Hyundai Kona 2.0 Elite Series II

Model: Hyundai Kona Hybrid Elite Series II
Engine: 1.6 litre 16 valve twin overhead cam with CVVT
Electric motor: 32kW / 170 Nm
Transmission: Six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission
Power: 77 kW / 147 Nm
Fuel economy/CO2: 4.4/100km, 101g/km
Price: From $51,990 + ORC
Status: Available

Combining a petrol and electric motor the Hyundai Kona 2.0 Elite Series II delivers what is aptly referred to as a ‘full-parallel hybrid drive system’. We think that sums it up nicely, as the engine and electric motor work in harmony, with the support of the 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. This results in maximum efficiency and great performance, as the car’s hybrid powertrain switches without any issues between the petrol and the electric motor. Plus, it offers the ability to use both at the same time.

Exterior

You won’t go unnoticed in the Kona. The entire vehicle exterior pleases the eye from every angle, with its sleek and sporty designs. Our model featured a split headlight look at the front, and the hybrid model separates itself from the family with its unique wheel design. The Kona is perfectly formed for someone who wants an SUV but does not want to feel like they are driving a truck. Driving around the city is a breeze with the Kona as it gives you that elevated ride height - which really helps you see all your blind spots.

Interior

Sitting inside, you are welcomed by a comfortable and considered interior. Running your eyes across the interior a few luxury trims will catch your attention. In winter, you don’t have to worry about freezing as the Kona comes equipped with front heated leather seats – allowing you to drive in complete comfort. It seems like Hyundai has used soft materials for their interior and you’ll feel very comfortable in the vehicle.

The touch screen has your basic information, from music to navigation. Once the sun goes down the screen’s buttons light up in blue light, giving you a luxury car feeling. Looks-wise, the screen does seems outdated to us, but it does the job and it isn’t complicated to use. The speakers are good and once connected to Bluetooth, you get to hear your tunes loud and clear.
The digital gauge has a lot of information about your car. It lets you know energy usage, fuel efficiency and in typical hybrid vehicle fashion, your battery usage/discharge. The Kona shows this information on both your infotainment and gauge cluster screens.

In terms of space, if you are going on a family road trip you might find yourself adjusting your seat forward to allow for more legroom for rear passengers as it’s a bit cramped in the second row.

Performance (inc. efficiency)

The Kona Hybrid is a front wheel drive and is developed to reduce your fuel consumption without taking the fun away from driving. It delivers a combined output of 104kW of power and 265Nm of maximum torque. The Kona hybrid comes with a power-assisted braking system with ventilated front disc and solid rear disc brakes with ABS, EBD and BAS.
The Kona hybrid is not a powerhouse, but it gets you to your destination safely as the hybrid EV drive is smooth rather than sporty. Furthermore, when the petrol internal combustion engine (ICE) motor kicks in the smoothness changes to deliver what felt like a hesitation from the motor. Overall, the Kona Hybrid is a smooth ride and soaks up the bumps and undulations nicely.

Safety

The Kona Hybrid has a 5-star ANCAP rating and comes with some great safety features such as, Rear Cross-traffic, Collision Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Reversing camera and much more. The Kona hybrid also has a first aid kit which is an added bonus.
More safety details can be viewed here

Our take

The Kona hybrid impresses on some things – mainly its fuel efficiency, comfort and value for money. This car will definitely save you some dollars in the long run. You can go 500 kilometres and most likely won’t even use half a tank. If you are in the market for a brand-new hybrid the Kona hybrid might just be the one for you.

Pros:
Hybrid removes any range anxiety that’s associated with the Kona’s EV siblings
Small and compact so easy to manoeuvre into tight parking spaces

Cons:
Performance is slightly underwhelming
Tight rear passenger legroom

Safety systems

• ABS braking with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Brake Assist System (BAS)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
• Blind-spot Collision Avoidance assist (BCA)
• Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance assist (RCCA)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance assist (FCA) - car, pedestrian & cyclist
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with stop & go
• 6 Airbags (Dual Front, Side, Curtain Airbag)
• Front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters
• 3-point tether child seat anchor points
• 2 x ISOFIX child seat anchor points
• Height adjustable seatbelts (front)
• 3-point lap diagonal (ELR) seatbelts
• Child safety rear door locks
• Electro Chromatic rear-view Mirror (ECM)
• Automatic dusk sensing headlights
• Rain sensing wiper system
• Rear park assist system
• Reversing camera
• First aid kit

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a new car:

• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews
• AA Running Cost Reports - aa.co.nz/runningcosts

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