5 Reasons Why The 2024 Hyundai Kona is ALMOST Best-In-Class!

Hyundai makes great cars, but they still can't shake parts of their reputation. As great as the new Kona is, that still shows. At the very least, this is a formidable challenger to cars like the Subaru Crosstrek, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross and whatever else dropped this week.
Hyundai Kona Off-road
• Is The NEW Hyundai Kon...
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[@carlosflores6122]

This is my second Kona. I bought the 2024 NLine. Love the drive and the look. At 8k miles no problems. My first 2018 Kona drove 80k miles. Absolutely no problems. Just oil changes. And never had to do alignment. Only 1 set of tires.

[@Caldwan]

so I bought a 24 in January roughly 3 weeks after they hit my local dealers. I really enjoy it have 3400 miles on it right now. In stop go city traffic only getting like 20-23 mpg. If I am highway driving get between 33-35.5mpg.

[@dougwalton5414]

We bought a '24 LTD. Pros: comfortable, roomy, easy to get in/out, interstate gas mileage @ 37 mpg, Cons: A nightmare infotainment center to learn, Lights back & front are very vulnerable to damage, NO spare or even a donut on LTD FWD !!

[@stidgemon]

I recently purchased a Kona SEL. Its a great car. My only gripes are the front of the car is a magnet for bug splatter and the driver take a break feature that seems to pop up randomly and I cant figure out how to shut it off is annoying.

[@normaninsandiego7061]

Awesome video review, as always.

[@Realistick]

Thanks!

[@dangerdaaku]

Just can’t get over those headlights right on the corner.

[@AlJay-v4h]

I just got a 2025 Kona SEL Convenience and Love it. The car is a Dark Blue and the interior is excellent.

[@craigo2142]

I really like the outside looks of this. Wish they had kept the hybrid version or will re-introduce it. Thank goodness they took the DCT out since, IMHO, DCT isn't built for an every day driver non-performance car.

[@BoopSnoot]

Curious what you think about this in base engine vs new '25 Kicks.

[@damilolaakanni]

5:00 great news. Now they have to do the same with the Santa Cruz and Santa Fe (both with the 2.5 turbo). There are quite a number of complaints of transmission issues with the DCTs there as well.

[@Realistick]

I’d like to see it too, though I really hope they retune the pcm because the transmission feels lazy in this🤕

[@stephenwinter8892]

Dct requires getting used and u should be educated about it

[@Realistick]

@@stephenwinter8892 they’re talking about the 8 spd dct in the Santa Cruz and Santa Fe.

[@stephenwinter8892]

@@Realistick I'm fully aware of this

[@theobjectivereality1837]

Excellent, intelligent review. Very helpful.

[@anotheran]

I really like the Robocop front end

[@Realistick]

I feel crazy for agreeing.

[@MichaelToub]

Great Video!

[@JC4LIF3]

NICE VIDEO WOW Hyundai came a long way, and will u be able to do the Sonata too ???

[@Realistick]

Should be able to get that done this summer!

[@JC4LIF3]

@@Realistick Thank you so much appreciate it!!!🙏🏾

[@lesliealvarez2785]

This has better features compared to a 2025 Chevy trax

[@MichaelToub]

You sold me on the Kona !!

[@DougZbikowski]

I'm renting one of these right now with the 2.0L engine. It handles really well- actually amazingly well. It feels like driving my old Mini Cooper again. However go with the 1.6L turbo. The 2.0L is woefully underpowered. I was afraid to pass anyone on the highways for fear of not being able to get up to speed. 0-60 is measured with a calendar with that engine.

[@rehahm1]

Definitely appreciate the video however, it would’ve been nice if you had mentioned the alternative to Hyundai Kona

[@stephenwinter8892]

Greetings from oakville Ontario thanks for the presentation im looking forward to the 2025 hyundai tucson phev it has more power and torque and both hybrid and phev has the transmission shifter on the steering column which freely up much needed storage in the console area

[@CoolerProfessor]

"Without stripping anyone of their diginty" is crazy. 1:53

[@Guitarfelixwill]

I would miss HUD and Matrix light.

[@MarioLuigi-vb3rp]

For such a small crossover the mpg is terrible that’s too bad in my opinion.

[@NoodlesExtraMSG]

paint it blue with strategically place yellow trim/accents. Do a tie-in with Xmen97. Pay me for my idea. ;)

[@justinmusgrove2548]

I dig it

[@BillSklodowski]

Nice review... but you never said what was indeed "best in class." (At least for you...)

[@Realistick]

Thanks, I made a comparison right after this video, to me, the crosstrek is the one that I would recommend to most people!

[@DesFHoulihan]

I had a 2918 VW T-Roc. a super car with excellent auto hold , auto stop and electric parking brake. I thought my 2024 petrol Kona would be as good. But its hopeless. Auto-hold switches itself off for some reason which means the parking brake doesn't engage automatically. The car rolled off on me more than once. Automatic Parking brake sometimes engages but it seems to be a random event. Thankfully not while driving . The engine auto stop feature is capable of shutting off the engine if coasting at a very slow speed. That should never happen on a moving car. In effect the software implementations on this car is an example of just bad software engineering. If ever autonomous driving is implemented don't ever go for Hyundai. Sorry I didnt go for a new T-Roc. One last thing. Where did anyone ever get the idea of a key fob the size of a brick with a separate metal key. i.e. a two part key?

[@DesHoulihan]

Seriously flawed software for auto hold and EPB

[@edalrivers1998]

Already has a recall

[@rzrpwr]

What issues?

[@Unchainedmaple888]

Ugh, Hyundai NEEDS to make a new gen Kona N. It would look so much better inside and out. I have no interest in the Ioniq N, it's an EV and far too expensive vaporware.

[@Realistick]

The Ioniq 5N seems like the most valiant effort to make an EV fun so far so I won’t shame that but I’d love a Kona N that people could actually afford!

[@wackit6756]

I’m usually a big proponent of Hyundai and Kia, but the styling on this is a mess, not cohesive. I don’t understand the direction they were trying to go with. Interior is nice though, really like the instrument display. 💁‍♂️

[@cgmiddle]

We question the effectiveness of your cognitive functioning. The styling is magnificent and quite superior. Perhaps a more aggressive approach to remove that pesky brain tumor is requisite. We pray for your timely recovery.

[@Userxxx840]

It looks like the spiritual successor to the Pontiac Aztec.

[@johnz6808]

Savage​@@cgmiddle

[@eugeniaruggiero5451]

I love the styling of this car. I think it's really sharp. I got a sel AWD a couple of days ago in the mirage green & I love driving it so far.

[@eugeniaruggiero5451]

I think this SUV is so sharp! I love the uniqueness of it. I fell in love with it on the lot. I have the SEL AWD in Mirage Green. No conv pkge. I like my shifter on the floor. It's always been where I rest my hand. Am very happy with it!

[@Carlo1629-b3e]

Best in class in features but not in reliability?

[@Naif_car]

CVT CVT

[@bethperrotta]

Dont like the look at all!

[@SirSomnolent]

I'm always wary of these types of reviews. You see this a lot with tech products. Something will come out with a good chipset from a low tier manufacturer, technically win all the categories, you buy it, it breaks almost immediately. I... just don't really trust Hyundai

[@Realistick]

I think I make that pretty clear in this video if you made it to the section about reliability!

[@johnkonde1975]

you realize he's a tall handsome lean healthy man who has a long line of women waiting to sleep with him wherever he goes, right? He doesn't need to be biased, he's honest

[@mathislaplante5271]

Too bad this new kona is hideous

[@jimimack7298]

I agree with you! Your frontal lobe isn't developed. LOL! That being said, it may just be an age thing. I'm 65, and I'd never be seen driving one, but it has a more modern (or futuristic) design to appeal to the younger buyer. I do like the interior though. No need for Hyundai to make excuses for this Kona. Now, the Sonata is another story.

[@nitabrown1768]

I am 69 and Love my kona essential..

[@justinhohenstern1296]

This new Kona design is just a hot mess. I liked the old design. This new one is just awful. Lost a customer.

[@Realistick]

It’s a bit polarizing for sure but the inside is much much better!

[@cgmiddle]

My boyfriend likes you better with your old shorter hair style.

[@Realistick]

Tell him to trust the process🤧

[@thomasshort6738]

Ride is widely reported mediocre

[@Realistick]

No, I couldn’t see anyone saying this is mediocre unless their expectations are delusional😂 It’s not as poised as the Subaru Crosstrek or HRV but it’s generally comfortable👌

[@bonytologna]

That new design is gross. And the whole point was a good compact car, and now it’s bigger. From a design standpoint, total fail.