Hyundai enters the lucrative small-SUV fray with 2018 Kona

Little crossover will go up against the Jeep Renegade and Mazda CX-3, among others

David Booth

Nov 29, 2017 • May 20, 2021 • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

2018 Hyundai Kona

What is it? Hyundai’s first mini ute.

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Why does it matter? Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, SUVs are quickly taking over from sedans as the mainstream vehicle of choice. Said palace coup is being lead by pint-sized crossovers/sport-cutes/call-them-what-you-will that (sorta) look like off-roaders but serve the same purpose as econocars. Into this highly competitive milieu steps the Kona — yes, named after the Hawaiian island, but whatever you do, don’t ask what it translates into in Portuguese — which will compete against such stalwarts as the Jeep Renegade and Mazda CX-3.

The base engine is a 149 horsepower “Atkinson-cycle” 2.0-litre four, but the real action is with the 1.6 turbocharged GDI four which pumps out 177 horsepower and scoots the Kona to 100 kilometres an hour in a totally creditable 7.7 seconds. (2.3 s quicker than the base 2.0L). Unlike the base engine, which makes do with a six-speed automatic, the upgraded Turbo gets Hyundai’s built in-house seven-speed DCT. European Konas will also be offered with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel and a 1.0L three-cylinder turbocharged gas engine. There are even plans for an all-electric version with a range of 400 kilometres sometime in 2019 though the EV is not confirmed for North America as of yet.

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2018 Hyundai Kona
2018 Hyundai Kona
2018 Hyundai Kona
2018 Hyundai Kona
2018 Hyundai Kona
2018 Hyundai Kona
2018 Hyundai Kona

When will Canada get it? Sometime around April 2018

Should you buy it? Well, it’s certainly a stylish little thing — and it is little with an overall length is 305 millimetres shorter than the Tucson. We see a little of Toyota’s C-HR in the Kona’s angularity, a little Subaru Crosstrek in its muscular fender arches and some of its brilliant pastels are so Nissan Qashqai like, it’s uncanny. That said, the Kona is noticeably more aggressive in its styling than current Hyundai crossover offerings. All-wheel-drive is available — which also comes with independent rear suspension; the FWD model makes do with a rear torsion beam — and there’s a host of high-tech gadgetry inside including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 4G wireless connectivity and a few high-tech electronic safety nannies. So, yes, if you, like so many others, are shopping for a micro SUV, the Kona should be on your shopping list.