The 2022 Hyundai Kona is out with beautiful features and an upgrade that one would love to cruise with. The subcompact Kona is, simply put, a great package that blends carlike on-road behavior with bold styling, a dose of practicality, and an elevated driving position. Two four-cylinder engines are offered: a 2.0-liter four, which is admittedly pretty poky, and a more desirable turbocharged 1.6-liter four that delivers a lot more pun
The 2022 Hyundai Kona is a subcompact SUV that offers a lot for its accessible price. For the 2022 model year, the Kona receives its first major makeover since its 2018 debut. From the outside, it’s sharper and sleeker than its predecessors, and a new N Line trim adds a distinctly sporty look. The interior changes are more subtle, with a reworked center stack (where the dashboard meets the center console) and new materials and ambient lighting.
For 2022, a larger 8-inch touchscreen comes standard as does wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Other technology upgrades for the new model year include an available digital instrument panel and a larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen and additional connectivity features for the Hyundai Blue Link system. Advanced safety and driver assistant features have also been updated, with the most notable being adaptive cruise control that can bring the Kona to a complete stop, lane keeping assist and rear automatic braking.
Sticking to Hyundai’s value-forward approach, the Kona comes with a long list of standard features which only grows as you move through the more expensive trims—the top few of which get downright posh. The 2022 Hyundai Kona is one of the smaller offerings in the subcompact SUV segment, so it gives up cargo and passenger space to some of its larger rivals, but we think the trade-off for the Hyundai’s compact package and fun-to-drive nature more than makes up for those shortcomings.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Two powertrains are available with the 2022 Hyundai Kona: SE and SEL models come with a 147-hp four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. This setup could use a bit of caffeine; in our testing, an all-wheel-drive SEL model required 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph. Limited and N-Line models are powered by the considerably peppier 195-hp turbocharged four-cylinder paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic shifts quickly and smoothly once you’re rolling, but it stumbles at low speed in parking lots and in bumper-to-bumper traffic, engaging and disengaging first gear hesitantly until the driver offers more throttle input. The Kona delivers agile handling and a surprising amount of fun. This doesn’t translate to a rough ride over choppy roads; in fact, the suspension offers quite the opposite, damping out bumps and providing occupants with a cabin that is well isolated from pavement imperfections. The steering is perhaps the Kona’s biggest dynamic downfall: It’s an uncommunicative helm that, despite its heavy-weighted feel, requires frequent corrections when cruising the highway.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 1.6-liter AWD 2022 Hyundai Kona gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in combined driving. That’s a few mpg behind AWD-equipped competitors, but this engine provides more power. On our 115-mile evaluation route, our test Kona averaged 28.3 mpg, so drivers should be able to match the EPA estimates in real-world driving.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Hyundai’s designers managed the tough task of bringing the charm of the 2022 Hyundai Kona‘s exterior design to the cabin while maintaining comfort and convenience. Quality materials, good ergonomics, and comfortable seats feel grown up and refined but not out of step with the Kona’s funkadelic outward appearance. The steering wheel is wrapped with nicely grained leather with contrast stitching and offers integrated controls for cruise control and audio settings. Those upgrading from a compact hatchback or sedan will find the Kona’s cargo space perfectly suitable, but buyers downsizing from a larger SUV will most likely feel the pinch. The Kona narrowly beat the pipsqueak Mazda CX-3 in our testing to see how many carry-on suitcases could fit. The Kona managed to hold 14 of our carry-on suitcases—two more than the CX-3 but eight fewer than the Honda HR-V.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Standing atop the Kona’s dashboard is a touchscreen infotainment system flanked by simple shortcut buttons that allow you to easily switch between common menus. We found the system to be intuitive in its operation but leisure when responding to inputs. An 8.0-inch touchscreen is standard, but buyers wanting a larger display can upgrade to a 10.3-inch unit. Driving directions can be projected onto the optional head-up display that flips up from the dashboard and also shows the vehicle’s speed and other information. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are standard, with a wireless connection for such features available as an option.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Buyers searching for popular driver-assistance features will find them on the Kona, which offers automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor as standard equipment. Other more advanced features are still optional. For more information about the Kona’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites
Full Specifications
2022 Hyundai Kona N Line AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $28,425/$31,080
Options: Tech package, $2500; floor mats, $155
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 98 in3, 1598 cm3
Power: 195 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 195 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.0-in vented disc/11.2-in disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle Touring
235/45R-18 98V M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 102.4 in
Length: 166.0 in
Width: 70.9 in
Height: 61.4 in
Passenger Volume: 93 ft3
Cargo Volume: 19 ft3
Curb Weight: 3287 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.7 sec @ 90 mph
100 mph: 19.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.6 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.8 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 174 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.87 g
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 29/27/32 mpg
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