2020 Hyundai Kona Review

Name: 2020 Hyundai Kona
Brand: Hyundai

Price Range: $14,790 - $21,990

Hyundai Kona Ultimate 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The 2020 Kona is a top competitor among subcompact SUVs thanks to a strong optional turbocharged engine, sharp handling and a usable interior. But there are a few shortcomings that keep it from being an easy winner, such as inconsistent transmission shifting and a plasticky cabin.

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2020 Hyundai Kona Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What's new

Adaptive cruise control added to top-trim Kona Ultimate
Small changes to standard and optional equipment
Part of the first Kona generation introduced for 2018

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Indiana

$137/mo

$173/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

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Hyundai Kona Owner Reviews

4.1

58 reviews

5(60%)

4(14%)

3(12%)

2(2%)

1(12%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Love my Kona!

msbav8r, 01/11/2020

2020 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

After 12 Hondas (9 Honda/3 Acura) vehicles over the last 35 years, my defective CR-V was the last one. Never ever thought I would even look at Hyundai, let alone buy one. Until I saw the Kona and realized that Hyundai has come a long way in terms of quality and reliability. I traded it in for the 2020 Kona Limited, which was $12,000 cheaper and better quality. The Kona isn't perfect, but …

Head Out On The Highway - Looking For Adventure!

Knight Rider, 11/16/2019

2020 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

The Kona is the definition of "bang for the buck" and provides all of the necessary technology, comfort and styling one could ask for, at a VERY reasonable price. What stands out to me is the "fit & finish" - everything is solid, tight and you can tell the car was assembled with care. I've seen other cars where it looks like the car was put together during a rush to get to lunch or it …

Pleased as punch

Cochise , 10/30/2019

2020 Hyundai Kona SEL Plus 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6A)

Having purchased my Kona new, I researched it for months comparing it with others. After more than 4 years I still remain very pleased in its overall performance, not one incident! I service it at the dealer and so far it's perfect. Each visit to the dealer, service advisors tell me they can't believe the car's condition and want me to trade giving me top dollar but I decline. I really …

Great Car, Great Value

Cole, 08/30/2020

2020 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6A)

I did a lot of research on cars in this subcompact SUV category because I wanted to balance fuel economy, reliability, practicality, and design. I decided on the front-wheel-drive Kona SEL trim and I have been very happy with my decision so far (1,100 miles in). Fuel Economy: Depends on trim, but the SEL is rated at 27 City/33 Hwy. These numbers are pretty accurate. The best MPG I … have gotten has been 40 MPG on a 25-mile drive with a speed limit of around 55 mph, and my overall average is around 32 MPG (mostly highway driving). That isn't class-leading, but it is competitive and more than good enough for me. Reliability: This is one of the best areas for the Kona when I was making my decisions because of the powertrain on the SEL and the excellent Hyundai warranty. The Hyundai warranty is excellent and keeps me from worrying about having to do too much work for a long time, and the simplicity of the powertrain makes me think I will be able to keep it running long after the warranty ends. The SEL (as well as the SE and SEL Plus) has a 2.0 liter, naturally-aspirated, 4-cylinder, port-injected, Atkinson cycle engine mated to a 6-speed "Shiftronic" automatic transmission. This engine is simple as far as engines go since it doesn't have a turbo or direct injection (both of which add complexity that leads to new potential areas for failure). I prefer the 6-speed automatic transmission over CVT transmissions since it is more of a tried and true technology. I prefer the 6-speed automatic transmission over the dual-clutch transmission because I think it is smoother, and typically cheaper to work on. Practicality: To me, practicality includes cargo space, the inclusion of a spare tire, infotainment, driving assistance technology, comfort, build quality, and basic performance. Cargo space is fairly limited with the seats up, but with the seats down, there is plenty. Also, the SEL has roof rails if needed. The FWD SEL has a temporary spare, which was more important to me than AWD since I don't see much snow or ice in Texas and won't be going off-road. The infotainment system is intuitive, responsive, compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and uses a matte screen to reduce glare. Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility are important to me because they prevent the software from feeling outdated as quickly. The lane-keep assist works well for highways, and the backup camera and blind-spot monitoring system are excellent and reliable. The seats have been comfortable for me, and the ergonomics of the whole car seem well-considered except for the hard plastic where you might rest your arm on the driver's side door (which hurts your elbow after a while). Other than that, the plastic used in the rest of the interior is nice, easy to clean, well put together, and seems durable. Lastly, the performance has been good enough to merge onto 75 MPH highways and pass people once on. Design: This is almost entirely subjective, but I figure I would include it anyway. I like the way the Kona looks, and I like to attribute that to the fact that one of the designers (Luc Donckerwolke) also designed the Lamborgini Diablo (2001), Murcielago (2002), and Gallardo (2004). On a more objective note, the front is enlarged for aesthetics, but this leaves more room in the engine bay if the car ever needs to be worked on. Those are the main reasons I chose the Kona, and so far I have loved it.

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2020 Kona Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$20,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$137/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Kona models:

Forward Collision Avoidance: Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
Driver Attention Warning: Uses sensors to determine if the driver is becoming fatigued, then triggers an alert with a suggestion to stop for a rest.
Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Alerts the driver if another vehicle is lurking in or approaching the blind spot. If the turn signal is activated in that direction, a warning is triggered.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover14.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Hyundai Kona Review

Price & Payment

2020 Hyundai Kona Review

What's new

Cost to Drive

Hyundai Kona Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Love my Kona!

Head Out On The Highway - Looking For Adventure!

Pleased as punch

Great Car, Great Value

2020 Kona Highlights

Safety

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