Test drive of the Hyundai Kona N 2.0 TGDI 280 CV, you should probably get one

In our road test section, this time we analyse an irrational car (sometimes we do these things, because not everything can be measured in rational values, the heart and the feeling also count). Our protagonist will make us excited behind the wheel, and we will even feel things we thought we had forgotten in the era of hybrids and electric cars.

In this test we are going to give you five good reasons and three not so good ones, why you should get a Hyundai Kona N with 280 CV.

1. Sporty design, far from discreet exterior

Hyundai knows how to give its cars the essence of N, and the sportiness of this Kona N is evident from every angle. Its imposing front already announces that we are not looking at a conventional Hyundai Kona, highlighting the black grille, its full-LED headlights and the front bumper with glossy black details, as well as the red line outlining the entire bumper.

From the side, the wheels let us see brakes with red calipers and the “N” logo (which, although not very large, do their job correctly). Again at the bottom, glossy black and red details, as well as the N logo on the side skirts.

My favourite part is the rear, with the lights split into two optical groups, both LED, and its sporty rear bumper with a black diffuser and the two exhaust outlets (really, they emit a forceful sound). I can’t forget the spoiler and the triangular third brake light either, a nice detail.

2. Versatility and interior comfort

The sporty touch extends to the interior, with certain details, while maintaining the versatility typical of an SUV. In fact, the height of the driving position is surprising, with sporty-type seats that hold the body exceptionally well and at the same time provide comfort on long journeys.

The rear seats are adequate, unchanged compared with the conventional Kona. The same goes for the boot, which is adequate, with a capacity of 361 litres.

The Hyundai Kona N is very versatile inside, being just as comfortable as the conventional version, but improved with sporty details such as the seats, the video-game-style Head-up display graphics, or the steering wheel.

3. A car for everyday use or for going to the Nürburgring

Despite its sporty look, its power or its handling, the Kona N is a really versatile car for everyday use. It has several driving modes: ECO, Normal, Sport and N. On the other hand, we can configure the traction response for snow, mud or low grip, and even have custom modes to activate them quickly from the steering wheel (adjusting engine response, steering, suspension, gearbox and exhaust sound).

If we want the suspension to be less firm, we can select ECO mode and everyday driving will be much more comfortable, while if we want radicality we can select Sport mode or N, with which the response will be much firmer and more radical.

All of this comes with a setup and an interior comfort level that is, overall, adequate and allows us to cover long distances without suffering (something that is not easy to achieve in other similar models).

4. Radicality that puts a smile on your face

But let’s be clear: if you decide on a Hyundai Kona N, it’s not to drive in ECO mode all the time. With the tank nearly full (of small capacity, only 50 litres) we headed to a mountain road where we usually test the sportiest vehicles, a road with lots of bends and constant changes of camber, which clearly shows the car’s response.

And the Kona N surprises with its radicality: the power is more than enough, even without pressing the red button (overboost mode, which adds 20 CV for 20 seconds, with a stopwatch included). In N mode it is a firm car, and on uneven asphalt you feel everything, but that is its virtue: you feel absolutely everything happening at the wheels and, at the same time, its limited-slip differential does what it can to transmit each of its 280 CV to the front axle.

It is not an easy task, and at certain moments it becomes a very radical model, something that is missed in the segment. Perhaps that is the part I liked most about the Kona N: its potential radicality.

As for the chassis, the engineers’ work has been outstanding. Feeling like you’re driving a go-kart in an SUV body is something that cannot be explained; you have to experience it.

5. Reasonable price and a generation that is disappearing

For 41,500 euros we get one of the most distinctive cars on the market, with all the equipment as standard: full-LED headlights, sunroof, sporty seats, a multimedia system with a 10.25″ screen, or the sporty steering wheel with its specific N buttons.

Although there are some details of that equipment that could be improved, it must be acknowledged that the price is reasonable and the equipment complete.

But what makes me recommend a Hyundai Kona N most is that the next generation of the Kona will have no N version, so this SUV that makes you feel like no other, that takes you back to a go-kart and that has more than enough power to press you into your seat, will no longer be available.

1. High consumption

Starting with the list of aspects to improve in this Hyundai Kona N, consumption caught my attention, in my opinion somewhat high. It is officially rated at an average of 8.5 litres per 100 km, but the figure rises to at least 9 litres on the road, and from there it is hard to come down.

If we drive in a mixed style, between city and road, it is easy to climb to 11 litres per 100 km. Meanwhile, in sport mode, the average in our tests was 12.5 litres per 100 km.

2. Interior plastics and finishes

Another point that we find improvable, at least in its N version, is the interior finishes. It is true that the conventional Kona has finishes appropriate to its segment, but this N version inherits all the plastics of the conventional version, apart from the seats and steering wheel, and the rest could have a different feel.

Especially the dashboard, which relies heavily on hard plastic, except for a soft-touch strip. In its favour, it must be said that the fit and finish are more than adequate, and on a unit with a sporty chassis that has passed through many journalists and has nearly 12,000 km, there are no strange creaks or misaligned parts.

3. Equipment details to improve

The good thing about the Hyundai Kona N is that for 41,500 euros the equipment is quite complete, there are no extras, everything comes as standard. But some of those elements, in my opinion, have room for improvement.

The first thing that surprises me is the headlights: full-LED, but with rather low illumination, and more powerful LEDs could be fitted, at least on this N version.

The multimedia system is very complete, it has been updated and includes KRELL speakers, but there are only 8 speakers, and although they improve the standard sound, they fall well short of the quality offered by the JBL system fitted to its sister Kia in certain models.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverHyundai Kona18 versions · from 30,190 €