2022 Hyundai Kona N Line Review: Dead Ringer

design , rest , Technique , performance , Security , fuel economy , price ceiling , questions to ask

The Hyundai Kona N line is so cool to look a part of a sporty, high-performance furry ute that it wasn’t till I put my foot on the fuel pedal that I believed the automotive given to me was a fire-breathing Kona N. Yes, there was some poor studying comprehension and maybe a dose of pleasure that led me to mislead myself, but it surely was the sporty-looking trappings that basically despatched me for a loop.

Once my despair subsided, corner n line Revealed itself as a single likable subcompact Hyundai Sold out for years, albeit in a few Air Force ones as an alternative of loafers. This type makes large guarantees, however do not put the Kona on them—it is a sporty-looking drive that does not sacrifice legibility.

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• Exterior Colour: Moon White
• Interior Color: Black / Black
• Wheel Size: 18 Inch

Introduced as a part of Kona’s 2022 mannequin 12 months facelift, the N line calls for a skilled eye to see the distinction between it and a full-bore one. no no sample. The mesh grille and three-vent nostril, swollen body-colour wheel arch, and cute-as-a-button rear diffuser stay the identical from the N line to the N. The solely actual variations are the N line’s chromed Hyundai badges, 18-inch Bird Nest-style wheels, and single-sided twin exhausts – the N will get a gloss black badge, 19-inch wheels and a single exhaust tip on both facet of the rear bumper. Props to Hyundai for doing so little to scale back the Kona N’s visible hazard.

Hyundai did little to distinguish the Kona’s cabin into totally different trims. The total structure is much like that within the Kona household, whereas the N line adorns the bottom Kona’s inside with crimson accents as an alternative of including an actual sporty contact from the N. That means a easy and seamless steering wheel and entrance seats with flat, non-fabric upholstery. And total, the Kona N Line’s cabin is a darkish and uninteresting place crammed with cheap-feel black plastic.

• Seating Capacity: 5
• Seating Configuration: 2/3
• Cargo Capacity: 19.2 / 45.8 cubic toes

The Kona N Line is poor in most elements of the consolation section. The journey is brittle and unsophisticated, with the steering struggling to tell apart imperfections, although it’s compliant and nice on clean surfaces. The entrance seats are unsupported whereas sustaining sufficient padding that their flatness does not get too tiresome on lengthy journeys. The turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder long-in-the-tooth Gamma engine is a member of the household, which stays as buzz and coarse as ever.

Not solely that, such small crossovers will not be well-known for his or her consolation. While the Kona could also be noticeably higher in a number of key areas—I’m taking a look at you powertrain refinements—relative to the category, it is largely common.

• Center Display: 10.3-inch Touchscreen
• Instrument cluster show: 10.3-inch
• Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: No

Hyundai upgraded the Kona’s infotainment system as a part of its latest refresh, including a typical 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster to the N Line, Limited and N. It’s the identical enticing setup present in Elantra, providing three fundamental skins for the digital tach and speedometer, and that includes data pages in between. Themes are linked to Drive Mode, or drivers can set them independently. Still, I’d prefer to see extra customization – a full-screen map setting is important.

The $2,500 tech pack replaces the 8.0-inch touchscreen with a ten.3-inch unit that is been shared with each different new Hyundai/Kia product for the previous two years. The graphics are crisp and enticing, and the display screen’s response to enter is immediate. Still (and actually I’m drained as I write this) the dearth of wi-fi Apple CarPlay in such a brand new and superior infotainment setup is puzzling.

• Engine: Turbocharged 1.6-litre I4
• Output: 195 horsepower / 195 pound-feet
• Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch

All shirts and no trousers. All hats, no cattle. All nook, no n. The N Line could borrow the letter denoting Hyundai’s motorsports arm, however its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder packs simply 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The efficiency is sweet sufficient for the section, however not for the Czechs its sporty bodywork is making an attempt to capitalize on.

There’s a good quantity of lag from a standstill, and the responsiveness of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission simply issues compound. Like another latest Hyundai/Kia product, the dearth of suggestions left me having to dial in further throttle, solely to search out an sudden and unsightly surge of energy after the powertrain awakened. Things get higher now and again—the 1.6 delivers peak torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm—however blows an excessive amount of air to the engine and its buzzing goes up. Par for the course with the 1.6-liter Gamma.

Cornering is a surprisingly shiny spot with this all-wheel-drive Kona. All N Line fashions characteristic brake-based torque vectoring, whereas all-wheel drive swaps out the usual torsion beam with a multi-link rear finish. Tell the Kona N line to vary path and overcome the preliminary sluggishness of body-tight motions and well-weighted steering response. nook is just not n line Mazda CX-30 Nice, but it surely’s definitely not far off. Hyundai solely wants to offer sharp reflexes on the centre.

• Driver Assistance Level: SAE Level 2 (Hands-on)
• NHTSA Rating: Five Stars Overall
• IIHS Rating: TSP/TSP+ No

The Kona N line earns excessive marks for security because of its intensive roster of energetic security tools. Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane hold help, and blind-spot monitoring are all normal.

The $2,500 Tech Pack, pictured on my tester, provides automated excessive beams and Hyundai’s wonderful Highway Driving Assistance System, which provides adaptive cruise management for stage two driver help. The HDA stays an especially well-integrated system, responding effectively to surrounding autos and minimizing in the best way of lane ping-ponging to maneuver the Kona down the street.

• City: 27 mpg
• Highway: 32 mpg
• Combined: 29 mpg

• Base Price: $21,300 + $1,295 Destination
• Trim Base Price: $27,145
• Price as examined: $31,545

Prices begin at an inexpensive $22,595 for the Kona, however the N Line provides as much as $4,550 for a value of $27,145. From there, add $400 for my tester’s Lunar White paint, $1,500 for all-wheel drive, and $2,500 for the tech package deal. You can avoid wasting cash by eradicating the premium paint, however the remaining $4,000 in choice yields is tough to cross.

Yes, all-wheel drive affords sure-footedness in slick situations, but it surely additionally swaps out the primitive torsion beam rear suspension for a extra fashionable multilink association. And the Tech Pack’s Highway Driving Assist system and 10.3-inch touchscreen are worthwhile in their very own proper, however the pack additionally provides automated excessive beams and a Harmon Kardon audio system with LED headlights. You are getting rather a lot in your cash.

And there are few of the autos within the class that look so sporty. While the Kona might go additional in bettering its seems to be, it’s a actual various to the Mazda CX-30 if you happen to care about driver engagement. Again, at $31,545 for a completely loaded Kona N Line, you are lower than $4,000 off a $35,495 Kona N, which is able to lock the doorways to vehicles just like the CX-30 and roughly match the N Line’s on a regular basis drive expertise. Will eat

Is the Hyundai Kona N Line all-wheel drive?

Yes, Hyundai affords the Kona N Line with an non-obligatory all-wheel drive system. This provides $1,500 to the value tag.

What is the N Line Trim on the Hyundai Kona?

The N Line, named after Hyundai’s motorsports arm, the N, is a mode and look package deal accessible on the Kona and different Hyundai merchandise. It suits sportier wheels and distinctive bodywork to imitate the high-performance N mannequin, whereas sustaining the powertrain and suspension setup whereas conserving the broader market enchantment in thoughts.

How a lot is the Hyundai Kona N Line?

The base value for the Kona within the N Line trim is $27,145, which incorporates the $1,295 vacation spot cost. This is $4,550 greater than the bottom value of $21,700 for the Kona vary.