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Hyundai Kona variants
Total price
Monthly payment
Figures are based on a 20% deposit

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £26,599. Borrowing £21,279 with a £5,320 deposit at a representative APR of 12.9%.

49 monthly payments
£389.47
Fixed interest rate
12.9%
Total amount payable
£34,752.76
Cost of credit
£8,153.76
Optional final payment
£10,738.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

There are plenty of different ways you can spec your Kona, so keep reading to to learn about the engine and trims available.

Hyundai Kona buying guide

What Hyundai Kona trim levels are there?

The lineup starts with SE trim. This comes with alloy wheels, air conditioning, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

SE Connect is the entry-level trim for post-facelift Konas. This adds a slightly larger touchscreen and digital dials ahead of the driver.

N Line is Hyundai’s sporty trim level, similar to BMW’s M Sport and Audi’s S Line. N Line trim gains meaner-looking exterior styling details and larger alloy wheels to help it stand out. You also get tinted rear windows, climate control, a larger infotainment screen with built-in sat nav and an upgraded stereo system.

Premium trim gains front parking sensors, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. On pre-facelift Konas, Premium trim was also joined by Premium SE, which added leather upholstery and built-in ventilation for the front seats, and Premium GT, which gained full LED head and brake lights with automatic high-beam assist and automatic emergency braking.

For post-facelift cars, Premium SE and GT were rolled into Ultimate trim. This includes blind-spot monitoring, a head-up display (HUD) and heated rear outer seats.

N is the exclusive trim level for the Kona N high-performance model. This version gets a unique body kit and wheels along with upgraded suspension and brakes to cope with the extra engine power. Equipment levels are high inside and you also get grippy sports seats to remind you that you’re driving a serious performance car.

Hyundai Kona interior and technology

Hyundais are no longer budget cars and its cabins feel more than a match for the rigours of family life. The interior design is attractive and the layout is easy to get familiar with, although the ambiance can be a little dark with lots of black-coloured trim everywhere.

Hyundai’s infotainment system is among the better setups you can buy, with a responsive screen and clear menus, making it easy to get around. It’s good that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard across the range allowing you to mirror your smartphone’s apps on the car’s display.

The Kona is a good choice if you occasionally use the rear seats but, for family buyers who have to regularly load wriggling kids into bulky car seats, it might prove to be a bit of a squeeze. Rear headroom is slightly compromised by the swoopy roofline and legroom is quite limited if taller adults are sat up front. Boot space is, again, good but not great – more than enough for the weekly shop or a large suitcase and some soft bags, but pushchairs or dogs might prove to be a little larger than it can accommodate.

Hyundai Kona engine range explained

Hyundai Kona 1.0T GDi petrol

This is the entry-level engine for pre-facelift Konas. It’s a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine making 120hp. That’s enough for a 0-62mph time of 12 seconds, which means this option will feel comfortable around town but could start to feel slightly strained at motorway overtaking speeds.

Hyundai Kona 1.6 GDi Hybrid

This engine is offered on both pre and post-facelift Konas and comes as standard with an automatic gearbox. Between the 1.6-litre petrol engine and the electric motor, this car makes around 140hp, helping it hit 62mph from rest in around 11 seconds. Fuel economy can crest 55mpg if you have a light right foot.

Hyundai Kona 1.6T GDi petrol

This is the most powerful engine available for pre-facelift Konas. It’s a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 177hp, which drops the 0-62mph sprint to 7.7 seconds – helping this version feel much more enthusiastic when accelerating and more relaxed on the motorway. This engine is only offered with a slick-shifting automatic gearbox, and is quite a rare choice.

Hyundai Kona 1.0 TGDi 48V petrol

This is the slightly updated version of the 1.0-litre petrol engine offered on post-facelift Konas. Hyundai has added a mild-hybrid setup, which can recover energy when slowing down to help reduce fuel consumption. Power remains at 120hp, with mostly identical performance figures.

Hyundai Kona N 2.0 TGDi petrol

This engine is only offered on the full-fat Hyundai Kona N sports SUV, which became available alongside the post-facelift Kona. It’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol making 280hp and comes as standard with Hyundai’s quick-shifting automatic gearbox. The 0-62mph sprint is completed in just 5.5 seconds, putting the Kona N comfortably into hot hatch territory.

Hyundai Kona Electric 150kW 64kWh

The electric version of the Kona ditches the fuel-powered engine entirely. In its place you get a 150kW (201hp) electric motor, which gives the electric Kona a decent 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds. The 64kWh battery pack is enough for 279 miles of range in pre-facelift Konas, while post-facelift versions stretched this figure to 301.

Hyundai Kona Electric 100kW 39kWh

Later on, Hyundai added a smaller battery option to the Kona Electric, which brought the EV's starting price down. It still offers a near-200-mile range so it could be ideal if you don't often travel long distances.

Hyundai Kona FAQs

There’s just one version of the Hyundai Kona and it’s a five-door hatchback SUV. If you’re after something larger, take a look at the Hyundai Tucson or seven-seat Santa Fe. For something a little more compact, check out the Hyundai Bayon.

If you’re looking at nearly new Konas, you’re likely to find pre and post-facelift models. Facelifted cars began arriving in 2021 and have slightly updated interior and exterior styling. The easiest way to tell the two apart is to look at the front grille – pre-2021 cars have a hexagonal grille that stretches down to the front number plate and has a thin opening above it, while 2021-and-newer cars have a simplified rectangular grille with the number plate mounted to the front bumper and no upper opening.

The Kona is slightly more than 4.2 metres long (a few millimetres less for pre-facelift Konas). That places it around the middle of its class with the Volkswagen T-Roc and Renault Captur coming in a few millimetres longer, and the Citroen C3 Aircross coming in a hair shorter.

Space in the Kona is better than the many smaller hatchbacks, but it’s not the largest model in its class, with the Citroen C3 Aircross feeling noticeably larger inside. Room up front is fine but adults on the rear row will feel a little short of legroom if six-footers are sat in front of them. Boot space is about average for the class. If you need more regular access the rear seats, you might want to consider a slightly larger car.

There are several engine choices in the Kona lineup – all powered by petrol – along with hybrid and battery-powered options.

Entry-level petrols feel a little underpowered at higher speeds so you might want one of the larger engines if you do a lot of motorway miles. Battery-powered Kona electric models are pleasantly powerful, especially around town, or you can go for the range-topping Kona N to unlock hot-hatch-baiting performance.

No, the Hyundai Kona Electric is just one pillar of the Kona range. There’s also an entry-level petrol engine with no electrification, a mild-hybrid petrol, a hybrid with a larger battery and even a high-performance Kona N version that’s solely petrol-powered.

With quirky styling, a strong kit list and a selection of engines ranging from frugal to feral, the Hyundai Kona has found a lot of fans since it went on sale. It’s quite a small car so it’s easy to park, while practicality will be improved with the next-generation Kona.

Yes, the Hyundai Kona has scored top marks for reliability in recent Driver Power surveys – and it finished top in that brand’s 2021 owner satisfaction survey. You probably won’t ever make use of Hyundai’s generous five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Top-spec Ultimate versions of the Kona, Kona Hybrid and Kona Electric come with a sunroof, so you’ll need to hunt out one of those if you want the breeze in your hair.