Good looks can only get you so far in life, even in cars. It’s so easy to be enamored with a vehicle’s aesthetics to the point that it has also become easy to look the other way if the performance isn’t up to par.
Hyundai’s subcompact SUV, the Kona, begs to differ because it has something more to offer beyond its globally-acclaimed style:
The Kona may be the Tucson’s funkier and more adventurous younger brother, but it’s not a rookie when it comes to performance. It’s well-endowed, thanks to its 2.0-liter Atkinson gasoline engine with 6-speed AT transmission, Euro 4 emission rating, and can give you a maximum power of 149ps/6,200rpm and a maximum torque of 18.3kg-m/4,500rpm.
From long rides to uphill climbs, driving the Kona feels like a breeze. The fact that its Drive Mode Technology allows you to command how and when to exert power that will efficiently satisfy your driving style is just a bonus.
Apart from its modern interiors complete with cushioned fabric for its 5-seating capacity, the Kona has ample headroom (front & back) and leg room, thanks to a wide exterior dimension of 1,800mm that contribute to better on-road stability, and a long wheelbase of 2,600mm that affords greater passenger leg room.
City dwellers and outdoor adventurers alike can feel secure on the road with the Kona’s standard six-airbag system, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Tire Pressure Monitoring System, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a convenient Smart Key + Push Button Start system.
The Kona has made its mark as a member of the Hyundai SUV family due to a characteristic that they all share: distinct durability, thanks to Hyundai’s Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) which is known to be 10% lighter but twice as rigid as conventional steel. Reports of its older brother, the Tucson, have gone viral for remaining in relatively one piece after a four-ton boulder crashed into it. That’s because the Tucson is made with 51% AHSS. Still, the Kona is unfazed. Its proudly 51.8% AHSS body boosted its safety ratings in various crash tests performed in Europe and North America.
Much has been said about the Kona’s head-turning style and performance which has captivated international award giving bodies in the past few years. But with its wing-like fenders, sporty exoskeleton design, cascading grille complete with a brilliant separated headlight design composed of projector halogen headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights, can you really blame them?