Used 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate SUV Review

Name: 2018 Hyundai Kona Review
Brand: Hyundai

More about the 2018 Kona

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate SUV.

5 (80%)

4 (0%)

3 (0%)

2 (0%)

1 (20%)

4.2

5 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

You're Kona Want One!

Scott Van Tuyl, Riverside, CA, 08/09/2018

2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

1200 miles in, I like pretty much everything about this car. I opted for the 1.6 turbo and it's a speedy little bottlerocket. Very tight handling. I'm used to feeling like my old SUV was going to tip over but not with this one. It handles corners beautifully. It looks very small from the outside but there's plenty of room inside tons of room up front, back seats are a tiny bit tight but …

Loving my Kona!!

Cheryl Coady, Rochester, NY, 09/12/2018

2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I absolutely love my purchase of the Kona! It lacks nothing. I am so impressed with the features and the pickup power when in sports mode. I recommend this SUV as it is enjoyable to drive!!!

Kona the best bang for your buck

Bill, Apopka, FL, 08/25/2018

2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

If you are in the market for a subcompact SUV, this is an excellent choice with the 175hp turbo. This was head and shoulders above Mazda, Toyota and Honda in its class. The Ultimate trim has all of the latest tech and safety you need. Also all LED lights on this version. Fun to drive on long road trips and surprisingly quiet. If you live in Central Florida, go see Aubrie at Holler …

As good as the namesake coffee

Katie Olson, Sacramento, CA, 08/28/2018

2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

Great value with numerous safety features

See all 5 reviews of the Hyundai Kona

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Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate SUV

Pros & Cons

Pro:Optional turbocharged engine provides quick acceleration
Pro:Nimble handling makes it enjoyable to drive
Pro:Lots of features for your money
Con:Weak base engine

Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Hyundai Kona SUV

byMark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

What’s new

The 2018 Hyundai Kona is an all-new vehicle.

Vehicle overview

The subcompact crossover SUV class is gaining in popularity and the latest entrant, the 2018 Hyundai Kona, has a lot of potential to take the lead. Its exterior style may be somewhat polarizing, but it drives better than the competition. It also delivers a lot for the money and checks all of the boxes that shoppers want in this type of vehicle.

The Kona sets itself apart from the rest of the class with a powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that Hyundai offers on the top two trim levels. The Kona also gets high marks for the features you get for the price as well as Hyundai's strong warranty coverage. For these reasons, you should place it high on your must-drive list if you're in the market for a crossover in this class.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Kona as one of Edmunds' Best Small SUVs for 2018.

2018 Hyundai Kona models

The 2018 Hyundai Kona is a five-passenger subcompact crossover SUV that is available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited and Ultimate. The SE and SEL models are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 132 pound-feet of torque) that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. The Limited and Ultimate trims get a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (175 hp, 195 lb-ft) that's mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

All-wheel drive is available as an option for all Konas. It comes bundled with a more sophisticated rear suspension design and a lockable center differential. The latter enhances off-road traction.

Standard features for the SE trim include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, a telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats and a split-level cargo area. Tech features include a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, a USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a six-speaker audio system.

The SEL trim adds 17-inch wheels, heated side mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and satellite radio. A sunroof and a power-adjustable driver's seat are available as options.

Stepping up to the Limited trim gets you all of the above plus 18-inch wheels, LED taillights and leather upholstery.

At the top of the lineup is the Ultimate trim. It comes loaded up with automatic wipers, Hyundai's Blue Link communications, a head-up display, an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, a wireless charging pad, and an Infinity premium audio system.

The Hyundai Smart Sense suite of advanced safety features, with forward collision warning and mitigation, lane keeping assist, a driver attention monitor and automatic high beams, is standard on this trim and available as an option only on the SEL trim (minus the automatic high beams).

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Hyundai Kona Ultimate (turbo 1.6L inline-4 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

Driving

4.0

Overall, the Kona is a sporty subcompact SUV with above-average acceleration and handling. However, the turbocharged engine's transmission exhibits some bad behavior at low speed, and the braking performance is subpar.

Acceleration

4.5

The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivers strong acceleration and provides plenty of thrust at city speeds or in freeway passing maneuvers. From a stop, the engine's power is somewhat muted by the dual-clutch automatic transmission's sluggish responses. Still, the Kona zipped from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds in our testing, which absolutely crushes the competition.

Braking

3.0

The brake pedal is smooth and easy to modulate in typical driving. The Kona is well-behaved under hard braking, too. Unfortunately, our as-tested 60-0 mph braking run was 129 feet, which puts the Kona well behind its competitors.

Steering

3.0

The steering feels a bit rubbery, with heavy, artificial resistance. But there is some feedback from the tires, and resistance builds in a linear fashion (feeling more natural in Sport mode), which helps the steering feel accurate. It is surprising how heavy the steering is both in Normal and Sport.

Handling

5.0

Other than a propensity for bounciness when driving over midcorner bumps, the Kona is surprisingly composed through turns. It stays under control and doesn't exhibit excessive body roll. Tire grip is also impressive for the class. Overall, this is one of the Kona's strengths.

Drivability

2.5

There's a distinct delay when accelerating from a stop. And at low speed, the transmission's shifts can be jerky and slow. Once the Kona gets going, upshifts are usually smooth, but downshifts are always a little rough. Sport mode improves the experience but saps fuel economy.

Comfort

3.5

It's not the most comfortable vehicle in its class, but the supportive seats, easy-to-use climate control and above-average noise isolation make the Kona a decent place to spend time. The firm seat cushions and a stiff ride can make bumpy roads or long drives wearing.

Seat comfort

3.5

The front seats are well-shaped and pretty supportive. There is plenty of adjustability but not a whole lot of lateral bolstering. The perforated leather is stiff, and the cushions are noticeably firm. In back, the seats are flat and broad but not too upright.

Ride comfort

3.0

Smaller imperfections are ironed out, and the suspension takes the edge off just about any bump. But the ride quality can feel a bit too rigid and busy at times. Very bumpy roads can make the vehicle feel excessively unsettled.

Noise & vibration

3.0

When driving at freeway speeds, voices must be raised considerably due to intrusive road noise and noticeable wind noise around the doors. Overall, noise isn't worse than average for the class, with a cabin that's frequently quieter than those of competitors in city driving.

Climate control

4.0

The climate control struggles a bit to cool the entire cabin when it's sweltering outside, but the rest of the time it's effective at keeping you comfortable. The controls are clearly marked and straightforward to use, making it an easy system to operate.

Interior

4.0

Though it has a lot of plasticky materials, the Kona's interior gets high marks. The controls are logically arranged, outward visibility is good, and there's a decent amount of room. Taller drivers and passengers will encounter a few issues.

Ease of use

5.0

Buttons are grouped logically and clearly labeled, and Hyundai's infotainment interface is easy to use. Some of the touch buttons are small on the screen, but otherwise there's nothing to complain about.

Getting in/getting out

4.0

The relatively short doors can be opened wide even in tighter parking spaces. The height of the seat cushions makes the seats easy to slide in and out of. Taller drivers will have to duck a bit when climbing in, and the tight rear kneeroom complicates backseat entry and exit. But that's pretty common for this class of vehicle.

Driving position

3.5

The gauge cluster and the steering wheel are mounted low in the vehicle, making for a slightly awkward angle up toward the driver. The seat's good vertical adjustment means you can sit in an upright SUV position, but that makes the low armrests difficult to use.

Roominess

4.0

There is a suitable amount of space for the driver and front passenger. Rear headroom is decent for the class — more than enough for average adults — but legroom is tight, especially behind a tall driver. Fortunately, there is generous space under the front seats for the rear passengers' feet.

Visibility

4.0

The relatively narrow roof pillars up front make for good forward and side visibility. The rear roof pillars are wide, but adjacent small windows help you see what's over your shoulder. The rearview camera provides a broad and clear picture.

Quality

3.0

Everything feels robustly built, but only the primary touchpoints such as the steering wheel and shifter have been treated with soft-touch materials. Otherwise, the cabin looks and feels very plasticky. The alternating textures break things up visually a bit, but there's no hiding the dreary hard plastic.

Utility

3.0

The Kona really only falters in terms of utility when compared directly to class leaders. The trunk is a usable space, and there are a decent number of small-item storage options. But in every metric, there are competitors that offer superior ways to store your stuff.

Small-item storage

3.0

All four doors get pockets that can hold a water bottle, and the anti-tip cupholders can handle anything short of a large cup. The center console box and glovebox are relatively small. Overall, the Kona is OK with small-item storage but doesn't offer the variety or space of some competitors.

Cargo space

3.0

The trunk is easy to use thanks to a wide, flat load floor. But with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, the Kona is a little less accommodating than some rivals. The seats fold flat to open up 45.8 cubic feet of space.

Child safety seat accommodation

3.0

LATCH points are clearly marked and close to the surface, but they're tucked between firm cushions.

Technology

4.5

The Kona is a feature-rich vehicle with lots of standard tech that works well. It also offers a nearly full suite of user-friendly safety features, not to mention a solid optional sound system. The lack of adaptive cruise is notable, and there's only one USB port.

Audio & navigation

5.0

The optional Infinity stereo system is excellent for this class, with plenty of bass response and good sound quality. The navigation system is simple to use and gets the job done. It has an easy-to-read display and useful turn-by-turn prompts.

Smartphone integration

4.0

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but there's only one USB port. There are two 12-volt outlets for the front seat, and higher trims get a wireless charging pad.

Driver aids

4.0

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are fitted on all but the base trim, and a more extensive suite of features is available. That said, adaptive cruise control is missing, even as an option. The Kona's systems are consistently accurate, not triggering false alarms in our time with the vehicle.

Voice control

4.0

The Kona's built-in voice controls have limited functionality but work well for what they do, responding slowly but accurately. Step-by-step prompts appear on the screen, but the Kona will allow you to skip steps if you know what you want to do.

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

The Edmunds TCO^® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Hyundai Kona in Ohio is:

not available

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Used 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate SUV Review

Most helpful consumer reviews

You're Kona Want One!

Loving my Kona!!

Kona the best bang for your buck

As good as the namesake coffee

Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate SUV

Which Kona does Edmunds recommend?

Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Hyundai Kona SUV

What’s new

Vehicle overview

2018 Hyundai Kona models

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

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