Road Test
HY AND MIGHTY
I drove the new Hyundai Kona N – it’s quick and very capable but there are a few catches
IT gets under your skin, the Kona N.
I approached it thinking I’m inoculated against cars like this. I mean, really, a heated-up crossover?
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This much power and performance goes well in a hot hatchback like the superb i30 N.
But in a shorter, taller crossover, chances are you’ll be pitching and rocking all over the shop.
But somehow they’ve pulled it off and made a grin-worthy car.
Mind you, it does have some serious engineering and tech.
All designed to make the N version feel very different to your basic Kona 1-litre. Or indeed the saintly battery-electric version.
The Kona N has a 2-litre engine making a stonking 280hp. It has redesigned suspension.
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On the dash screen you can dive into menus for a maze of driver settings.
Throttle response, gear shifts, adaptive dampers, steering assistance, limited-slip diff effect, exhaust loudness.
Outside, spoilers and wings hang off the nose and roof.
Platter-sized brake discs glisten through lightweight wheels.
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The paintwork is punctured with any number of grilles and slats.
Some are dummies, mind. All bordered in red stripes.
Because the N isn’t just about going quickly, but looking quick too.
And feeling quick. Frankly, the Kona N has silly-firm suspension.
That all means it is a slightly untidy mover compared with the best hot-hatches. But it’s also super-involving.
And very capable. The tyres cling hard, and the brakes clamp you to a stop.
The engine and transmission make a terrific partnership. It’s up for a laugh.
But it does go a bit far sometimes. The dash screens will show a load of surplus live info like the pressure you’re putting on the brakes. Guys, this isn’t F1.
And if you’re driving ambitiously, you should be looking at the road not these baffling displays.
Like many new cars it has a camera reading road signs, to remind you of the speed limit or no-overtaking zones. But it also lets you know about double-bend signs.
Not to slow you down, but to prompt you to switch those electronic parameters to N mode and go apex-hunting.
Apart from those screens, the interior is a bit drab.
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Room in the back is pretty tight and the boot’s not huge. But then, it’s a compact car. And it has great front seats.
If you want a crossover and not a hatchback, and you can afford the thirst, the Kona N is as much fun as you can get. It might just go viral.
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Hyundai Kona N
Key facts
Price: £35,820
Engine: 2-litre 4cyl turbo petrol
Power: 280hp, 392Nm
0-62mph: 5.5 secs
Top speed: 150mph
Economy: 33mpg
CO2: 194g/km
Out: Now
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