A subcompact crossover with intriguing looks, the Kona has taken Hyundai to new heights thanks to relative affordability, a fair amount of standard features, hybrid and electric options, and the N-Line visual package. Now it’s the turn of the South Korean automaker to return the favor with the Kona N, which can be summed up as a hot hatch on stilts.
Hyundai has finally confirmed that 2.0 liters, four cylinders, and a turbo are hiding under the hood, which are the exact same ingredients as you’ll find in the i30 N for Europe and Veloster N for the United States. The i20 N subcompact hot hatch, by comparison, uses a 1.6-liter turbo motor.
The Kona N “will be available with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission” known as the N DCT, but Hyundai hasn’t confirmed if a six-speed manual will come standard. The same can be said about all-wheel drive, which is pretty much a requisite in this segment in my honest opinion.
“We’re excited to expand the recipe for success we’ve developed with the i30 N and, most recently, with the i20 N to one of our most popular SUVs,” said Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, vice president of marketing and product at Hyundai Motor Europe. “The addition of Kona to the N family will bring our high-performance brand to the next level,” signed off the vice prez.
The output ratings aren’t available for the time being but fret not. The best-case scenario would be for Hyundai to borrow the 2.0-liter T-GDi from the i30 N with the Performance Package, an engine that cranks out 276 horsepower (280 PS) and 289 pound-feet (392 Nm) for the 2021 model year.
Scheduled to be revealed in the following weeks as a 2021 model for Europe, the Kona N is understood to be offered in the United States as a 2022 model towards the end of the year. As far as alternatives are concerned, the Audi SQ2 TFSI S tronic would be the closest competitor on paper out there, although the price point will favor the South Korean newcomer.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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