The Best New Kona Hasn't Arrived Yet (Hyundai Kona N Line Turbo 2023 Review)

[@xXYellie12Xx]

Test drove this, the carolla cross, the cx30 and the seltos this week. To me, for the price this felt like the best package. Really nice drive, sportier then the others and a refined interior, despite the plastics. The cx30 had the nicest interior of the three but let me down in pretty much every other aspect (particularly tech and space), whereas the carolla cross felt like the sturdiest but also the most boring. The seltos and the Kona felt like the best package and features for the price, with the best utilised space. Personally I like the kona the most as it feels fun and sporty but very spacious. Agree though that the annoying safety alerts and the fuel economy lets it down. Really keen to see the hybrid in action, but I’m worried the drive experience is going to be much worse with a FWD DCT instead of a AWD torque converter in the 1.6T… waiting expectantly for KZbin reviews of the hybrid. Overall a great car and a HUGE improvement over the previous gen.

[@albd4002]

Hello. Which variant did you choose? I am struggling to make a decision between the 1.6 litre turbo/AWD/8 speed auto vs the Hybrid 1.6 litre/FWD/6 speed DCT auto. Taking them both for a test drive this weekend.

[@rc70ys]

The front reminds me of RoboCop 😊

[@pauld6556]

I had this Kona and the Mazda CX -30 narrowed down on my new car shopping list. I love features and tech so I would have been spending 52k on a Kona. I just can’t fathom that sort of money when it still has cheap vibes and for a city runabout. Needless to say I spent 47k on a top spec CX-30 and the quality, build and finish is miles ahead. I think once a Mazda fan, you always will be.

[@TomWilding1]

Exactly! People want “all the tech” and you’re still paying for it. Buy a decent car, like a Mazda. Well done.

[@kodessa]

I don't get why Hyundai need to place the tail lights near to the bumper of the car. It's basically in the blind spot

[@eponymous7910]

Totally agree, ditto for turning indicators on modern cars... They really should be located at eye level

[@Ageratos01]

what I'm interested to know is if that 8 speed will make its way into either or both the sportage or Tucson. Seeing the hybrid versions have it abroad and the seltos and now kona have it.

[@rajTrondhjem10]

I think it's a good package (minus the spoiler). Does it sound good? Thanks..

[@recursion.]

1:01 to 1:04 is super neat. I think it should be done more often in coming reviews.

[@davidtaylor3]

We’ve ordered a Kona Premium Hybrid as a replacement for our CX-5 Turbo and agree that it seems to be the Goldilocks option in the range. As much as we love the CX-5, the fuel economy is not the best and the Kona should use about half the fuel. Hopefully performance is adequate for tootling around the burbs, which is our primary use case, but we obviously haven’t driven it yet to know for sure. I’m looking forward to your review of the hybrid model!

[@angelabroderick5375]

Me too, I have ordered a premium sunroof hybrid in mirage green. My 2021 Kia Sportage Diesel drinks the juice now 8l per 100km.

[@TomWilding1]

I bet you’ll want to be back in your CX-5 quite quickly.

[@gregclark8700]

I really liked the size of the old Kona , journos do my head in with their perception that everyone wants a bigger car. Have a look around at how many small SUVs are on the road. Blind Freddy can see we don’t all want bigger SUVs.

[@daweigo6851]

The manufacturers make the car bigger, not the journalists

[@gregclark8700]

@@daweigo6851 I can’t argue with your logic , my point was that to me many journalist have a mind set that a car needs to be a certain. I believe the comment was made “the old Kona was cramped”. This is true unless you actually want a smaller SUV

[@burtoburto4418]

Bought a hybrid Kona baseline with the N line package , free tint and floor mats $41500 , look great , good fuel economy , not phased about power as we have other cars for that 👍🏻

[@burtoburto4418]

And I got white , changed the red interior pieces to black .

[@keithlynch3086]

N-Line cars can be very fun for the $$ when pushed very hard. I will take that and some hard plastics all day long!

[@TassieEV]

Any time frame on when the full EV will be launched or when you test it?

[@spiro5327]

Great review. I have a question. Will an updated I30 N LINE also come with the same torque converter as the new Kona ?? Thanks

[@amitangane8581]

Waiting for the Kona Petrol 2L review to drop soon 🤞🏻

[@nurglesgrin8257]

Hey Tom love your vids, could you please do a review of the ssangyong musso ? its starting to gain some traction and i would love to see you opinion of it.

[@james43307]

Looks schmick, and I love how detailed this and all your other reviews are, but I’m still looking forward to the Electric version. Any idea when that video is coming?

[@waynegercovich4277]

Tom can you find out if the new Kona Hybrid can have a full size spare tyre

[@kohinoormine]

What colour is this

[@bazinga615]

It just sounds like a mediocre effort across most areas, such as interior quality, fuel economy, ride quality. For a brand new gen model… not good enough and sets the tone for what’s coming.

[@xXYellie12Xx]

Gotta say I completely disagree with this. Test drive this and it’s competitors and if you have the same opinion I’d be surprised. I test drove this, seltos, cx30 and carolla cross last week and this was without a doubt the best package. Cx30 had the best interior but hardly any space and terrible tech. Carolla cross was solid and the hybrid is great but ride quality and tech again were far inferior. Seltos was really really good, particularly with 7 year warranty but the interior didn’t feel as refined and the suspensions was more brittle. Kona has its own issues but for me it’s the best package of ride, tech, and refined interior. With seltos an equal or close second.

[@PlaAwa]

i think hyundai gets this evolution of their design language right on the upcoming sonata (2024 facelift). wonder whether we'll get it, even if only in n-line spec like the current version?

[@heldire]

Aus is getting the Sonata, just unsure when... I say this as someone with a deposit down for it when they finally arrive (next year for sure).

[@PlaAwa]

@@heldire sweet as. nice choice. first new car?

[@An_Enraged_Pig]

They should of made this electric and made the Ioniq 5 gas

[@xoox2609]

I was looking at a new Kona this year. The last model was just the right size and looked sporty. Apparently they changed the design because Aussies wanted a larger Kona. Really? Nah They fucked up. Sales will show that. Gonna buy another brand.

[@Dimigrey]

It's a piece of crap... I had a 23 Kona turbo I sold it after only 5 months ownership.. it felt really dangerous to me.. if you pass a car then your getting back in lane the car just doesn't hold the road well. It's not tight on the road.

[@waynehobbs5175]

The 8 speed torque converter auto is a virtual admission their DCT are rubbish.

[@lukiejames]

The interior looks like the wish/shein/temu version of my 2019 a250 4matic haha. Hyundai made it look so cheap!

[@mwboost]

That line/front end 🤢

[@whatthe6532]

Just gets uglier the more you see it.

[@TomWilding1]

If couldn’t be any uglier. And that interior is just pathetic.