Hyundai Kona 2.0 2024 Review

2024 Hyundai Kona pricing starts at $32,000 plus on-road costs for the G2.0 MPi tested here. This is elevated well above the previous entry model’s $26,900 plus ORCs, but the equipment levels are up and, a bit like Mazda’s base CX-30 Pure, brings the odd surprise. We’ll detail those shortly.

EV versions not included, Hyundai Kona prices range through to $46,500 plus ORCs for the AWD 1.6-litre turbo Kona Premium equipped with the essentially-cosmetic N Line pack. Both hybrid and full-electric powertrains are available, in addition to the naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol options.

In a market segment where pricing is a vital factor in purchasing choices – look at the success of the ever-improving, Chinese-made MG ZS and Haval Jolion, for example – the Hyundai Kona strives to maintain status while remaining affordable.

The new second-generation Kona has also won plenty of plaudits, including carsales’ Best Small SUV 2023 and a podium position in Car of the Year 2023.

Right from the outset, the 2024 Hyundai Kona comes very well equipped.

Among the things you might not normally expect to find at this level are wireless Apple/Android connectivity and phone charging, dual-zone climate control (complete with air vents for rear seat passengers), push-button start, heated side mirrors, power-adjustable lumbar support for the driver and comprehensive safety technology which factors in single-camera, multi-view parking assistance.

More common but always welcome accoutrements include self-dipping LED headlights and a melodious six-speaker sound system.

GPS navigation is available, but only through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The Kona is covered by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is accompanied by 12 months or 15,000km of capped-price servicing which, for the first five years, works out at a total cost of $1995.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona’s safety spec has been amped up with this second generation to include new driver assist technology, all grouped under Hyundai’s SmartSense banner.

There are omissions, though.

Stepping up to Premium level brings technology not fitted to the base-model Kona, such as collision avoidance assist in reverse, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera.

Across the range, the Kona is fitted with seven airbags, including a centre front airbag to minimise the chance of head-clash between the driver and front passenger in the event of a collision.

The safety tech rollout includes high- and low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist avoidance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, road edge detection which operates without need for painted lines, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring with individual readouts and driver attention alert.

Despite this, the Kona only received a four-star safety rating from ANCAP, owing to its vulnerable road user protection and safety assist systems not reaching the threshold for a maximum rating.

Even at entry level, there’s a surfeit of technology in the second-generation 2024 Hyundai Kona.

In addition to the 15W wireless phone charging pad and wireless smartphone mirroring, the base Kona gets a pared-back version of Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services (with over-the-air updating) that includes SOS emergency assistance and remote control of the door locks, engine start-up and climate-control settings.

Through the Valet mode, it’s possible to locate the vehicle and obtain trip data such as driving time, distance, and average and maximum speeds.

USB-C points are provided front and rear – two at the front providing data and charging capabilities, and two power-only outlets at the rear.

The 2.0-litre normally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine in the base-level 2024 Hyundai Kona is basically unchanged from the first-generation model, producing the same 110kW at 6200rpm and 180Nm of torque at 4500rpm, the latter in particular a bit shy of the class benchmarks.

A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) continues too, offering eight virtual gears that can be selected via a conventional shift lever on the centre console.

Despite claimed improvements to engine efficiency, the 2024 Hyundai Kona G2.0 MPi is quoted at 6.6L/100km on the combined economy cycle, making it slightly more consumptive than the equivalent previous model’s 6.2L/100km.

That’s presumably due to the extra weight brought with the bigger new-generation model.

The good news is that our review base model averaged around 6.5L/100km on a relatively extended but admittedly open-road-focused excursion.

Unfortunately, between first- and second-gen Kona models, the fuel tank has shrunk from 50 litres to 47 litres. The achievable cruising range is nevertheless still north of 700km.

All 2024 Hyundai Kona models come with MacPherson strut front suspension but, at the back, the base model makes do with a simple torsion beam arrangement.

In comparison, the AWD turbo and front-drive hybrid Konas use a more sophisticated independent multi-link rear suspension.

The bottom line though is that, despite its simplicity, the base 2.0-litre Kona’s suspension is pretty good at providing a combination of handling finesse and a nicely controlled ride.

The steering is quite quick at 2.5 turns lock-to-lock and there are grip and stability benefits to be gained from the wide front and rear tracks and the 18-inch wheels shod with substantial 215/55R18 tyres. The previous base-model Kona made do with 205/60R16 tyres.

Performance is reasonable. The 2.0-litre engine is helped by the CVT’s off-the-line briskness but hindered by the typical frenetic quirks under a floored accelerator, however it’s up to the task of hauling along the 1455kg Kona.

The 1300kg braked towing capacity is okay for a small SUV, making the Kona more capable than, say, the Kia Seltos (1100kg), Mazda CX-30 (1200kg) and MG ZST, which is limited to a mere 500kg.

The Kona’s ‘zero gravity’ seats, which concentrate on relieving pressure points in the human torso, are pretty good, too. In the driver’s case they are further helped by the electric lumbar adjustment.

The inbuilt cooling fan for the wireless charger is limited in what it can achieve, to the point that a warning will come through the mobile phone if it’s getting overheated, usually when the GPS has been running for some time.

The gap between small and mid-size SUVs is narrowing. The first-generation Hyundai Kona suffered a dimensional deficit when compared to its Kia Seltos blood brother, but that’s been largely attended to in the second-gen model.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona’s 2660mm wheelbase is slightly longer, for example, than the Mazda CX-30 and, at 1825mm wide, it’s at the broader end of the small SUV spectrum.

The outcome is a cabin that’s as good for stretching out as it is at providing comfortable shoulder space.

The boot has grown, too, but at a quoted 407 litres with the rear seats in place – extending to 1241 litres with them folded – it’s still smaller than the Kia Seltos (468/1428L).

A space-saver spare wheel resides in the normal spot below the boot floor.

The Kona’s interior has been styled and decorated with EV-era modernity in mind and presents as spacious, airy and contemporary. The cloth upholstery is not unexpected but the air vents for rear seat passengers are.

The wide, curved dash display with its 12.3-inch screen is functional and not over-reliant on touch-screen functionality. All the displays, including GPS and reversing camera, are bright, sharp and informative, although the combined bar graph/digital tachometer is pretty useless.

The base model’s clearly defined multiple parking views aren’t as comprehensive as the multi-camera system used further up the range but, considering the system is reliant on a single camera, they are still exceptional.

More soft-touch surfacing would help. The quality of the trim materials looks fine but when you rap on the surface the feedback is more reminiscent of a snare drum than the yielding softness of padded vinyl.

The front centre armrest is absorbent enough, but there’s nothing cushy about the door armrests.

The Hyundai Kona, right from the first-generation model in 2017, has found consistent favour as a most impressive small SUV. There’s a lot to like.

The second-generation Kona follows up a car that has always seemed contemporary. The new model takes (nearly) everything a few steps further and firms up the Kona’s high standing in one of Australia’s most popular market segments.

It may not become the category’s top seller, but the latest Kona has the panache to continue as something of a trendsetter.

2024 Hyundai Kona G2.0 MPi at a glance:
Price: $32,000 (plus on-road costs}
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 110kW/180Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 6.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 149g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Four-star (ANCAP 2024)

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