2024 Hyundai Kona SUV: A Future-Forward Design for Gas or Electric Driving
Redesigned with cues from the Ioniq 5, the 2024 Hyundai Kona brings together award winning design, affordable pricing and a choice of gas or electric power.
This is the modern compact SUV that Kona was meant to be.
You know the feeling; you’re someplace busy, mid-stride on your way somewhere and you do a double-take, sure you saw someone you weren’t expecting to see. You look again, and it’s her twin. You’re tempted to take a photo, the resemblance is so uncanny.
That’s how I felt the first time I saw the 2024 Hyundai Kona. I had to quickly look up the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to be sure I was’t losing my mind.
The resemblance isn’t mimicry, but rather, defined by DNA and details: the pixels that form the headlights and some interior details. The squarish shape and flat nose; the solidly planted footing and nautilus-esque wheels. The bright, open cabin, the flat screen multimedia system and the tech. Oh, the tech.
But the big difference? Those who aren’t ready to make the shift to electric driving, or don’t have the budget to plop down $42K+ for an Ioniq 5, can hop into a gas-powered Kona for well under $30K. The electric version should come in somewhere in the mid $30K range (most likely–pricing has not yet been announced).
And they can choose one of three powertrains: a 4 cylinder with a continuously variable transmission that generates 147 HP; a 4 cylinder turbo with an 8-speed transmission that generates 190 HP; or later in 2024 the electric version with up to 260 miles of range and 201 HP.
Related: The All-New Hyundai Santa Fe 3-Row SUV Is Boxy, Modern and We Love It
A Design That Taps Ioniq 5’s Award Winning DNA
In the 2024 Kona, Hyundai merged its long-held belief that electric cars should simply be great cars — rather than “statement cars” — with the idea that electric cars will shape how cars are designed. That is the foundation for the redesign of the Kona, and why it’s easy to see its relation to the Ioniq 5.
The Kona’s design is mostly the same in the gas and electric versions; the hood is long and square to more easily accommodate both gas and electric power; the size and shape are designed for both all wheel drive and battery packs, and interior appointments and features are identical.
They borrow from Ioniq 5 the “pixel” design language, the series of square dots that are the background and detail of many design elements: in the Kona gas-powered models, pixels are only seen on the steering wheel — instead of the typical “H” logo — and embossed on the leatherette seats.
The electric model, which has a different front face with more metal and a smaller grille, has more pixels. They are seen across the lower front face and rear bumper, comprising the front and rear light bars and on the door sills just inside the front driver and passenger side doors.
Related: The Hyundai Ioniq 6 First Drive: This Sporty Sedan Makes You Feel all the Electric Car Loveliness
A Larger, More Modern Hyundai Kona
The familiarity of the exterior of the 2024 Kona is continued on the inside: it’s larger, more spacious and more comfortable than the prior model. Overall the 2024 Kona is 6” longer and has true SUV proportions: 7” of ground clearance in the front wheel drive version and 8” in the all wheel drive edition.
There is more leg room in the rear seat, though not as much as in the Ioniq 5. To better accommodate rear seat passengers, Hyundai slimmed the front seats and flattened the rear bench. There is the requisite fold down arm rest/cupholders in the middle of the rear seat back, there are two USB-C charge ports and air vents (the prior model Kona didn’t have rear air vents) and there is an oversized but not panoramic sunroof that lets in a lot of light. The rear seat felt spacious and comfortable.
There are several upholstery options: Gray or black cloth for the SE and SEL editions; and gray or black leatherette for the top of the line Limited edition. The N Line, which is the sportiest version of the Kona, has black leatherette with Alcantara microsuede details; it’s pretty swanky for a value-priced SUV.
Related: 2023 Hyundai Palisade 3 Row SUV Gets Makeover: Not Needed, but Welcome!
The Modern Feel Continues In the Driver’s Seat
Hyundai’s designers moved some things around to give you even more space: the gear shifter is now a rotary dial attached to the steering column, similar to that on the Ioniq 5; also similar to the Ioniq 5 is the wide, flat multimedia screen that spans the dash. This screen accommodates both the driver information screen and the fully redesigned multimedia system.
Under the screen is the climate control panel with lots of buttons—for climate control and to set up your favorite functions, such as radio or navigation. Under that is a small cubby with USB ports and space for a phone or two; it also houses an optional wireless phone charge pad.
With the gear selector moved up to the steering wheel, the center console is now a huge open space that allows you to put what you want there: cup holders can be retracted to create a large storage bin and there is a nice deep open space under the arm rest that can fit a smaller handbag.
The front seat passenger isn’t forgotten: There is also an open shelf on the dash in front of the passenger; a great place to stow your phone or leave a tin of mints.
Technology Befitting a More Expensive Car
This is what we love about Hyundai: it’s like a BOGO bonanza when it comes to tech (you know, buy one get one…).
The BOGO is real here, starting with over the air updates that will update the car’s systems and features as necessary. In fact, the company will update the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so they work wirelessly in 2024 Kona models with built-in navigation systems.
This has been the source of complaints across the Hyundai lineup and the company has been working to fix it: many systems on lower-priced models have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but the top of the line models typically have only wired systems. Seems wrong, right? But that was the compromise for the more expensive flat screen setup. But complaints were loud, so the company figured out how to fix the issue and updates will roll out in the spring.
In addition to that big piece of news, the flat screen is standard across all Kona models, as well as USB-C ports, a smart key, BlueLink connected car service and a solid suite of safety features, including collision avoidance, blind spot monitor, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, driver attention warning, safe exit warning, automatic high beam headlights and rear passenger alert.
Buyers of the SEL with Convenience Package, N Line and Limited get even more features, including phone as key and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.
The Limited model comes with Smart Park automatic parking; while this may not be a reason to buy the top of the line, it’s a fun party trick.
Hello, Hyundai Pay
What is that? It’s brilliant. Activate your account and you can arrange and pay for parking from the multimedia system. And that is just the start, we are certain.
Hyundai hasn’t offered a lot of details beyond paying for parking but this is what we expect: In the electric Kona you should be able to pay for charging. And we suspect you’ll be able to pay for other things: Gas at connected stations (the way you pay wirelessly at Sam’s Club with your app) or to click to pay at Starbucks drive through.
Eventually you’ll be able (I’m surmising) to ask your Hyundai assistant to do all that for you, including paying for your latte. There are more updates to the system ahead via over the air updates. Isn’t that the ultimate convenience?
More Cargo Space — and a Smart Solution
The Kona has 6 more cubic feet of cargo space, always a welcome addition. And, the Kona’s designers added a small space between the rear seat and the rear walls so you can tuck the cargo cover into that space if you don’t need it.
I much prefer this to leaving it propped against a wall in the garage where it’ll collect dirt, cobwebs and dead leaves.
What We Learned When We Took a Spin in the Electric Kona
The electric Kona is almost identical to its gas-powered sibling. Aside of the few design details, the electric controls and feedback systems are the only differences.
We took a spin in the Extended range version, the one with 201 HP, and found it fun and responsive, and with a few things we like about Hyundai’s electric cars.
First, it has iPedal one pedal driving, which is lovely; pull the left paddle twice quickly and you’re in iPedal mode. Lift your foot from the accelerator and the car slows quickly. Once you get used to it you can’t image the inconvenience of actually using the brake.
The driver information gauges are easy to read and there are feedback screens on the multimedia system. And, the Kona has vehicle-to-load reverse charging (with the purchase of the necessary attachment); you can use the Kona to charge other things, from computers to small appliances.
The electric Kona was everything we expected from Hyundai with two exceptions: There is no AWD version and it doesn’t have the fast charging system that the Ioniq 5 has. It will take up to 45 minutes to recharge 80 percent of the range and 30 minutes to add 100 miles at a DC fast charger.
At a level 2 charger, which buyers should think about adding to their garage, it will take a bout 6 hours to recharge. This is still faster than the first generation Hyundai Kona, however.
Hyundai hasn’t said how much the electric will cost, but we expect it won’t be a huge difference; the current Kona electric is priced about $33,000. The company raised the price of the gas-powered base model by about $2,000, to $24,100; the SEL starts at $25,450, the N Line starts at $30,650 and the Limited starts at $31,650. Following that logic, the electric Kona electric should come in about $35,000, which would still make it one of the most affordable electric cars on the road.
And it’s one of the most stylish, encompassing the DNA and design cues of its Ioniq 5 sibling.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Hyundai for this test drive. Travel and accommodations were provided but all opinions are my own. Additionally, A Girls Guide to Cars may earn a commission from affiliate links in this story.
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