Review: 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate AWD

I review the top-of-the-line 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate with the 1.6L turbo engine and all wheel drive! What do you think about the Kona? Thanks to Hyundai for providing this vehicle to review!
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[@geraldrodriguez5739]

I own this car in this trim (Ultimate). It is great I love it. The performance is where this car stands out. The seats are great and the ride is great. I drove other comparable cars for two days and this one wins. The size is perfect for me. I don't like big suv's but I needed something bigger then a hatch.

[@coreydunlap5260]

I just bought one and am absolutely in love with it!!!! Go out of my way to go for cruises in it!!!! It’s such a joy to drive

[@ealeman71]

How do you like it after 4 yrs? Did you got the forward collision avoidance package? I am looking for one for my daughter and would love to have that forward collision feature.

[@geraldrodriguez5739]

@Enrique Aleman ya mine has the the collision warning. You have to get used to it. It can be a little conservative at times but not a big deal.

[@ealeman71]

And how do you like the car in general? Major issues? I have never had a Hyundai.

[@geraldrodriguez5739]

@Enrique Aleman I love the car no issues at all

[@mr.2cents.846]

I test drive the Ultimate once and fell in love with it.

[@johnsonl3656]

I see this car more on the road than the HR-V even though it just came out this year. Hyundai did an excellent job with the Kona. Honda, it's your time to put the 1.5T on the touring trim of the HR-V to compete with this car!

[@caseyfryback8271]

Johnson L except the Honda 1.5T is shit! Maybe next generation.

[@mr.hondamods]

I know I’m not suppose to like the styling of the kona but I do.

[@pootytang203]

This is hands down the coolest looking little compact SUV!!!! 👍👍

[@k3vinyAng]

Cons of this vehicle: jumpy gear change, hesitant go from reverse to drive, at idle while in driver the car chokes/jumpy if at a slight uphill. Pros of the vehicle: sports mode makes it feels like a whole different car, its pickup speed on the hwy way, smooth ride once at higher speed, fun car to drive, turns heads :)

[@donovan4105]

Hyundai turned the Jeep Cherokee headlights into something that actually looks good.

[@poymu4929]

Looks like Nissan Juke

[@quikgt]

Donovan Agreed

[@johnherrera7551]

Much better.

[@TRIGGMOTORSPORT]

My mate took me for a ride in one the other day and after looking into them more, I reckon they are one of the best Value cars in Australia anyway. So much fun and power, good gearbox too.

[@seniscram7958]

Your car reviews are some of my favorites. Partially because of how much fun you are obviously about to have when you test out acceleration. :)

[@hazard1371]

This guy is so professional.

[@Brownnproud91]

Don't let this distract you from the fact that Hector is gonna be running 3 Honda Civic's with spoon engines. On top of that he just came into Harry's and ordered 3 t66 turbo's with NOS's and a Motec System Exhaust.

[@Blackout_1692]

stop posting this quote from the first fast and the furious it's getting really annoying

[@Brownnproud91]

@@Blackout_1692 no

[@Blackout_1692]

You have typed this fast and furious quote on a review of a crappy Hyundai crossover do it on a Honda review not on a crappy Hyundai crossover review

[@Brownnproud91]

@@Blackout_1692 i said NO!!

[@Blackout_1692]

@@Brownnproud91 geez calm down bitch

[@oustandingsitter6106]

13:28 to see “lets turn down onto this backroad here”

[@MamboItalian5]

Matt Maran just Konafied me

[@carfanfan]

I like this SUV. Looks like a mini Santa Fe. Nice!

[@SVDave]

If I close my eyes, it sounds like Michael Cera is doing the review. And that’s, that’s ok

[@klasseact6663]

I've heard the word SIMPLE quite a bit, less to go wrong and I for one like KISS...Keep It Simple Stupid. Engineers showing off by "look what we can do" and then you need a college class to operate your car. Hard plastics, it's an entry level car and besides, it's got alot for the money IMO. This ride stands out on the road, hard to do this in the SUV market! I hope an N version comes out🏁

[@mikeperez5567]

They said the N is in development

[@jonnieinthe256]

Really like these. Looks a lot better than the Jeep Cherokee outside and inside.

[@randomuploads1015]

These are pretty cool.Checked one out in person and the interior is nice.Not a bad looking vehicle to be honest.I hope they sell alot.

[@jordancatcher6663]

One of my fellow co worker's bought this for his son back in March and from what I've heard , it's been great. He bragged to about favorite part being that he can track the car to make sure he's with a certain someone. Not sure what the mileage is now but it had a jaw dropping 84 miles the last time I saw it (Sarcasm). But anyway , was very impressed with the Ultimate I drove a few month's back (Feedback from the wheel was surprisingly well). The kona is the way to go if you want some extra pep in this class.

[@ZillaDaKilla195]

We need these reviews in 4k

[@Ajoolem]

The Kona 1.6 turbo is quick off the line. My dad owned one and i'm very impressed with its powertrain when i drove it. It has a good overtaking speed while on a highway. But then again, the quality in the interior is a bummer.

[@MarioSantana1335]

Just buy the highest trim level is about 31k but you will get leather seats,moon roof,better looking wheels.awd,turbo engine.this is just the base model.

[@Steve_in_NJ]

I test drove the Kona SEL Technology Pkge this past weekend. For mostly urban driving, the 2.0L non-turbo is good enough (I don't do much highway driving). All depends on price but I'm still thinking 2019 as some Ultimate features are moving down to SEL and I also want to compare to 2019 Elantra.

[@DreadlockDrummer]

i love how it looks

[@fj717]

Them lights on the rear bumper. 😥

[@Metrobus271]

Aren’t you comparing apples and oranges when you bring up the Elantra as an alternative?

[@brawnymystic2745]

Still wish the Hyundai Kona had paddle shifters

[@kierstian.]

he forgot lane control, sport mode, heated seats,the sun roof (i have one)

[@kierstian.]

it was $31,000

[@kierstian.]

it also drives its self

[@coreydunlap5260]

I have a limited trim and it has all those features..... 28000 but with incentives and and stuff it was about 26,000

[@RileyAaron90]

The arm rests on the doors aren’t even padded on lower models. I do think they look cool though.

[@Hades_Persephone]

This is the exact same car I have and I love it.

[@hamerplayer1229]

Hopefully Hyundai makes a Kona N!!!

[@coreydunlap5260]

That would be bad ass

[@monicadaiglerealtor]

Excellent review

[@scorpion251970]

Another great review. I’m waiting for the EV version.

[@MattMaranMotoring]

Thanks! I'm hoping to drive one of those eventually, sounds interesting!

[@BFisherMKE]

Your review is probably the most honest I have seen of this thing. Everyone seems to praise this embarrassment from Hundyai.

[@marselvitti]

Looks like the fired Jeep Cherokee design team got a new job

[@johnc6466]

Them sideburns are gettin long Matt lol

[@3ravines275]

Moon roof/sun roof?

[@k3vinyAng]

3 ravines yes, I have the Limited edition and it comes with a sun roof.

[@TaijiArban]

While I like hyundai, I have to admit hyundai cheaped out on this. I feel like the kia sportage is more of a bargain.

[@mitchellsteindler]

AWD must add a lot of cost

[@TaijiArban]

@@mitchellsteindler thats no reason to cheap out on materials and add a lot of plastic.

[@poeglives]

I've seen 180kmph often in ours with my wife behind the wheel and 120kmph on winding dirt roads. We had a 2014 Ford Fusion SE 2.0T AWD and got rid of it for the Kona which was sportier by far. No rattle in ours, rips through city traffic like a go-cart on steroids. You would never be last at a light or into a corner and best of all, the suspension can eat a pothole that would send every hot hatch to the hospital. The kmph gives away my being Canadian and that's nothing special but my location is rural Saskatchewan where 140kmph on a gravel road isn't speeding, it's keeping up.

[@techpappee]

Its not a sportage competitor. Tuscon would be the same range not Kona. Kona is below both the Sportage and Tuscon. Its a sub-compact. Sportage and Tuscon are compact. Its not much different than CH-R, Kicks, HR-V etc. Other sub compacts. Only one i can think of is Mazada that has less plastics. And no they're not less expensive either. They also charge around 30k for their top specs as well. Only one not as expensive would be Kicks but it doesnt offer AWD or a lot of the tech the others have. Alex on Autos covered this in his review of the Kona.

[@TMS5100]

@13:33

[@LukeO-1234]

Don't like the headlamps. Just make the accent lights wider and make them the headlights and where the headlights are make that the fog lights.

[@Chris-xt1vf]

I keep seeing 2 different sets of controls for the climate/temperature. One set has 3 mechanical knobs for the temperature, fan speed, and airflow direction. The other one is this one in the video with 2 knobs. Does this differ based on trim level, or model year?

[@cindykeselowski899]

Matt, looking at the Kona night edition. I can get the AWD version for $500 more than the standard FWD...which would you recommend?

[@rinmarbella4001]

“There’s a steering wheel in the Kona, which is great”

[@thefuturisticdreamer3242]

How come the electric version with more horsepower and torque accelerated slower?

[@zumezoom9593]

kona comes standard with 4wd? it's full time 4wd?

[@dthomas3578]

Looks just like The Elantra I just bought

[@basithph8958]

Eh I don’t see what is the huge deal with this segment

[@Ezero8]

I sat in one and didn't like it. It felt very cheap. Also not a fan of the exterior design. The Elantra GT Sport or Tucson is a better buy for similar price IMO.

[@mitchellsteindler]

AWD

[@lloydgarth1]

To get performance you have to cut corners, so the cheap plastic interior.

[@TW-fx2jx]

does it have paddle shifters?

[@willieswift9580]

Could you possibly do a SE/SEL model?

[@basithph8958]

Dude you should check out the new SQ2 probably the only good car for this segment

[@MattMaranMotoring]

Way more expensive and also not available here in the States.

[@SG-sz5vh]

You speak of « suv practicality » when comparing the kona to the elantra gt and gt sport. I would argue that those two hatches are more utile than the kona as they have larger storage in the hatch area than the kona and a bit better rear seat room. As for all wheel drive, i will argue that good winter tires coupled with a good driver equal all wheel drive performance in snow. So, tho i like the kona, i see no advantage to it over the aforementioned elantras

[@nrcg2317]

It's a wonderful car.

[@samdaffodils]

What color is this- Dark Knight?

[@joyjoyoo]

Review Nissan kicks

[@Vayetsii]

Might as well get an Elantra GT sport for that price

[@mitchellsteindler]

AWD

[@Vayetsii]

It's not a full time awd & if that was a necessity I'd go crosstec or impreza hatchback premium. Even tho they are painfully slow

[@PeteEbenezerrNewman]

You won't get the same utility, AWD and ground clearance. If those are not priority then the Elantra GT sport will be a better option

[@hazard1371]

This has more space too on top of the AWD.

[@BRIANBOBCHAPMAN]

NICE Review: 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate AWD

[@irishuwould5185]

Clearly the father is a Jeep Cherokee, it’s got his eyes

[@jpizel1540]

You get way more for the money with the Santa Fe.

[@Electricalwav]

Much better than the new Nissan Kicks.

[@nenad8600]

whatsupeverybodysubaruwrxfanhere #neverforget

[@mafaldaferreira3057]

COLOR???

[@nikhiltitus]

I think its thunder grey

[@runninwildwithmilwaukeebuck]

Ehhhh... Hyundai dropped the ball on this one 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ I never liked the "jeep" Cherokee or whichever one it is front end...

[@poymu4929]

Or Nissan Juke with Cheapened Audi grill

[@megatimesuperfun]

If you gunna give prices say the right prices

[@boxingvortex4364]

The design is a little to busy, especially in the rear. Hyundai cheaped out too much here with overuse of plastics in the interior.

[@kevinnorwood7355]

My problem with this and the Stinger is that they are UGLY inside and out. As long as Mazda has their 6 series it’s a no . While the Mazda doesn’t make the power of the Stinger, etc it’s a piece of art on wheels, its the more German then Hyundai or the Kia, even more so when it comes handling.

[@FurkanSavas]

Hyundai should keep te front design for other cars with a better back. This car is ugly but the front though is very nice

[@keino111689]

Test drove this today.......and it is total crap. The interior materials are SO CHEAP. Hard plastics everywhere, lot of road noise and an uncomfortable suspension. Small bumps in the road shifted everything inside me. My stomach is actually is my lower abdomen as we speak.

[@tomrichardson7800]

You’re a dumb ass

[@A_guan]

I'd rather buy the larger/more higher quality cx5 for 30k

[@rsmasterng]

Tech Defender agreed

[@mfmf100]

Stylings not bad but seems like a rare miss by Hyundai overall.

[@MasterSumai]

Does anyone know that KIA & HYUNDAI are the same company ? Look on the inside of the , drivers door of the Kia and it will say manufactured by Hyundai .

[@uglyasiacarnevernotbuy4317]

search it hyundai kia recall 3 million car at abc news

[@SteveNigglechunks]

Matt, slow down the opening. Can barely understand your intro

[@nenad8600]

Eric James Alpha you kiddin ? That’s his trademark

[@JaredSVX]

This is a lot like the Jeep Wrangler review...for the price you can get something else that is a lot better

[@mariolubin6882]

buick encore is the best

[@TheSoulMan11]

Turbo will still take a second or 2 too engage.

[@dannywaugh4864]

looks much too busy and ridiculous amount of plastic cladding.

[@trippplefive]

the hyndai homer... a car designed by homer.

[@poymu4929]

Why is it always when I look at Korean cars, I can instantly think of some other brand car that looks very similar? Audi grill + Jeep + Nissan Juke. Hideous

[@zabryant01]

poy Mu your wrong but.... They have designers from Audi that's why. They mix Korean and German designers together to get this. If you done research you would know. They also have one designer who was responsible for the BMW M division. Hyundai motor (Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis) has a huge advantage here!!!

[@poymu4929]

Why do Hyundai fanboys brag about designers and engineers from other companies. Yes I know that. Annoying thing about that is Have you seen ANY Audi fans bragging about their designers? BMW fans going nuts on their M division lead? Hyundai is Hyundai. and only enthusiasts like you and I know this fact. 90% of drivers on the road doesn't know a thing and they look at car and distinguish brands. Hyundai looks similar to many brands out there. I find Hyundai fanboys using these famous names to defend themselves. Guess what. Work is owned by corporation not by individuals. It's called intellectual property. Let me tell you again. Hyundai is Hyundai and they are copying other companies

[@pistolpete6321]

Cheap interior! Hey Hyundai check out Honda, Toyota and Mazda interiors at same price point and let me know what you think!

[@MarioSantana1335]

Hey Toyota,Mazda,Honda check out Hyundai Kona 0 to 60 time Faster then all those brands mentioned above...🙉🙈🙊 there are different trims levels buddy. This is just base model.

[@JD-ef1jb]

Thumbs up for you Matt. Thumbs down for the car. I loathe that dual clutch transmission so much...

[@sivispacem101]

iich poor Civic SI owners...

[@skittlesrainbowunicorn6129]

I've raced one in my SI, that's just not true...

[@juntak6387]

Honestly I'll take a 2nd gen Veloster turbo over this any day

[@mitchellsteindler]

AWD

[@MarioSantana1335]

Honestly this kona is faster then the Honda civic si!! 🙊🙈🙉

[@AutoEnthusiastJC]

that car will be so ugly in 10 years. Shortsighted on Hyundai’s part.

[@matthewkushner8417]

The whole exterior design looks incredibly cheap.

[@yourhero36]

I have yet to see a male driving this on the streets. Is this a “chick” car?

[@illumination357]

If herpes was a car..

[@MrJake9998]

FIRST

[@noelevans8239]

Some one ought to tell this guy to stop gabbling.there must be a better alternative than this prat