ODDBALL, quirky, frog-like, peculiar… Hyundai’s Kona little SUV has been named a lot more names than the proverbial purple-headed stepchild. Having said that, until eventually now, it hasn’t been named rapidly, or fun… and it surely hasn’t been labelled the choose of the brand’s lauded N-product or service line-up.
Take a seem at the spec sheet – or hussle the Kona N all around the racetrack for half a day, like we did – and you will before long see why Hyundai’s newcomer is not only a bona fide high-driving very hot hatch deserving of its N moniker, but arguably the ideal-suited N automobile still for Australian roadways (and tastes).
The Kona N is the initial SUV design to emanate from Hyundai’s famed N-division. It shares significantly of its mechanical offer with the scorching i30 N, which should give you an sign that this is not just some tarted up procuring trolley with a activity badge and a set of chunkier wheels.
In truth, the Kona N (available in two variants) brings together an energetic 206kW turbocharged 2.-litre 4 with an in-dwelling-produced 8-pace dual wet-clutch transmission (DCT), which drives the entrance wheels by using an e-LSD, to provide “the greatest in capability on street and circuit”.
Priced from $47,500 plus on-street costs, the Kona N maintains the versatile and functional SUV features of the donor design. It is geared up with several convenience, comfort and ease and basic safety systems, as very well as a variety of effectiveness-oriented electronic chassis aids and in-cabin interfaces to assist drivers in maximising all that this sporty tremendous-hatch has to present.
Equipment features a electronic instrument panel and big central infotainment array with Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile compatibility, as very well as Bluetooth connectivity, developed-in satellite navigation and DAB+ electronic radio reception.
The Kona N has cloth-trimmed sports seats, but the Premium spinoff in addition functions leather-based and suede mixture pews. They are teamed with a leather-based-appointed steering wheel, gearshift knob and handbrake cover with Performance Blue contrasting stitching in the course of.
The Premium edition also gets a head-up show, energy adjustable seats, entrance-seat heating and ventilation, entrance parking sensors, LED interior ambient lights, as very well as a glass sunroof.
The Kona N is more geared up with a Qi wi-fi phone charging pad and 8-speaker Harman Kardon quality audio procedure, along with an considerable listing of Hyundai’s SmartSense driver assistance and basic safety systems – plus whole LED exterior lights.
Ahead collision-avoidance assist, driver consideration monitoring, lane retaining and -pursuing assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-visitors alert, tyre force monitoring, rear parking sensors, visitors-indication recognition, adaptive cruise regulate, good exit warning and a reversing digital camera are all regular.
The Kona N is geared up with Hyundai’s new Track Maps function that automatically alerts drivers when they are in close proximity to a mapped racetrack and starts off a lap time as the start off/complete line is crossed.
Carrying a special overall body package, an N-specific grille, blacked-out Hyundai emblem and wing-mirror caps, plus a rear diffuser sporting an LED fog light-weight and dual exhaust stores, the Kona N is unlikely to be mistaken for a normal grocery-getting model… and with a claimed -100km/h time of 5.5 seconds (making it the fastest accelerating N design to day) and a leading-pace of 240km/h, the Kona N will make specified that the procuring is residence very well just before the ice product has melted.
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