Hyundai Kona Limited AWD – MORE TRUNK, LESS FUNK

Hyundai Kona Limited AWD

MORE TRUNK, LESS FUNK

I love it when an automotive OEM finds the professional wherewithal to introduce a polarizing product. Of course, when that polarization comes in the form of Pontiac’s Aztek you simply cringe. But when encountering Hyundai’s 1^st-gen Kona – either at its launch in 2018 or on the road today – I find it easy to smile. Its disarming design and compact footprint, when mated to the 1.6 liter turbocharged four and 7-speed DCT transmission, make for an almost raucous hatch, and while it won’t match VW’s GTI in performance or handling, it’s perfect for our increasingly pock-marked infrastructure. 

If only the 2^nd-generation Kona, launched in late 2023, offered more of that same spunk and funk. Instead, the Kona product team allowed adults into the room, and the oldsters insisted on a bigger footprint (almost six inches added in its overall length) and over two inches of additional wheelbase. That creep in size isn’t unusual (presumably the finalized dimensions were pre-Ozempic), but it’s as if the cute pre-teen has morphed into an almost awkward adolescent. Google, if you have a minute, Judy Garland…

That bigger footprint is clothed in sheetmetal that works better for an EV variant than its internal combustion counterpart. The front fascia gives no hint of anything going on beneath the Kona hood, while the (apparently) now necessary cladding looks to be even less necessary than on the original. Coated in Hyundai’s Mirage Green, this new Kona – in Limited trim – isn’t unattractive, but neither is it compelling, and the neutrality of that EV-like front fascia is – I think – a major contributor.

Inside, the bland plays on. In light gray the perforated leatherette is comfortable and accommodating (the added wheelbase provides a more generous rear seat), but that light gray gives a shoutout to relatively hard, cheap plastics. I wasn’t offended by the look, but then, neither was I delighted. And while I know it’s generational, combining instruments and infotainment into almost two feet of screen does little for me visually or emotionally. When behind the wheel I’m not interested in duplicating my experience behind a desk; instead, I really want to divorce myself from the desk.

Under the hood, spending $30K (and up) provides Hyundai’s 1.6 liter turbo, now upgraded to a 190 hp rating, a bump of 15 horses when compared to the first gen. It’s a great powertrain, although made a tad less visceral by the substitution of the aforementioned dual-clutch transmission with a conventional automatic. The automatic is smoother, but the DCT seemed more immediate and, well…fun. 

To its credit, our Kona came with all-wheel drive, a viable add in Northern Virginia (where this is written) between December and March. And while you’d expect all-season capability from a package marketed by Hyundai as an SUV, don’t think of this for boulder hopping or – I’d emphasize – forest roads or logging trails. It’ll do gravel, but make sure it’s smooth gravel – and you’ve bought the wheel warranty.

If the new Kona appears more mature, that impression is underscored on the road. Its bigger size makes it less flickable, but it also seems more comfortable. If purchasing the 1^st-gen without kids – or with those kids in booster seats – the new Kona better accommodates the taller kids and (I’ll have to admit) your adult friends. Whereas the earlier Kona was fine over-the-road for a young couple, the 2025 is better suited for the young family. And strollers. And diapers.

The hitch in this git-along is Hyundai’s lineup above and below the Kona. If what you want is a simple, affordable bounce-around-town hatchback, Hyundai offers the Venue. And if you’re wanting an accommodating crossover that’s available for the same $35K as our Kona Limited with all-wheel drive, Hyundai builds numerous versions of its Tucson crossover, including a hybrid with a 38 Combined EPA estimate; that’s well above the 26 estimate achieved by Hyundai’s Kona Limited. With all of that, I’m seeing a lot of these new Konas on the road. That’s not a bad decision…it simply isn’t, in my view, the best decision.