Hyundai Kona wins you over

When I first learned that I was going to test drive the all-wheel-drive Hyundai Kona, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic.

After all, I thought it was just another compact crossover. They seem to be a dime a dozen, about as popular on the highways as the sedans, with all models looking similar.

But when first walking up to the Kona, I was instantly impressed by the stylish design, especially the front end. It looks both futuristic and luxurious, with narrow LED headlights and large recessed daytime running lights. If that wasn’t enough, a pair of fog lights set low to the ground and combined with the large black grille creates a very aggressive-looking vehicle.

My tester was in a beautiful Pulse Red color with black fenders and 18-inch alloy wheels. The crossover has nice lines but seems to sit a bit low, which is especially noticeable when getting in and out.

Once behind the wheel, I had to move the black leather seat as far rearward as possible, as I do with most vehicles to fit my 6-foot-2-inch frame. Unfortunately, when doing so, the back of the driver’s seat was only a few inches from the rear passenger seat, making it nearly impossible for even a small adult to be seated comfortably behind me.

The performance of the 175-horsepower turbocharged, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine was impressive, as the Kona can scamper from zero to 60 mph in a mere 6.6 seconds. Pair that with the seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and the option to use manual-shift modes made it a joy to drive. Nimble handling added to the fun. Surprisingly with excellent performance, the fuel economy was an amazing 32 mpg.

The “Ultimate” model of the Hyundai Kona has a large array of technological features. The 8-inch touch screen infotainment display slopes out of the dash, similar to a heads-up display. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported with many different charging ports, including wireless device charging, which in this class of vehicle is literally unheard of. The Infinity 8-speaker audio system produces chest-pumping bass and ear-piercing highs in the open and airy cabin that is equipped with a moon roof.

The Kona’s warranty is quite remarkable, with a limited five-year or 60,000-mile warranty and a powertrain warranty covering a whopping 10 years or 100,000 miles. Also offered as standard equipment are many desirable safety features, such as emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention monitor, and my favorite, automatic high-beam headlamps. The High Beam Assist system recognizes oncoming vehicles and automatically switches between high and low beams at night. (As a point of interest, the first automatic headlight dimming system, called the Atronic Eye, was used in the 1952 Oldsmobile.)

Hyundai had been getting a bad rap for years, especially in the 1980s and 90s, but if you’re looking for an inexpensive, quick, fun-to-drive crossover with all the bells and whistles, check out the Hyundai Kona. Hyundai has come a long way, and with its exceptional warranty, how could you go wrong?

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