Used 2022 Hyundai Kona Consumer Reviews
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A pleasant surprise
Gerard, 06/17/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
81 of 88 people found this review helpful
I've been test driving new cars lately, anticipating a purchase in the near future. This week I drove three different Subarus, as well as the newly redesigned Honda HRV and the Hyundai Kona, including the N-Line model and an AWD SEL. I have always been pleased with Subarus and Hondas and have owned two Hondas and two Subarus. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed driving the Kona. I realize that the cars I drove have significant differences in size and other features, but I have to say that I found the Kona to be solid, stable, quiet (compared to its competitors) and full of value for its price. Both of the models I drove were loaded with a variety of features, including standard safety systems, leather or sport cloth seating, and in the case of the N-Line, a very peppy turbo engine. It was very fun to drive and seemed to be solid and a surprisingly roomy subcompact car. While the Kona is not a luxury car it offers options often seen on much more expensive vehicles. I'm 6 feet tall and it seemed to have plenty of leg room up front, as well as comfortable seats. I did not find the ride to be "rough or bouncy" as some others have stated. I guess you just have to try it to see if it meets your expectations. It exceeded mine and for the price point I found the Kona to be an outstanding value with a great warranty, lots of tech (but not complex) and solid build quality. It did not feel cheap, though Hyundai could do a bit more to make the base Kona contain less hard plastics. The N-Line model and the Limited version have more soft touch materials inside. I strongly suggest that you take a look. It is highly rated by Consumer Reports magazine and the car received a Best Buy award from Kelly Blue Book.
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Great Little Car for the money
Wife Kona Review, 08/29/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
45 of 49 people found this review helpful
Picked up one of these for the wife. They had a Bluewave with Black Top on the lot and the color combo is stunning. Alot of tech for the money. Ours is an AWD SEL. Drives nice and so Far 34 MPG. Looks to be a great little car to get around VT winters which can be pretty harsh up here. Plus since every other car on the road up here is a RAV4 or a SUBARU it is nice to not follow the crowd
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Sporty. Fun. Nice!!
Keith M, 07/15/2021
updated 08/02/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
65 of 72 people found this review helpful
Found on dealers lot. It included sun roof and full roof rack. Sorta a SEL plus but at a SEL price. Cool seats, steering wheel, dashboard, radio….three drive modes. Quiet ride. Tight steering. I’d buy again! It’s been 18 months since buying new. Hands free phone charger malfunctioned within 1 months. Waited for part but replaced under warranty. Gas mileage around town running errands is nice! Avg 28-30 mpg! Longer drives averaging 65 miles I get 30-34mpg! At 75 mph that’s very good! Steady 55 mph it’s closer to 40 mpg! With grandkids car seat in back it gets tight! Not much adult leg room in back. Carrying stuff home from Sam’s club or grocery store requires some thought as storage is tight! I sometimes put in sport mode as acceleration feels slow. It takes awhile to get used to that! With 8800 miles I still like it! The ride is smooth. Quiet. Nice sound system. Looks and feels sporty. It just take time to adjust to smaller vehicle after years of larger SUVs It is the most comfortable with 2 people vs 4 which is what I wanted. Once car seat comes out I’ll probably fold down rear seats to make more of a hatchback!
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So happy with this purchase
imsydneyok, 10/25/2021
updated 04/27/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
44 of 49 people found this review helpful
I just bought this vehicle so I can't speak to how it holds up over time but for the price, I think this is the absolute best little SUV you can buy. It handles beautifully, sport mode makes driving quite fun, the keyless entry is everything and the mpg is excellent for the body style! I also use apple carplay incessantly and the wireless connection is pretty cool. I absolutely love this car and I'm excited to see for how long I'll have this car. I bought it in the ocean wave color. I traded in my 2020 Toyota Corolla SE for this car, I absolutely loved that car but I think this Hyundai suits me better. :) UPDATE: I've been driving my SEL for 6 months now and I really really wish I had purchased one of the models with a higher horsepower engine. Apart from that I still love my car.
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Transmission problems after 3 payments on 2022
Carol , 11/07/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
116 of 133 people found this review helpful
I’ve only made 3 payments and my car is in the shop needing a transmission. It also stalled while Driving. Check engine light came on. The rental car guy said he has people in his office daily from the Hyundai dealership across the street with engine and transmission problems. Wish I knew!!!
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL FWD
Bill, 08/11/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
68 of 80 people found this review helpful
I rate my 2022 Hyundai Kona SEL as 4 out of 5 Star. My negative issues are it does not come with fog lights and they cannot be easily purchased and installed by the dealer at a reasonable cost. The lift gate is not automatic, only manual operated so the mechanical lift bars will eventually need replacement. The inside mirror has Blue Link but it does not have Homelink used for opening my garage door, have to use a garage door opener or get a homelink mirror. In today’s technology, the above should be standard from a safety perspective anyway. Other than the above, the SUV has much better pickup than my 2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited, a lot of room for 4 adults or 2 adults in front and 3 children in rear, a good size cargo area for a subcompact, very quiet with little outside noise, and a comfortable ride when traveling 4 to 5 hour trips. Mpg is about 28 city and 35 highway and overall about 33mpg. Gas tank is not as big as my RAV4 so we have to stop sooner for fill-ups than in the better compact models. We got the teal colored Kona that is very nice choice. We had Hyundai add a 1-1/4 inch hitch for a bike rack for a cost of $365 plus tax. We received a Hyundai Code T6S idle recall the month after purchased. Edmunds did not allow for the correct Transmission in our vehicle which is a 6 Speedamatic, not a CVT.
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A fantastic, dependable little car.
Eric, 04/09/2022
updated 04/24/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have been driving this car about a year and a half now. In that time, I’ve gotten very acquainted with it, and refined what I love about it and what I dislike. The 2022 Kona N line looks damn amazing. I’ve yet to have any mechanical issues and it drives like a dream. It has plenty of space for my needs as an adult with no children or large pets, and squeezes nicely into tight city parking spots. The gas mileage is fantastic. I am regularly getting between 30-35 MPG even primarily using it in sport mode. The handling is great for the sub-par LA city streets. The engine power is plenty to keep up and accelerate quickly for easy highway driving. The only major issue I have comes with the turbo. It’s a little choppy in the lowest gear and feels like it jerks back and forth when going from 5 mph to 0 slowly. This is not a deal breaker. I find the most consistent issue is with the paint and trim. The black paint is easily scratched, and the black window trim has hazed and whitened over time with washing. I trust this car to take me on long trips, carry my partner and I through doctors appointments, and my cats back and forth from the vet. If I could go back, I would only consider getting the Kona N for the extra engine power. Otherwise, I love the interior, exterior, and mechanics. Will be riding in the Kona N line as long as I can.
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Another Hyundai !
Kathryn, 09/11/2022
updated 03/20/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Traded in my Elantra and got this snappy little red Kona ! Fun to drive, great gas mileage. Everything is just right.
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A Little Hot-rod Roadster with AWD
Bill the Bob, 06/25/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Agile and quick, the Kona N-Line has a 1.6l turbo engine that lets it zip effortlessly through traffic in Sport mode. Lots of safety & convenience features that I actually use. Really appreciate the Harman Kardon audio and the 10” infotainment screen that come with the tech package.
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Great!
Hannah, 02/13/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I nanny and the best thing about this car is how easy it is to install and uninstall a car seat! It has amazing standard safety features and drives like a much smaller car-I can fit in the tiniest of parking spots! Love it
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Great deal!!
Ronie Mitchell , 05/13/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I chose the SEL type of Kona!! There are so many extras to an already great looking SUV, I am still having a hard time believing this was not the top of the line Kona! The gas mileage on Kona is excellent!! Much needed in today’s world and time!!! Very surprised in a great, positive way!!!
Kona, My Peppy Little SUV
Colleen, 08/24/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I traded in my Sonata, which I loved for a new Kona which I love even more. It's just high enough to see over all the zombie drivers on the LIE. It's comfy and has a lot of pep. It also has all the room I need with the backseats that fold down. I'm very happy with my purchase.
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Zippy little SUV
craziecook, 10/09/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Only had it 2 days so far but I love it. It is quick, quiet and a decent fit for a big guy like my self. So far I am happy with My purchase.
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I regret it
Mike H., 01/24/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 27 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car during COVID when selection was way down, and dealerships were asking markups over MSRP. I wanted a hybrid, but there were non to be found. (I would have gotten an Elantra, but they have a terrible wall between driver and passenger that is just horrible looking.) I was pleased to find the Kona at MSRP, and thought I was getting a deal. Maybe I was, but I don't really like the car that much. Here's the skinny: Major issue: The car gets significantly worse gas mileage than an Elantra. I'm not sure the few extra inches of height are worth that loss. I was getting 40 in my 2018 Elantra, and get 31 in the Kona. Minor issue: The camera that sits behind the rear view mirror and does all the fancy collision detection takes up way too much of the windshield, and is distracting Minor issue: The radio UI is ok at best... I think the problems are more with android auto than with the kona. Major issue: The trunk is tiny. Seriously. I really miss the trunk on my previous sedan. Major issue- at least for me: The car doesn't do the loud beep on second lock from the fob. It just has this tiny, pathetic chirp that you can't hear. Don't they know that's how we find our cars in crowded parking lots? Minor issue: The horn is embarrassingly lame. Like a little "meep-meep". Major issue: The headlights stink. Seriously. I can barely see at night. Some car will drive past me, and I'll realize how much better their headlight illuminate the road. And not just the overall brightness, but the sideways reach sucks too. When turning at night, I can barely see to the side of me.
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great small car
Rick, 11/14/2022
updated 05/26/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
With all the bells and whistles. The car is a pleasure to drive.
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New car
Kpg , 05/11/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Very tight ride and feel. Excellent fit and finish with all the bells and whistles. Responsive motor with excellent acceleration. Excellent stopping power, without being to touchy.
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Driving is fun again
Ron44, 09/23/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
8 of 11 people found this review helpful
The more you drive it the more you'll love it get the N line
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An alright, sometimes fun little crossover
Random person, 04/03/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
Coming from a 2020 Nissan Sentra SR, it's sporty and more power, though a turbo lag from a stop to acceleration. Though put it in sport mode, it's a bit better. The ride is a bit choppy and firm to my liking. Honestly, the interior material quality was much better in the Nissan, no hard plastics everywhere, better floor carpet quality, smoother ride, and better EPA where I got up to 40mpg compared to this one barely in the 20's range around town, but got near 33mpg on highway. I would love to go back to a sedan, but I shuttle my mother around and an SUV is easier for her to get in and out, otherwise, I would have kept the Nissan sedan. Plus, it was a pretty Electric Blue Metallic color. Oh well. Overall, the Kona gets the job done and had compliments on the exterior appearance. The new trim level N-Line in black with silver pin-striping. A smaller cargo space than my sedan, and wish I had a sunroof and power lift gate.
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Disappointed
Carol , 11/09/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
32 of 51 people found this review helpful
3 payments on a 2022 Kona and I need a new transmission. Why?
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HARSH CHOPPY RIDE
chu, 01/26/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
19 of 30 people found this review helpful
2022 Hyundai Kona N-Line AWD Harsh, choppy ride. Every road imperfection jolts my spine painfully! I can't wait to return it for a sedan suspension!
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love my 2022 Kona Limited AWD
Martin Frank, 12/10/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Enjoy all the modern electronics it has like automatically turning high beams on and off depending on oncoming traffic, turning the windshield wipers on based on sensing rain, putting the handbrake on and off. At $30K before taxes and with the warranties on it I believe it is a very good value for the money, too. And cute!
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Charming!!
Jack Lee, 05/26/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
A delightful vehicle. Fun to drive and fuel efficient!!
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FUN FUN FUN
Pete, 01/17/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Perfect size to enjoy driving and an abundance of power and torque at low end to win stop light Gran Prix against almost anything. The eight speed dual clutch is so superior to that in my Mercedes CLA that Stuttgart should be ashamed. Smooth shifts, rev matching and with a no guess shift selector (hear that BMW). There are multiple adjustments for steering load, shift program, suspension, turbo boost, a exhaust sound. All real and mix and match with multiple ways to store alternatives beyond the six built in. Red button gets you 16 sec of overboost and when selected counts down 16 to zero. Interior is pretty austere but drivers power seat has power lumbar adjustment. Blue stitching and suede inserts add some color and texture. Info/entertainment system is pretty much intuitive and has touch or steering wheel access. Lane centering is OK with gentle ping-ponging and there is no adaptive cruise control. Back seat is limited on leg room and luggage space with seat up is limited even for a small SUV. Same with fuel tank. On a trip from the Gulf to NYC I averaged about 29 mpg with max range indicated after fill up as about 300 miles. The somewhat short range and stiff ride even in the softest setting are the only meaningful shortcomings for me but the fun factor goes way beyond compensating. I leased the car from an excellent dealer about 200 miles from my home. No markup and delivery to my door two days after my first internet contact. My three local dealers are typical Hyundai-Kia indifferent to customer expectations but at least the car comes with free scheduler maintenance for as long as I have itt.
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Never thought I would buy a Hyundai
Fazzster, 03/08/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Having owned many performance cars over the years I never thought I would own a Hyundai or even an automatic. But watching the N cars develop with the help of Biermann I was intrigued. Having wanted a hatch that can can be daily driven with gusto and provide utility to haul my Mt Bikes to the trail heads was key. WRX is ugly and a sedan. GTI has reliability concerns (personal experiences) and the tech inside is not user friendly. Civic Type R is my dream car but center exhaust voids the ability for a bike hitch and is too expensive. Kona N checked all the boxes and the added ride height that everyone complains about is welcome for traversing the dirt roads I sometimes travel on. The performance of this car is amazing from the brakes to the impossibly fast dual clutch transmission (that I never thought I would ever own). All this performance plus an average 27-29 mpg and often 30-32 when you take it easy on it. I have to say the paint quality exceeds any of my Honda's or Subaru's I have owned and the fit of body panels as well. The money was not spent on the interior but they did a great job with what they had to work with. Plastics are solid and the use of different textures and materials makes it appealing. It is too early to tell about reliability. This particular build was not affected by the transmission recall so that's a plus. Hopefully it serves me well. Suspension in the softest setting could be softer but its still livable. You forget about all that when you crank up the exhaust sound however. The one take away about this car is it has a personality all its own. It's been a while since I experienced this. Not since my beloved S2000 back in 2002.
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My second Kona
Chelle14, 08/16/2023
updated 02/20/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I first leased a 2019 AWD SEL and loved it enough that I wanted to buy it when the lease was over, but thanks to Covid and the value increasing, I was able to lease my 2022 Kona Limited. I absolutely love how the car handles. The DCT leaves a bit to be desired. It's very "jerky" unless you're on the highway, then it cruises right along and I can't say enough good things about putting it in Sport mode. Several times since I got it in March 2022, when I go to move from a stop light or red light, it doesn't want to go and literally won't go, until it does - up to 30 seconds for it to react and this is NOT when it does the automatic shut-off feature (I've never had a problem when it does that). My remote entry only works half the time and I end up having to dig out my keys. The dealership can't find anything wrong. Sometimes if I try the backdoor or passenger door handle, then go back to the driver door, it will unlock. The leather seats are mediocre. I HATE the dang holes in them. Anything gets in them and you need something to poke it through and I can't seem to get them looking like new (and I'm very neat about my car). I love the radio, I love the sunroof, i love the rims, and it actually has quite a bit of cargo space with the seats down. I've recently had the screen display pop up the backup camera while I'm driving down the road. I really, really wanted to buy this car out at the end of my lease, but I'm doubting that. I agree with another person's comment that this turbo is nowhere near as smooth as the VW Jetta - we have a 2017). I only have 8000 miles on my Kona and I'm hoping for no issues through the next 1.5 years when I turn it in. I made it through with no real problems on the 2019 (I was a lucky one). One last thought - the automatic high beams are a dream come true! They work accurately 95% of the time. Updated Feb 2024 (two weeks shy from having it two years) and my feelings are the same. I just turned 11K miles on it since I mostly work from home, but I did have to replace all the tires because of flats on two of the stock Goodyear's in the past few months. It goes to the dealer for a checkup on Monday. If there's any problem other than maintenance, I'll update my review. My main gripe is still the lack of keyless entry working as it should and the way it jerks from a stop.
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Great car!!
CHAUNCEY BECKLES, 11/26/2021
updated 06/06/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive. Handles good, great acceleration. Excellent safety features.
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2022 Kona Limited is disappointing
AE87, 10/24/2021
updated 05/03/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
32 of 61 people found this review helpful
LED headlights are ridiculously bright. They are supposed to adjust when light sensor detects oncoming headlights (in "auto" mode), but they do not. Headlights are too level, they do not point down at road. Delivery of power at low end of spectrum is not as smooth as one would expect. Feels more like a 135-bhp engine rather than 195-bhp at lower speed. Engine feels a little rough, a little loud. While stopped at red lights engine automatically restarts when foot is taken off brake. Presumably, this is to save gas. Engine restarts, and transmission re-engages. However, this does not always happen predictably. Prospective buyers should apprise themselves of "7-speed manual transmission with dual-clutch" before buying. Dashboard display (ie speedometer, tachometer, gas gauge, etc) are led. There is an annoying tendency for the display to blink between brighter and dimmer when the light sensor detects changes, such as on a cloudy day. This is very distracting. There is no way to shut it off. Also, at night the dash display cannot be made fully dark. (Although the flatscreen "infotainment" screen can be fully darkened). The car has many good qualities. Some aspects are over-engineered, and do not work well. I made a mistake when buying this car. It is a good car for the person who thinks they want everything done automatically, or those who are consistently unconscious. I was also influenced by reviews that gushed about Kona.
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Great little car
Rafe Vecere, 09/30/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
Overall good car. Excellent safety features. Very happy with purchase.
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Great features not a solid car
Brett, 04/04/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona Limited 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
We've had The Kona Limited 2022 AWD for around 8 months after trading in our larger SUV. I'm really impressed with the variety of features available on the limited model, especially the safety and tracking features that are helpful when my teenager is driving it. Lane departure, emergency braking, and attention warnings all provide additional peace of mind, and the ability to monitor location and speed via the app is a great feature. However, there are a few downsides to this car. The leather seats are quite fragile and we've already had two holes appear under normal use. Additionally, the car's performance is a bit lackluster despite having a 1.4L turbo engine. It doesn't feel as robust as my VW Jetta, for example.
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The Kona N is an overpriced clown car
Tom who likes sporty cars, 02/16/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
37 of 83 people found this review helpful
Based on all the reviews I read for the Kona N, and the many videos on the you-know-the-site site, I had high expectations for the Kona N. I was expecting something comparable to the VW Golf GTI in performance, but with a less cramped feeling on the inside. I watched the inventory closely and when one showed up at a local dealership in mid February (2022) I went over the next day and took it for a test drive. My expectations were such that I had already thought through the steps for purchase. It was the white one, and even though I've never much liked white cars, I liked the look of this car a lot. And for me the size was perfect: bigger than the standard hatchback, but not as big as a compact SUV like the Sportage. I knew that the user interface for setting up the custom setting was complicated, so I read up on this beforehand. I wanted to be certain that I had the suspension setting in the softest mode, which is the "normal" mode, because one of my concerns was that the suspension would be too taught. It would be an understatement to say that the Kona N fell short of my expectations. Still, there is a lot to like about it, including, to name just one thing, that large bright LCD display where you see the navigation map. But there were two notable things wrong with the car, that nothing else could possibly make up for. First, the suspension was ridiculously taut. In the past I've driven some cars that were known for having too-stiff suspensions. But the Kona N's suspension was like nothing I've ever experienced before, except possibly for the go-carts I used to race many years ago. The sensation of bouncing was ever-present, except when driving on a perfectly smooth road. With any slight bump or undulation in the road surface, the Kona N felt like it was bouncing. I would swear that if there had been a camera set up to give an image of the contact between the tire under me and the road, there would have been air between the tire and the road a good portion of the time, on a road that I had never previously noticed to have any bumps at all. It was actually very weird. And this was with the suspension set to "normal", the softest setting. I double checked to make certain that the selected driving mode was Custom1, and that the suspension setting for this mode was "normal". I would not enjoy a single trip to the grocery and back in this car, and the idea of having this car for everyday driving is completely out of the question. Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy. The other thing that I really, really did not like was that it was not the least bit quick. All of the write-ups say that the 0-60 time is in the low 5-second range, but it sure didn't feel like it to me. To me, it didn't feel like it was accelerating hard enough to do 0-60 in under 7 seconds. I don't know how to explain this, because given the claimed power and the claimed mass, it should have been able to do 0-60 in about 5 seconds. But it absolutely did not. I didn't time it, but I know what acceleration feels like in a car that does 0-60 in under 6 seconds, and this car did not feel anything like that. I did not play with the launch control, because I wasn't interested in that. But I had the engine setting set to sport+, and I had it in manual shift mode, and I watched the tachometer, and the rpm range I was using, from about 2500 rpm to about 5000 rpm, this car simply was not quick. In fact, I would call it slow. I was so surprised by this that I made several attempts to see how quickly it would accelerate, pulling away from stop lights and driving on one particular road where there is no traffic so that I could do a couple of runs to see how hard it would accelerate. The weird thing about it was that in spite of the acceleration being a total disappointment, and in spite of there being a limited slip differential, the front wheels spun and hopped a little bit, not a lot, but a little bit about maybe half a second, each time I tried to get it to accelerate hard. This is something that I would have expected if it had accelerated as hard as I expected it to accelerate. But given that the acceleration was decidedly poor, there shouldn't have been any front wheel spin at all. The limited slip different won't intervene when both tires are losing traction in straight-line acceleration, so this didn't have anything to do with the function of the LSD. What it had mainly to do with was the stiff suspension. Under acceleration the weight of the vehicle shifts to the rear. The front end literally becomes lighter, and because it is lighter, the spring pushes the front of the chassis higher. If the front suspension stiffness is properly matched to the vehicle, the suspension will insure (mostly) that the wheels will remain in contact with the road even as the front end gets light. But this isn't what happened, and I had to think for little bit about the physics and the suspension before it dawned on me what was happening. I realized that there is only one way to explain this. When the front wheels encounter a mild bump in the road, rather than the suspension absorb the bump, the wheels and the chassis get pitched up together, and as soon as the mild bump in the road is history, there is no longer sufficient contact force between the tire and the road surface. The road I was on was a very good road, very flat and level, with no bumps that I ordinarily notice, and with a good surface. The suspension on this car is so excessively stiff that front wheels routinely lose traction when trying to accelerate, on any road surface that isn't absolutely perfect. This is a major, major flaw of this car. The suspension is way, way too stiff. And please don't anyone tell me that this is how it should be because it is a "track car". It isn't a "track car", and even if you want to think of that way, the same problem is going to be an even bigger problem on a track than it was for me on a few very good stretches of ordinary road. And it wouldn't make sense to call it a track car, because it isn't anywhere near as quick as people are claiming that it is. The Kona N is a clown car. It isn't anywhere near as quick as it should be, and the suspension is so ridiculously stiff that it ruins any potential for performance by allowing the front wheels to spin at the drop of a hat on any road that isn't absolutely perfect. I don't understand how a manufacturer could release a car like this, although, we are talking about Hyundai. They decided to make an "N" version of the Kona, like they did with the Veloster. They rushed into it and they screwed it up. It is a good-looking subcompact SUV with a lot of things going for it but ruined by some problem with engine performance and by a suspension that is way, way, way stiffer than it should be. Maybe in another year or two they'll figure out what is wrong with the engine and will change the suspension. I won't hold my breath.
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Hyundai Downslide
Uncle Mike, 03/02/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
5 of 13 people found this review helpful
I owned a Hyundai Veloster non-turbo, and turbo (pre 2018 redesign). The 201 HP turbo is pretty lightweight and fairly quick, has fantastic leather seats, a much better designed interior, and enough interior padding to not be called cheap. The discontinued Veloster N and the soon to be Kona N (for the exact same reasons) are HUGE disappointments. The entire focus is on the engine, and at 275 HP, should in no way, shape, or form be priced higher than a 4 cyl 315 HP Mustang, v6 305 HP Challenger or 335 HP Camaro. Demanding $ 33 to 36,000 dollars for a car with horribly cheap plastic, non-leather seats, stiff ride, useless Summer tires, and not very good MPG is LAUGHABLE. The same attributes are why the Veloster N could not sell well, and there are plenty used online. * I drove the (hatchback wagon-not SUV) Kona N and was extremely unimpressed for all these reasons. The seats are ridiculously cheap. Hyundai put ZERO EFFORT into improving the interior. The profit built into this car's COVID ERA PRICING is outlandish and will be the downfall. Remember. THIS IS NOT AN SUV. Auto industry writers mistakenly called it that, but you realize that in the first ten seconds standing in front of it. Spend your money on something else that won't depreciate 5 GRAND in the first year, just like the Veloster N.
Hyundai never disappoints
Donna McGowan, 11/05/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 31 people found this review helpful
Loving my new Kona.Smooth ride. Loving the gas mileage too. I do a lot of driving and I’m getting 27-33 miles to the gallon around town! That’s the best during the Biden’s rise in gas prices.
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Safety First
Kari, 09/21/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased by 2022 Kona in June 2022 and loved it the gas mileage is great, we wound up in gettysburg day 2 of having the car and wound up doing over the speed limit at first because we never had a quiet car like this. We then found that the cruise control is smarter than us and will actually keep the right distance between you and the front car. The heat, ac, cruise control, lane assist all of it was great trunk space was nice and it fit my young nieces nicely in the back. Now, why am I saying was and why is this marked safety? Welll 09/09/23 Myself, my other half, my bestfriend and her daughter (one of my younger nieces) were in an accident. We were T-Boned on the passenger side by a Truck on a rainy night, I was in the passenger seat and my niece was in the back passenger seat my other half driving and my bestfriend in the back driver side. This was not a low speed impact and bent in most of the passenger side, but between myself getting bounced by 3 airbags and my niece having one go off by her seat (she is two). We came out pretty okay, I got whiplash and a concussion, my niece got whiplash but is fine otherwise, my bestfriend got whiplash and a concussion from the impact and my other half just had a bruised wrist. I don't think without those 3 airbags on myself, and the one on my niece that we would be here in once piece considering the hit the car took. Overall the safety features on this car are great and if I had to go through that again I would do it in another Kona (though I would rather not get T-Boned again)
Hyundai kona
Moti Koul, 06/27/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 15 people found this review helpful
Sturdy compact fun to drive
Kona Purchase
Kathy, 11/07/2021
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 9 people found this review helpful
Love this car!
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Too small
Sharon Thompson, 01/08/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 9 people found this review helpful
My previous vehicle was a Honda cr-v so I had a lot of space inside. This car is very tight in the inside and the roof if very low. I wish I had purchased another cr-v instead.
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Like the Kona a lot but not sure yet
Borage, 10/11/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
I'm looking to buy a small SUV and rented a Kona this weekend to try it out. Here are my thoughts: SIZE 5/5 I love the size of this vehicle. It's not gigantic like my old Ford Edge but still feels solid on the highway. HANDLING 5/5 I was surprised how nice this car feels on the highway. Very smooth and fairly solid feeling for a smaller SUV. It also maneuvers really well in the city. COMFORT 4/5 It was a very comfortable 5 hour ride for a smaller car. No complaints. VISIBILITY 3/5 What is that large black rectangle on the windshield behind the rearview mirror???!!! Also, the blind spot behind the passenger seats is noticeably big. The technology helps the visibility but I would rather have good visibility to begin with. STUFF BREAKING ALREADY 2/5 The plastic thing for the string that holds the cover to the trunk broke the first time I opened the trunk. It doesn't look like an easy thing to replace. It makes me wonder what else might break soon.
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Takes a little getting use to safety features
Earl, 01/01/2022
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 14 people found this review helpful
It's what the woman was looking for so here we are. Little small but it will have to work
Best Car I Have Owned
Driving Enthusiast, 01/14/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I first bought a 2018 Kona and loved every single drive in it. 88,000 miles and 3.5 years later I traded it in excellent condition at a value of $15k. I upgraded to a 2022 Kona and have put 70,000 on it in two years and two months. I've had no major issues and always receive compliments on it's style.
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Great traction in snowy weather
Mike, 03/22/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this one with low mileage and it it great for getting around safely during some of the slippery weather we have here in Quebec with all wheel drive. This one has all the gadgets to keep it on the road and it almost drives itself with this adaptive cruise control. The trunk is on the small side but I can easily fold one seat for more room so it is perfect for our family of 3. No issues at all with it.
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A gem but rock hard suspension
jmm, 04/13/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Kona N has great handling, very peppy engine, great shifting DCT transmission, looks aggressive but busy at the same time, you are able to reduce the crackle and pop exhaust sound if you don't want to hear it, attractive but complicated electronic dash settings. Rear seat does not have sufficient leg space, probably only young childrens could seat there, cargo space limited but the worst part its the suspension, its rock hard even in the softest setting, like riding on a WWll jeep, I don't understand why Hyundai did not provide in this CUV a softer suspension setting like the one on the Elantra N. Huge mistake, that takes away the fun of daily driving it, the Kona N had great potential. Too bad.
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Amazing kona
Denise Lucchese , 04/22/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I so loved everything about this vehicle I had it three years absolutely no complaints at all!!!!!!
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Coco Kona
Debi, 08/07/2024
2022 Hyundai Kona SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very easy to drive and handle, great on gas mileage and very comfortable
Fun but buyer beware of lifestyle
Darius, 03/14/2025
2022 Hyundai Kona N 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So I traded in my 2019 Honda accord for a “fun” hatchback. Because this is not a CUV. The interior is tiny and having a backwards facing car seat is a slight challenge. It is more than enough power for real world driving. Disappointment comes that it is not AWD. But if you have a family and a bigger vehicle(which I have a 2022 VW Atlas) it makes a great daily! Also keep in mind it’s a performance vehicle with a small gas tank. Smiles per gallon for sure but it’s worth every trip.
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Love it
Lisa C, 07/14/2023
2022 Hyundai Kona SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
Quite small and fun!
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