Buying a used Hyundai Kona (2017-2022)

There’s not a lot to report when looking back at the Hyundai Kona’s period of existence, but what limited background the model does offer is interesting.

The Kona crossed over more boundaries than was typical for a new small SUV and became viable in various markets due to its multitude of drivetrain configurations.

Hyundai’s designers envisaged stylish transport for urban users, based around a front-wheel drive platform and small petrol or diesel engine.

After fulfilling those goals, the design could be adapted to accommodate hybrid or full-electric power units – though only the EV was sold in Australia with the first generation – and made available in all-wheel drive for those markets where this feature was seen as desirable.

The Kona was previewed early in 2017 and by October had reached Australia. US sales during the model’s first full year topped 47,000 and by 2021 had doubled that figure.

In Australia, the Kona’s first full year of sales saw it top 12,000 units, nipping the heels of the established Subaru XV. Three years later its share had barely moved in a market now dominated by the MG ZS.

An all-electric Kona was added to the range in 2018 and within two years Hyundai was claiming global sales of the Kona Electric had topped 100,000 units.

EV versions of the Kona accumulated an array of awards during their first two years in the market. These included North American Utility Vehicle of 2019 and Affordable Electric Car of 2019.

A high-performance Kona N with a 206kW/392Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine also turned up in 2021.

In Australia, the Kona was named carsales’ Best Small SUV in 2021, and held onto the title in 2022.

The second-generation Kona launched in 2023 and immediately went straight to the top of the class – from carsales’ point of view, although the budget-oriented MG ZS remains the biggest seller.

The Gen II Kona also introduced a hybrid powertrain to Australia for the first time.

• The Kona isn’t old enough to be displaying endemic faults – except those dealt with via safety recall programs (see our ‘What to check’ list below) – but a pre-purchase inspection remains worthwhile.
• Some electrical system failures have been reported. Check that all equipment and screen-based systems operate as they should.
• Beach and off-road driving can damage drive shafts and the suspension. Visually inspect for damage and listen for clunks when test driving.

Australia from the outset received a wide range of Hyundai Kona variants, beginning with the front-wheel drive 2.0-litre petrol-powered Active at $24,500 plus on-road costs.

You could round that up to $28,000 plus ORCs for a seat in the all-wheel drive Active, with a 130kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine against the naturally aspirated base model’s 110kW, plus a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission against the 2.0-litre atmo’s six-speed unit.

Active versions still weren’t cheap but helped justify their prices with a barrowload of features. These included a large and detailed in-dash display that allowed both front seat occupants to control most of the car’s functions. Even in the base model, the Kona steering wheel featured a serious array of buttons.

The infotainment system accepted Apple and Android inputs and all versions came with six-speaker sound. The headlights activated automatically and used halogen bulbs.

Hyundai made a big fuss of the Kona colour palette. Nine shades were available, with three of the best (Tangerine Comet, Dark Knight and Acid Yellow) only available to buyers of the most expensive versions.

Second in line for Kona fanciers was the Elite, which took the price of a 110kW version to $28,500, or $32,000 for a 1.6T AWD (plus ORCs).

Faux leather seats provided a touch more class than did two-tone cloth in the base model. The Elite’s 17-inch alloy wheels and 55-profile tyres satisfactorily filled the matt-black wheel-arches and had sufficient sidewall depth to cushion potholes and corrugations.

Top of Hyundai’s Kona range at launch was the Highlander, defined by its brushed metal side spears, two-tone paint and 18-inch alloys.

All the safety features that were either extra-cost options or not available at all in lower-specification models were packed into the Highlander, which as a 2.0-litre FWD cost $33,000 plus ORCs.

From a cross traffic alert at the rear to the following distance monitor, lane keeper and blind spot sensors, all the help a distracted driver could require could be found in a Kona Highlander.

August 2018 saw Kona prices shuffle upwards to make space for the FWD-only Kona Go. These entered the market at $23,500 plus ORCs and pushed the 2.0-litre Active to $25,500.

Equipment cutbacks saw the Go replace alloy wheels with 16-inch steel rims, plus basic air-con, mirrors and body decoration, but no dilution of safety measures.

A year later, Hyundai took the courageous step of introducing all-electric propulsion to the local Kona range and managing to price the cheaper of its Long Range models at under $60,000.

The electric motor in these produced 150kW – 50 per cent more than in a Standard Range Kona – and 390Nm of torque. Claimed range from a fully charged battery was 550km, with actual tested range a still-excellent 390km.

Although $5000 more expensive than Elite versions of the Kona Electric, the Highlander was more popular and remains that way in the used market.

Listings of Kona Electric models on carsales.com.au in late-2023 showed four times the number of Highlander EVs available than Elite models.

The seat directly behind the steering wheel is the best place from which to view a Hyundai Kona. Vision forward is excellent, although what happens behind the middle pillar is more of a mystery because the stylists have opted for metal, not glass.

If you’ve chosen a turbo version and clamp your boot hard on the right-hand pedal, other aspects of the Kona’s character become apparent.

Local tests managed 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds, but more impressive was an 80-120km/h overtaking time of just 4.7 seconds. Not many 1.6-litre SUVs are going to match that rate of acceleration.

All of this performance might come at a cost, but not at the petrol pump. Even turbo cars are tuned for 91 RON regular fuel and the 1.6-litre will average 6.7L/100km, bettering the 2.0-litre by about eight per cent.

Dash design is conservative when viewed against the Kona’s overall design, and that might not be a bad idea. Confusing switchgear and garish layouts get tiring after a while and Hyundai might have deliberately decided to tone things down inside. Or they had simply spent all the money on the outside.

Higher-spec versions with their contrast stitching do allow the car to flaunt its individuality, although the seats could have erred a little more on the wild side. The shape is okay though, and the material hopefully will last.

Tall drivers might say legroom with the seat fully back remains tight, however headroom up front is fine. Big people required to ride in the back won’t be happy about anything.

Questions remain regarding the long-term viability and cost of all-electric Kona models. How long the Kona and its IONIQ cousin survive frequent recharges, the effects of battery degradation and the potential for component failures all contribute to a largely unknown journey.

What’s the range of a Kona EV? Well, that depends. Around town, the car is likely to achieve whatever range the dash display suggests. At highway speeds, the loss of stored wattage is subject to external factors and can be dramatic, leaving drivers worried about reaching their destination and looking for a charge point.

How long will the battery keep accepting a full charge and what will be the replacement cost in five, eight or 10 years? That varies too.

We know that Hyundai Australia supplements its regular five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with an eight-year/160,000km warranty on the storage battery. However, if you’re in the market for an early Kona EV, around half the battery guarantee will already have elapsed.

And if the car has averaged 20,000km a year since new, then half of the distance component is gone as well. Four years from now, today’s buyer could be facing a $15,000 battery bill.

The Hyundai Kona wasn’t really aimed at, or intended to be, family transport. Sit in the back of one, especially if you’re a tall teen, and your legs will tell you why.

Not even the top-notch Highlander offers air-con vents in the rear and there are no ports for access to the car’s infotainment system either.

Child seats install easily but the boot space is limited (361 litres against 390L in the Hyundai i30), with the shortfall due in part to the sloping roof. No full-sized spare wheel either, which is criminal in a car equipped to tackle rougher roads.

• Engine issues have plagued various Hyundai Kona models, requiring the company to issue recalls for more than 15,000 cars sold in Australia. Confirm via a Hyundai service department that these and other problems that triggered recalls have been rectified.
• A very recent issue that has come to light affects 2020-22 Konas and other Hyundai models with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which could cause the car to lose drive without warning. About 8000 vehicles are affected and this fault is so serious it must be corrected for a Kona to operate safely.
• If you intend connecting an external music source, make sure that the relevant input is working. Owners report intermittent connectivity or none at all for some (mainly Apple) sources.

RedBook Inspect mobile inspectors can take the guesswork out of buying a car with a comprehensive vehicle inspection.

Used vehicle grading for Hyundai Kona (2017-22)
Design & Function: 14/20
Safety: 16/20
Practicality:12/20
Value for Money:12/20
Wow Factor: 14/20
Score: 68/100

Also consider.
Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Subaru XV