Hyundai Kona – The Small Big Adventure

There’s a certain dichotomy to the concept of innovation. On one hand, innovation uses the cutting-edge technology to shape its evolution. On the other hand, it seems to have a mind of its own and often the pathway to the future takes on a very organic trajectory. This is kind of the magic of it though. It means that those who are in charge of shaping the future of different sectors are almost riding a bolt of lightening as they do it.

This long tangent brings me to the Hyundai Kona which I think is a beautiful example of that dichotomy. It’s packed with very precise tech and engineering, but it’s also the product of the shifting sands of market desire. Twenty years ago, it would have seemed inconceivable that SUVs would have taken the sedan’s throne when it comes to the most popular vehicle model stakes. But here we are and the SUV is ubiquitous. Obviously, we are all nature loving, sporty, active bunnies. But like the best things in life, we also want our SUV to fit our lifestyles. And this is something that the designers at Hyundai have taken quite literally with the newly enhanced Kona compact SUV. And it really is such clever thinking. Again, it might have been hard to imagine a compact SUV category a few years ago, but now that we have one it just makes total sense that there might be people out there who want all of the benefit of an SUV, but without having to have a heavy trade license in order to operate one.

And while the Kona might be compact in terms of scale, it really doesn’t give up anything else in terms of tech, engineering, handling and style. And in terms of that style, the Kona makes no secret for its love of adventure with hints of utilitarian accents, like front under bumper skid plate and protective cladding and armour-like bumpers. This is accentuated by bold design features that give the Kona a muscular sculpted aesthetic. The Kona is not just about outdoor pursuits, it is also just at home in the city and some really cool design features like wide, thin LED lighting, stretched bonnet and pinched sweeping front end add a high level of sophistication to the mix. There is also the choice of five new exterior colours, including Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Cyber Grey, and Misty Jungle. These are in addition to five existing colours, including Phantom Black, Chalk White, Dark Knight, Pulse Red and Galactic Grey. Every colour can be combined with the Phantom Black two-tone roof. The two-tone roof also comes with matching mirror housings.

Inside the Kona, there is a similar kind of play between boldness and sophistication, as well as an upgrade to the technology including 10.25-inch digital cluster and an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system. The new Kona is also comes loaded with a heap of safety and driver assistance features. Including Smart Cruise Control (SCC) including a stop-and-go function. There’s also enhanced Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) too, which engages the vehicle’s differential brakes to prevent a collision if another vehicle is detected near the rear corner (blind spot) and the driver attempts to change lanes.

And while the Kona looks the business inside and out, it backs it up with some impressive powertrain options including an enhanced 1.6-litre T-GDI Smartstream engine with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and a four-wheel drive drivetrain. The 2.0L Nu engine continues to be offered for 2WD models, with enhancements have been made to improve performance and efficiency.

And if that wasn’t enough for you, there is also the option of the Kona N Line which gets a signature fascia, body colour claddings and large rear spoiler, as well as N Line specific design accents such as diamond-cut wheels.

Whether it’s skiing, mountain biking or heading to a job interview, the new Kona is the perfect small SUV for that next big adventure.

Find out more about the Hyundai Kona here.