2022 Hyundai Kona N Review | Car Reviews

2022 Hyundai Kona N, N badging

Auto123 testimonials the 2022 Hyundai Kona N.

As we progress into 2022, Hyundai is a model you most undoubtedly want to hold an eye on. Not only because they are releasing some really neat solutions – like the funky Kona N you see right here — but since they are in the midst of a branding evolution. It need to come as no shock that a significant component of that is their Ioniq EV method, now formally underway right here with the debut of the Ioniq 5. What is shocking is they’re also placing a lot of emphasis on their N general performance model as well, a person that capabilities very little but great ol’ turbo’d ICE overall performance products.

So what, then, do you do if you’re Hyundai and want to proceed to showcase just how much you can choose your burgeoning overall performance model?

Very well, you make a performance version of just one of your largest sellers, of class!

Shopicar.com, 100% on the internet, shop for your up coming automobile, invest in on the net and get it shipped to you anywhere in Quebec!

2022 Hyundai Kona N, profile

The Kona N arrives equipped with a 2.0L turbo-4 shared with the also-new Elantra N, which also suggests that it’s shared with that car’s racing variant, the N TCR, designed to compete in major touring car racing championships the environment about. On paper, that interprets to 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, despatched to the entrance wheels (there is no AWD possibility) via an 8-pace dual-clutch automatic gearbox. That is your only option the 6-velocity handbook fitted to the Elantra is not out there on the Kona, which likely won’t shock that many individuals.

Style-smart, the Kona N is not shy about its performance underpinnings. It will get specific wheels wrapped in Pirelli overall performance tires, distinctive Overall performance Blue paint possibility with pink rocker panels (those people exist no issue which of the 6 available colours you select, other than for the Ignite Crimson noticed below), rather gaudy roof spoiler and distinctive N badging on the rocker panels and grille. When it does not trip any reduce than a typical Kona (it is nonetheless a crossover, so it continue to wants to be equipped to conquer Canadian winters) this is not your sensible upcoming-door neighbour’s Kona, I can convey to you that.

2022 Hyundai Kona N, inside

Inside of, the N really like continues with special N activity seats, Functionality Blue detailing on the seats, gearlever and the two wheel-mounted N manner buttons as well as a large crimson button there with “NGR” stamped on it. That stands for the whatever-you-say “N Grin Shift” technique, which provides a 10-hp enhance for 20 seconds once pressed.

Although the seats are a small far more greatly bolstered than are the merchandise found in other Konas, even the wider-hipped among the us – a class in which I include myself – will be beautifully comfortable. Back again seat place, meanwhile, is about what you’d anticipate from a motor vehicle this size, which is to say that most will in all probability use it only for the children, as it ought to be. That or for more storage, because the seatbacks can of training course be folded down flat.

The 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster is modifiable and receives an additional “performance” model that has you feeling like you are looking at the gauges of just one of those touring automobile racers. There is also a functionality readout obtainable from the key 10.25-inch display that offers information these as a G meter, lap time and your oil and coolant temps. That is really the sight thinking of the crossover environs in which you’re sitting.

2022 Hyundai Kona N, NGS (N Grin Shift) button

Speaking of modifiable: there are numerous pre-baked powertrain and chassis modes, but you can also personalize your have method and map individuals profiles to the two N buttons on the wheel, just like you would in a BMW X3M, for illustration. Individually, I preferred a Activity throttle with a somewhat peaceful chassis, as it supplies the comfy trip you’d count on from a crossover, but with some nice included punch when it arrived time to dip the throttle. I don’t love the reciprocating knob utilized to flip by way of the drive modes, even so a easy button to push – as located in the Elantra N – would be my choice. It is just much less finicky.

There is some true punch in this article, in this N. Torque arrives nice and small in the rev band so you get some fantastic zip right off the line, extra so if you activate the start management system through individuals functionality pages. Immediately after that, just about every equipment is banged dwelling with deliberation and velocity, and with pleasingly lower shudder from the driveline. This is a good twin-clutch ‘box that is a joy to flip through with the easily-obtainable wheel-mounted paddles and it’s an additional phase into relocating the Kona N into a course above other subcompact trucklets of its ilk.

The dealing with, in the meantime, leaves all those rivals in the dust for the reason that it is a properly-sorted affair that will get the important addition of an digital confined slip differential. I tested the Kona N on rain-slicked surfaces which includes Sonoma Racetrack in California and you can really feel that eLSD doing the job. Practically as quickly as that inside of wheel started spinning in the course of a flip, electric power would be diverted to the outdoors wheel to enable pull you by. It tends to make the Kona N come to feel that a lot extra unstoppable in treacherous situations and you have to like that from your overall performance crossover.

The brakes have also been enlarged and pad substance enhanced so you’re effectively-protected on the deceleration side of factors as very well.

2022 Hyundai Kona N, on the keep track of

In fact, you are included for quite substantially almost everything when it arrives to the Kona N. Of course, it’s also poor there is no manual or AWD option, but at the exact same time, I’ve sampled the Elantra N with both of those transmissions and it is not as crystal clear-minimize a win for the guide as I assumed it would be. That is to say the twin-clutch car is a wonderful ‘box and a excellent in shape for the Kona, and it would most likely be the transmission of decision even if the guide ended up available.

Hyundai, surprisingly, has managed to just take a car that now sells like the dickens and is beloved in any of the quite a few sorts in which it’s readily available, and has managed to preserve all that intact – except the AWD – and provide an genuine, bonafide general performance product. Looks this Kona blueprint has legs for a long time.

2022 Hyundai Kona N, a few-quarters rear

We like

General performance hatch managing
Appears to be like
Punchy turbo power and audio
    
We like a lot less

No manual transmission
No AWD alternative
     
The competition

Mercedes-AMG GLA 35

2022 Hyundai Kona N, rear

Gurus

Individuals