Hyundai Kona N / Sub-$30k MADNESS!

While hot hatches and sport compacts continue to get more expensive, and compact crossovers become more boring, the recently deceased Hyundai Kona may prove to be a safe haven. Is it good enough to compete with the Toyota GR Corolla, Subaru WRX, VW GTI, Honda Civic SI / Type R, and Hyundai's own Elantra N? Let's find out.
Thank you, Royal South Mazda, for letting me test drive this beast of a compact CUV
royalsouthmazda.com
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[@Realistick]

Typo: The Spec sheet said AWD, it is FWD. Additionally, I mentioned that this was a tenth quicker through the quarter mile than the Civic Type R. That stat comes from Car&Driver. Kona N - 13.4 @ 105 mph Civic Type R - 13.5 @ 106 mph Even though the CTR doesn't have a dct to maximize performance, the Hyundai is insane and deserves a hat tip.

[@karmahunden]

106mph if you get those shifts perfectly right... if the driver is sub-par, like, most on the road, they will either be dead even with the KN or slower. The KN is an easier car to drive fast, and consistently. A CTR might get one lap faster, but if you are facing a resilient KN [driver] through multiple laps - you better be careful!

[@ModestMonkey]

You also displayed on the screen that the drivetrain was AWD several seconds before you mentioned it FOREGOES AWD

[@paulgemperlein626]

Also it does NOT have adaptive cruise. A shame because I love this thing but FWD, no adaptive cruise, and no spare push it slightly into the realm of impractical.

[@CapELarry]

I have a white 2023 KN. I absolutely LOVE it.

[@Realistick]

Congrats!

[@cindysue5474]

White is rare only seen 1 I have the Racing red. The mate gold ones in Aus are rare Charcol Gery and the sunroof ones are also only seen 1 in a video in Aus.I have over 52K on mine drove it from Phoenix to Polson Montana twice and ran like a champ hitting up to 40MPG but had to take it in for some warranty work it needed a new fuel injecter and now 2 new horns done under warranty.

[@user-pk4sd6gk7z]

I too, in germany: No speed limit on the autobahn!!!

[@Unchainedmaple888]

Hyundai NEEDS to make a new gen Kona N. I wish they made a new Kona N instead of making an Ioniq N that no one can afford. Or it'd be nice if Mazda filled this hole with a Spirit Racing CX-30 or Subaru with a Crosstrek WRX. I live somewhere where I need more ground clearance due to bad roads and bad winters.

[@Realistick]

You’d think subaru would have done this a decade before Hyundai.

[@temp_user_id]

@@Realistick Subaru is giving Mexico a WRX wagon with no cladding or a diaper butt but we can't get that here. 😭😭😭

[@stevemartegani]

​@@Realistick Subaru did do this with the Forester XT way back in 2004... And the Baja XT... And the Legacy GT wagon in 05... And the WRX wagon from 02-07... But sadly, those are all gone now, just like the Kona N :(

[@fibonacci5574]

Just bought a '23 with less than 10k on it. Love it already.

[@Unchainedmaple888]

It's such a shame that Hyundai stopped putting bright blue seat belts for their N cars

[@jameswalsh6131]

Great review as always! The exhaust burbles like a stomach after eating undercooked chicken made me lol! Please keep the great reviews and that awesome sense of humor coming Tyler!

[@oraclemiata845]

KONAN is legend.

[@Hexsyn]

If I didn't already have a crosstrek, this would be a very compelling option that fits my kind of strangeness!

[@paulgemperlein626]

Exactly my situation as well

[@peterandrewj]

Gotta appreciate a car that's fun to drive before electrification takes over, and the 2023 Kona N has it in spades. Great review!

[@cindysue5474]

EVs are not going to take over when the other shoe drops and they tell an owner the price of a new battery doubt many will buy another one then they are trash in a wrecking yard only worth maybe some body parts and the batteries will stack up in junk yards.

[@Grimesitty]

I have the exact colour in video. 23 Kona N only 12k km so far in a year of ownership. The internet needs more Kona content!

[@Realistick]

The world needs more KonaN for me to make more Kontent

[@SnaptrixGaming]

I enjoyed this review ! I thought it was fun. The MarioKart gag had me laugh.

[@paulgemperlein626]

I love this car specifically because it's automatic only. I've never driven stick and don't want to risk buying an entire car only to find out I prefer automatic. At the same time, it feels so wrong to pay more for automatic in something like a Miata. So I love that this is just a normal automatic crossover that I'm familiar with but given legitimate performance chops and no options/packages. It's just the Kona N, take it or leave it. Even the two model years are nearly identical. I love that they had such a strong and unwavering opinion of what this car should be.

[@genzigzag]

Cool little car!

[@danhall3450]

@ 9:40; "...dedication to amusement... with a touch of practicality..." That pretty much sums it up!

[@hertzdonut_]

I bought a gently used '23 KonaN a couple days ago, wife and I have been loving it so far. Putting all these sporty features into a cuv is so weird, which is probably why we liked it so much.

[@adk7962]

Very nice. I for sure thought Hyundai was NOT going to bring back the N Version of this car. Coo Coo Crossover. Perfect. And good for Hyundai for doubling down on keeping the overboost name as NGS. 😬. Thanks for the great review!

[@Realistick]

Thanks for watching! I don’t think they are going to bring back the Kona N (this review was focused on the 2022-23 model), I hope I eat my words on that😰

[@svnuss]

I just got mine 3 weeks ago, 2023 in white, fun car and I can get it up my steep ass drive way.

[@keithpetrin6454]

No adaptive cruise control on the KN. Not unless you live outside of North America. It’s a blast to drive and unfortunately it was only produced for two years. It was basically released to fill the void while Hyundai was finishing up their I5N.

[@damilolaakanni]

Style wise, I think this generation of Kona is better looking than the current one. Even on the inside. I wish it had a different transmission though, I'm not a fan of DCTs.

[@cindysue5474]

I thought that also but sitting in traffic in my Gencoupe manual in 118 degrees in Az only getting to 3 or 4th gear all stop and go the DCT is a blessing shifts faster than the 6-speed.

[@xiondFirst]

The only thing i dislike about Kona N is the size of gastank. I rented one from Turo and it was fun but that gas tank is small.

[@liudxdx]

damn where was this car when I was looking for a small SUV Didn't even know this car even exists damn

[@alengreen589]

for the money it´s good

[@roastbeefy0weefy]

Can't believe they actually added a NOS button

[@stevemartegani]

Oh man, that NGS joke just gave me Rainbow Road PTSD flashbacks...

[@karmahunden]

Would you say this one is more fun than a VB WRX [TR] 6MT?

[@Realistick]

Yes, which feels weird to say. I think i would personally buy a base, manual WRX (would be different if the Kona N was MT) but I had more fun pushing the Kona N stock than I did with any WRX (even if the TR is more capable).

[@karmahunden]

@@Realistick thanks for sharing your thoughts. I gotta ask a follow up question to clear the confusion: why go for the base WRX6MT if the KN is more fun? I love driving manuals because of the engagement, but ultimately it’s because of the fun the engagement generates. The Kona seems to live in this weird dimension where it skips the mechanical engagement experience, and jumps right onto the most fun you can have.

[@Realistick]

It would be a hard choice for me but I think I'd lean base WRX because it would be a bit more comfortable, has awd and the current gen hasn't had any real powertrain concerns (plus the resale is consistently strong when left stock). If it was a second car, hands down Kona N!

[@karmahunden]

@@Realistick thanks, dude. You're becoming one of my top car reviewers!

[@Adam_Star_0]

❤

[@jakecrutchfield4620]

I didn't think the Kona N came with AWD

[@Realistick]

Thanks for catching the typo! I added it to the pinned comment.

[@patrickgagnon9662]

Stripe going to take over the world ,again ....been hearing this stripe crap for years now .

[@eseir64]

Its a Hyundai....No thank you!!!!

[@oraclemiata845]

Cool, more for me.

[@eseir64]

@@oraclemiata845 Yes, please by all means. Take as many as you can. Let me know how all the failures, recalls, and shitty dealership service. works out for you

[@oraclemiata845]

It’s been alright so far. Thanks for your concern.

[@eseir64]

@@oraclemiata845 Glad is working out. By the way, all sarcasm out of the way, I hope you are enjoying the car. It is indeed a beautiful car and I hope none of the issues that have plagued Hyundai/Kia over the years you should experience. Enjoy the ride

[@keithpetrin6454]

I have had nothing but a great experience with my KN. However, family members with Fords and my personal experience with Subaru tells me this, if the car is built state side expect issues. Glad the KN is built in Korea.