Hyundai’s City Runabout Grows Bigger, Boasts Larger Utility, New Look.
By Sue Mead
The 2024 Hyundai Kona has been utterly redesigned exterior and in. On a current trip and drive that began in Baltimore’s Fells Level upscale, hip waterfront neighborhood and proceeded to a group of highways and byways that took a gaggle of automotive testers into the picturesque Maryland countryside for a day-long analysis, I found that it’s additionally extra refined, and has upgraded highway manners. The Kona first got here to market in 2018 and was named for the western district of the island of Hawaii and to “replicate the approach to life of recent clients” that’s according to the “progressive design” it adopts, says Hyundai.
Having a look at this South Korean automaker, it’s spectacular to see that Hyundai has turn into more and more common with American patrons and has continued to develop and replace its full SUV lineup. Hyundai has additionally posted all-time gross sales data with progress of over 12 % this 12 months, together with climbing to the highest of the charts with J.D. Energy’s highly-regarded surveys within the areas of preliminary high quality, dependability and satisfaction numbers, in addition to receiving recognition from the North American Automobile and Truck of the Yr (NACTOY) jury for the Kona EV in 2019.
The 2024 Hyundai Kona is all-new and comes with a variety of powertrains that embrace inside combustion (ICE) and electrical (EV) variations, in addition to a sports-minded N Line. Trims additionally embrace the SE, SEL and Restricted fashions, with various ranges of normal and obtainable tools. Kona is out there with front-drive and AWD, with daring shade choices and 4 totally different wheel selections that vary from 17 inches to 19 inches. Kona competes with the Chevy Trax, Honda HRV, Mazda CX-30 Nissan Kicks and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, together with a variety of different entries on this class. The 2024 Kona begins at $24,100 and is on sale now; the Kona Electrical will probably be obtainable late fall.
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“The all-new Kona and Kona Electrical proceed to construct upon our extraordinarily profitable first-generation mannequin, with excellent effectivity, progressive applied sciences, distinctive styling, and complete security options,” stated José Muñoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. “The brand new Kona Electrical represents the subsequent step ahead in eco-friendly mobility options, a key mannequin in Hyundai’s fast transition to scrub mobility and progress for humanity.”
The second-generation Kona has inherited the eye-catching aesthetic of the earlier era–it nonetheless seems to be like a Kona, however with added futuristic design overlays. It’s 6 inches longer total and barely wider, which opens up extra room for individuals and baggage. It has been designed with an aerodynamic nostril, a longish hood and with traces the draw the attention up and over the subcompact sport ute to the again, the place it has a barely nipped rear. Interesting are the usual LED projector headlights and the obtainable ‘seamless horizon’ Daytime Working Lights.
The inside has been crafted for extra performance, clear area, visibility, and common calmness with giant screens and easy controls. Among the many upgrades are twin, 12.3-inch panoramic show screens, navigation system, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, digital key, over-the-air software program updates, and Hyundai’s next-generation infotainment system.
Occupants will admire the extra front-row elbow area and rear legroom. Some notable options embrace a tilt sunroof, high-tech leather-based, entrance ventilated seats and heated steering wheel, and 25.5 cubic ft of truck area.
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I drove front-drive Restricted and HTRAC (AWD) N Line variations of the brand new Kona. Of observe is the high-tech design and the open really feel of the driver-centric inside, with good storage areas and barely roomier second row. I appreciated being related all through my drive day with in-cabin Wi-Fi, Wi-fi Charging, as effectively twin entrance and rear USB-C shops. Different options I loved have been the Bose premium-audio system and the Proximity Key, which options distant beginning. Additionally good have been the supportive seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and sporty twin-tipped exhaust pipes unique to the N Line.
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There was loads of power-on-tap with Hyundai’s elective turbocharged 190-horsepower 1.6-liter engine that’s shifted seamlessly via a brand new 8-speed computerized transmission A 147-horsepower 2.0-liter is customary on SE and SEL trims and shifts via a CVT computerized. Steering and braking are crisp, and Kona’s suspension provides it a refined really feel over uneven terrain and in corners.
The Kona Electrical is provided with a big 65-kWh battery that’s estimated to ship as much as 260 miles of vary primarily based on Hyundai’s preliminary inside testing. Hyundai says the battery could be charged from 10 % capability to 80 % in roughly 43 minutes utilizing obtainable level-3 public chargers.
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Quick Details:
Kona’s new proportions convey bigger dimensions and inside quantity for gasoline-powered fashions. The brand new Kona is 171 inches lengthy (6 inches longer than the previous-generation automotive), rides on a 105-inch wheelbase (2 inches longer), and is 72 inches extensive (1 inch higher). Kona Electrical is equally resized.
Security Options
Normal automated emergency braking
Normal lane-departure warning with lane-keeping help
Accessible adaptive cruise management
Encompass View Monitor
Blind-Spot View Monitor
Parking Distance Warning–Reverse, Ahead, Aspect
Distant Good Parking Help
Guarantee and Upkeep
Restricted guarantee covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
Powertrain guarantee covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
Complimentary upkeep covers three years or 36,000 miles
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2024 Hyundai Kona N LineListen to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
2024 Hyundai Kona Gallery
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