Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Hyundai Kona

What's on this page

Hyundai Kona Review, For Sale, Interior, Colours, Specs & Models

The Hyundai Kona is the Korean brand's small SUV, which sits above the city-sized Venue, and under the mid-size Tucson, seven-seat Santa Fe, and full-size Palisade.

The Kona competes head-on with the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi ASX, and is available in base, Active, Elite, N Line, Highlander, and N Line Premium trim levels. Buyers can choose between two petrol engines and two- or all-wheel drive drivetrains.

The zero (tailpipe) emissions Kona Highlander Electric launched in Australia in late 2019.

This vehicle is also known as Hyundai Kauai (Portugal), Hyundai Encino (China).

Hyundai Kona Models Price and Specs

The price range for the Hyundai Kona varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $32,000 and going to $68,000 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2024 SUV 2.0L, —, CVT AUTO $32,000 $68,000
2023 SUV 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO $25,410 $69,300
2022 SUV 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO $24,970 $69,410
2021 SUV 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $20,570 $70,180
2020 SUV 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $22,770 $66,660
See All Hyundai Kona Pricing and Specs

Hyundai Kona Colours

The Kona comes in six standard colours – ‘Atlas White’, ‘Abyss Black’, ‘Denim Blue’, ‘Ecotronic Grey’, ‘Mirage Green’, and ‘Ultimate Red’.

  • Atlas White
  • Abyss Black
  • Denim Blue
  • Ecotronic Grey
  • Mirage Green
  • Ultimate Red
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website.

Hyundai Kona Interior

The updated Hyundai Kona’s interior has been made-over in favour of a design that highlights its upmarket technology and electrified-inspired new exterior.

The dashboard is now headlined by a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system and on the base model, an analogue instrument panel with a 4.2-inch digital screen.

Cloth seat trims and a leather-wrapped steering wheel come standard but you can upgrade to a leather-accented treatment with higher grades or the optional N Line Pack

A tilt-and slide sunroof is an optional extra.

Hyundai Kona Interior

Hyundai Kona Dimensions

The dimensions of the Hyundai Kona SUV vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2024 SUV 1585x1825x4350 mm 170 mm
2023 SUV 1550x1800x4205 mm 170 mm
2022 SUV 1550x1800x4205 mm 170 mm
2021 SUV 1550x1800x4165 mm 170 mm
2020 SUV 1550x1800x4165 mm 170 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Hyundai Kona Dimensions

Hyundai Kona Accessories

Standard equipment in the Kona includes push-button start, LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a temporary spare tyre, leather-trimmed steering wheel, steering wheel mounted controls, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, Bluetooth, 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 4.2-inch digital instrument panel, DAB radio, four USB-C ports, a 12-volt socket, a wireless charging pad, four cupholders, LED exterior lights, auto-dimming rear view mirror, extendable sun visors, and dual-zone climate control.

Hyundai Kona Accessories

Hyundai Kona Boot Space

When all rows are in use, the Kona has 407L of boot capacity available. You can jump that figure up to 1241L with the rear seats folded.

There is a temporary spare tyre underneath the floor and a cargo net with luggage anchor points.

Hyundai Kona Boot space

Hyundai Kona Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Hyundai Kona here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • Should I buy a Mazda CX-3 or Kona Elite from 2020?

    Early this year, Hyundai issued a recall for some Konas built between 2020 and 2022 to deal with problems with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission which could cause a loss of drive and, therefore, a dangerous situation on the road. So the first check would be to see if your car you're looking at is affected by that recall (a Hyundai dealer will be able to tell you by looking up the car's VIN). If the car is one of the affected ones but the recall's fixes have been applied, then you have less to worry about.

    The Kona's engine problems, meanwhile, were another cause for a safety recall after it was discovered that a batch of Konas had defective piston rings which could cause early engine wear and possibly even a fire. Again, these problems were being fixed by Hyundai, but you need to check whether the example you're looking at buying was one of the affected ones and what's been done about it by the previous owner.

    The Mazda CX-3 of the same era has not been without its recalls either, including one for a suspension joint that could fail, but overall, the experience of owners suggests the Mazda could be the less risky bet. Again, though, check the service and recall history of any car before handing over the money.

    Show more
  • My 2018 Kona Active steering wheel is making noises when turning or when I come to a stop.

    The best guess is that the noise is being generated by the electric motor integrated into the steering column that acts as the power-steering in the Kona. If it’s s faint noise that is heard more often with the windows closed and the stereo off, then it’s the same noise that other Kona owners have noted.

    Another possibility is a noisy clock-spring. This is a flexible electrical contact inside the top of the steering column that allows the steering wheel to turn while still maintaining all the electrical contacts that power the air-bags and steering wheel-mounted controls. These clock springs often become noisy just before they fail.

    Your car is still under warranty, and since you’ve already logged the fault with your Hyundai dealer, it’s now a pre-existing problem and must be fixed by Hyundai, even if the car itself runs out of warranty in the meantime.

    Show more
  • How do I tell if a 2019 Hyundai Kona is AWD or FWD?

    It’s pretty simple, James, and despite both two and four-wheel-drive being offered on all trim levels of the Kona, there’s one thing to check that will answer your question: If the vehicle has the two-litre, non-turbocharged engine, it’s a two (front) wheel-drive. If it has the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, it’s an all-wheel-drive Kona. Hyundai never offered a front-wheel-drive Kona with the turbo engine, nor all-wheel-drive with the non-turbo.

    Beyond that, there were some other major technical differences that will also tell you what you’re looking at. The front-drive Kona has a simpler, torsion-beam rear suspension, while the AWD version has a multi-link arrangement. Then there’s the transmission. Front-drive Konas got a six-speed conventional automatic, while the AWD Kona got a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission.

    Show more
  • Is it normal for a 2018 Hyundai Kona to have a rusty muffler after three years?

    It’s a bit of a surprise to learn that a brand-new muffler lasted just two years before needing replacement, and that’s certainly not what most mechanics would consider normal. But it isn’t unheard of, either.

    One of the by-products of burning petrol is water. That explains the cloud-like water-vapour you see when a car is first started on a cold morning. Once the car is up to running temperature, however, that water is turned completely to steam and exits the tailpipe. But, if the vehicle is only ever used for short trips where the exhaust system never gets hot enough to evaporate all that water, then the water can sit inside the system (typically inside the muffler, and in a sometimes acidic environment) where it can cause rust to develop.

    This is a lot less common in modern cars with catalytic converters which cause the exhaust to run at a higher temperature and get there faster, but it can still happen – as you now know. The best fix is to fit a stainless-steel exhaust system which simply refuses to rust, but they’re expensive and I wouldn’t expect Hyundai to go to that expense for a warranty claim.

    So will it happen again in another two years? If the cause of the rusty muffler is as I’ve explained here, then there’s a very good chance it will happen again thanks to your car’s pattern of use. But if the problem was simply a bad batch of mufflers that weren’t rust-proofed correctly at the factory (and it happens) then a new muffler shouldn’t rot out so quickly. But it makes us wonder if Victoria’s extended COVID lockdown and the notorious five-kilometre-radius-from-home rule may have forced drivers into lots of short trips for months on end. Perhaps you’re seeing the start of a trend here.

    Show more
See All Hyundai Kona Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Hyundai Kona Fuel Consumption

The Hyundai Kona is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by Electric, —, ULP and PULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 6.6L/100km for SUV /— for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2024 SUV Electric 1 SP AUTO
2024 SUV 6.6L/100km 2.0L CVT AUTO
2023 SUV Electric 1 SP AUTO
2023 SUV 6.2L/100km 2.0L ULP CVT AUTO
2023 SUV 6.6L/100km 2.0L CVT AUTO
2023 SUV 9L/100km 2.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
2022 SUV Electric 1 SP AUTO
2022 SUV 6.2L/100km 2.0L ULP CVT AUTO
2022 SUV 9L/100km 2.0L 8 SP AUTO
2022 SUV 9L/100km 2.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
2021 SUV Electric 1 SP AUTO
2021 SUV 7.2L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP AUTO
2021 SUV 9L/100km 2.0L PULP 8 SP AUTO
2020 SUV Electric 1 SP AUTO
2020 SUV 7.2L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP AUTO
* Combined fuel consumption See All Hyundai Kona Pricing and Specs for 2024

Hyundai Kona Towing Capacity

The Hyundai Kona has maximum towing capacity of 1600kg for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2024 SUV 0kg 1600kg
2023 SUV 0kg 1600kg
2022 SUV 0kg 1600kg
2021 SUV 0kg 1600kg
2020 SUV 0kg 1300kg
See All Towing Capacity for Hyundai Kona

Hyundai Kona Engine

There are currently three engines for the Kona with an all-electric version expected sometime in the future.

They are a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine (110kW/180Nm), a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (146kW/265Nm) and a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol-hybrid with combined outputs of 104kW/265Nm.

Hyundai Kona Engine

Hyundai Kona Seats

The Kona comes with five seats, in a 2/3 configuration. The back row has a 60/40 split-fold and has a fold-down armrest with two cupholders.

Both front seats feature manual adjustments but the drivers’ seat does feature a 2-way power adjustment for the lumbar support.

The seat trim is black cloth on the base Kona model but on the Premium model they are a mix of synthetic and genuine leather trims. You can choose either a black or 'Sage Green' colour option on the Premium model.

In the second row, there are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats plus three top tether anchor points, but two seats will fit best.

Hyundai Kona Seats

Hyundai Kona Speed

The Kona’s 0-100km/h sprint time varies between 7.5 to 8.5 seconds across its models. Expect a top-speed around 195km/h.

Hyundai Kona Wheel Size

The Hyundai Kona has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 215x55 R18 9 for SUV in 2024.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2024 SUV 215x55 R18 9 215x55 R18 9
2023 SUV 205x60 R16 9 205x60 R16 9
2022 SUV 205x60 R16 9 205x60 R16 9
2021 SUV 205x60 R16 205x60 R16
2020 SUV 205x60 R16 16x6.5 inches 205x60 R16 16x6.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Hyundai Kona Wheel Sizes

Hyundai Kona News

See All Hyundai Kona News

Hyundai Kona Range

The Kona petrol and turbo-petrol models each have a 47L fuel tank and a driving range between 618km and 712km.

The hybrid Kona has a 38L fuel tank and based on the official combined cycle fuel figure of 3.9L/100km, should have a driving range of around 974km.