price with the typical hot hatch.
Competitors
The N plays in an arena that doesn't really exist locally. The closest you're going to get to a performance-based crossover is in the MINI stable with the likes of Cooper S Countryman. It's competitively priced when compared to the S, but spring for the John Cooper Works All4 AWD version and that's a considerably more expensive proposition.
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Verdict
I've lamented performance SUVs for being silly, the efforts to make a 3-ton vehicle go, stop and turn like a race car is engineering that simply shouldn't have to be done. In the case of the N, I can commend them on getting the performance aspect right but the whole point of a crossover is to be able to take a rough road, to ride higher, softer and more comfortable than a hatchback. Instead, they've given us an oversized hot hatch with nothing more than SUV pretensions. As fun as the Kona N is to drive in a spirited fashion, I feel that the i30N is the far better choice for the money.
That said, if you're looking for something that can play with the GTIs, S3s, and Type Rs, and is completely off the wall and unconventional, then go for the Kona N.
