Hyundai Kona N – Fun with a capital K

Test: Hyundai Kona N
Small SUVs are rarely associated with a pleasant driving experience, but the Hyundai Kona N promises to stand out from the crowd and be a truly entertaining performance machine.

Hyundai’s performance-oriented N-section – which takes its long name from South Korea’s Nanyang development center and Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack – is only a few years old.

With creations like a hot hatchback i20 is However, they quickly proved their ability to turn everyday shopping carts into highly legitimate performance carts.

The conditions for Kona N’s success are also very good.

Simple and tried-and-true recipe

The recipe for Kona N is really simple and recognizable from previous N cars.

They started from an ordinary Kona, which in itself is a practical and well-mannered little SUV, and they raised the performance considerably by installing the drivetrain from close up. i30 n.

That means 280 hp and 392 Nm are sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox and electronically controlled differential brakes.

Unlike the i30 N, there is no manual option available.

To match the new speed resource, they also installed big brakes, giant rims and a sporty suspension, all capped with a rather stiff skirt package.

The regular Kona is a particularly anonymous and boring innovation on the outside, but the N-Version, with its wide track and short wheelbase, has the appearance of a small rally car.

The look is not too discreet, with large intakes, wings and red details, but it fits perfectly with the character of the car.

Like a terrier on four wheels

The best thing about the Kona N is that not only is it sporty on paper, the driving characteristics also live up to its extreme exterior.

The chassis is well balanced, the steering is agile and the drivetrain is responsive. The dual-clutch box is also fast and well-calibrated, and adheres to the driver’s commands through the paddles on the steering wheel flawlessly.

The car is also equipped with the same set of driving modes as the other N cars, which you can easily switch between using the dedicated buttons on the steering wheel.

Like the i30 N automatic, the Kona N is also equipped with the N Grin Shift function, which increases powertrain performance by 20 seconds.

However, many brands are able to build a small car with high-speed potential.

What distinguishes Hyundai’s N division from the crowd is that time and time again they prove themselves particularly good at building fun cars, which constantly urge the driver to act like a fool.

With its direct steering feel, fast engine and short wheelbase, the Kona N is like a little three-legged terrier that pulls on the handlebars and is always ready to plunge into the next bend.

On the way out of the curves, you really get a feel for how the contrast brake helps the tires scramble for stability and get the most horsepower down the hill.

Ironically, this single mindset means that you don’t actually have to push the car to its fullest enjoyment, which is often a problem with modern performance cars that, in pursuit of good everyday characteristics, isolate the driver from the driving experience.

Always on your toes

Cheerful and balanced entertainment that you have to pay for somewhat daily.

Sure, the gearbox operates nimbly, smoothly, and smoothly with the correct drive mode activated, but the rest of the car feels like it’s having a hard time relaxing — which takes a toll on the driver.

The noise level in the passenger compartment is quite high, the suspension is rugged even in its softest settings, and the front wheels eagerly follow every furrow on the road, constantly requiring a steady hand on the steering wheel.

The car also has a noticeable thirst for fuel, perhaps not helped by the fact that the driver is constantly encouraged to increase the speed.

However, if you don’t spend most of your time behind the wheel on the highway, the car isn’t so extreme that it’s unbearable to live with it day in and day out.

bottom line

With the Hyundai Kona N, the N division has already succeeded in creating something as unassuming as a small SUV, great fun to drive and a truly competent performance machine.

The key to the success of N Cars is that, unlike the competition, it dares to focus on being sporty in the first place, rather than trying to be just as good in everything.

If you are looking for a comfortable, well-performing everyday car with sporty qualities, then you should look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a car that’s fun above all else, but at the same time should perform decently as an everyday car, the Kona N, on the other hand, is clean.

Hyundai Kona N (2022)
engine: 2.0 liter four, petrol, 280 hp, 392 Nm
Connecting: 8-speed dual clutch box, front wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 5.5 seconds
maximum speed: 240 km/h
Weight: 1585 kg
Dimensions (length / width / height): 4215/1800/1565 mm
prize: 419,900 SEK

Högsta Växeln’s general impression of the Hyundai Kona N
Final score: 4/5

The Hyundai Kona Inn is an efficient performance vehicle that puts driving pleasure first and constantly urges the driver to act like an idiot. However, the car is not particularly comfortable or relaxed, so its everyday characteristics are affected to some extent.