2023 Hyundai Kona N: The market supply of SUVs and crossovers with non-luxury and affordable performance options is sorely lacking. There are plenty of these in the luxury market, but what about someone on a budget who wants a little extra flair and a little more ease of use? Welcome to the 2023 Hyundai Kona N.
Before you get into the comments, it would be a stretch to call the Kona “practical,” and that might be a disadvantage compared to the N-car. What’s comparable to the Volkswagen GTI in terms of actual utility is the rear seat and luggage compartment. However, it has a higher seating position and higher ground clearance that SUV buyers in the US love. Additionally, he works in the N-Division lineup. Since the Veloster N was discontinued, the Kona N is now the only N model with a tailgate. Although the Elantra N has a roomy rear seat, the added benefit of a hatch with fold-down rear seats provides plenty of room for all your belongings when you’re not hot along your favourite trails.
In the Kona N, the front tires light up as soon as the boost develops, causing you to hit the steering wheel as you accelerate from a stop. Torque vectoring is an option in this case. The Kona N doesn’t seem to do much to reduce torque steer, though the Veloster N and Elantra N do display some torque steer. You might find it endearing if you could get past the absurdity of a small crossover with so much power it could pull you on acceleration. Take it personally because nobody uses the Kona N to set fast lap times (or should).
Of course, I’m sure many people would like to see a Kona N with an all-wheel drive system that eliminates torque vectoring and improves performance. The Golf R’s torque-vectoring rear differential will be the cherry on top of the AWD system. The Kona N will undoubtedly be a more manageable and capable vehicle with power on both axles, but it will come at a greater cost and weight. The Kona N now costs $36,285 and weighs 3,340 lbs.
Kona N power and performance
You’re getting a fantastic SUV for the money. Hyundai’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, and the Kona N’s exhaust, like that of previous N models, is hilarious. You can cruise in a special driving mode that keeps the valves open and the insane bang-and-backfire soundtrack on all the time, or you can turn it all off for calmer, if still noisy, cruising. Expect lots of second takes while driving the Kona N in extroverted mode, since few people anticipate these sounds from such a little Hyundai SUV.
Besides the theatre of sound, the Kona N boasts enthusiast-friendly features such as the “N Grin Shift” mode, which provides 20 seconds of additional performance through an over-boost function (with 10 extra horsepower). It is controlled by a button on the steering wheel, like Porsche’s “Sport Response” button, which quickly gets the car ready to perform at its best. Hyundai claims that with the N-Grand Shift engaged, the 0-62 mph sprint takes 6.4 seconds. The quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox gets you there. The gearbox is content to be exposed to several launch control starts, and the Kona N accelerates quickly for a front-drive vehicle. Just retain a firm grip on the steering wheel while accelerating to keep it pointing straight.
Handling and driving impressions of the 2023 Hyundai Kona N
When you’d rather go left or right Kona N. It features an electrically adjustable suspension with variable firmness settings. They vary from “stiff” to “wow, my back is beginning to hurt” in stiffness. Because the Kona has a short wheelbase,
it automatically has a rougher ride, and the expected handling skills of an N model mean even less comfort for everyday driving. Even people who are used to stiff-riding automobiles may find the Kona N annoying on Michigan’s potholed roads.
However, you are willing to overlook a lot when you encounter a twisted section of pavement. The N emblem on the back of the Kona N suggests precision, sharpness, and feel during turn-in. It is simple to connect up succeeding corners, and there is only a small amount of body roll.
Although the Kona N isn’t quite as light as the Veloster N when driven, it outperforms any standard Kona by a wide margin. Hyundai’s eLSD does an admirable job of guiding you through curves without understeering when you apply the gas. Although it is not as jittery as launches from zero, there is still some torque steer that tries to veer you off course.
The improved N brakes quickly bring this tall hatchback to a stop with a strong pedal that can withstand hammering without fading, and the 235 section-width Pirelli P Zero summer tires offer more than enough traction. The Kona N can be best described as a tall, hot hatchback in terms of how it handles. The Kona N may not initially appeal to someone who prefers a lower seating position in a car, but after giving it a serious effort, you can’t help but like it.
This blazingly quick transmission, the exhaust’s angry voice blaring out as you shift through the gears, the comically aggressive exterior bodywork, and even just the ability to look at it all combine to make this a highly sought-after enthusiast vehicle.
Interior Design
What might turn you against the Kona N. Interior Design The Kona N’s interior is generally drab, like the Veloster N’s. The cute dashes, blank doors, and lack of interesting ornamentation make this interior look cheap. The theme here is black plastic, and the lack of taste certainly contributes to the low price.
The few N-specific items Hyundai throws in are at least welcome additions. Its highly bolstered seats with suede inserts do an excellent job of supporting the body.
The blue leather-wrapped steering wheel, large paddle shifters, blue drive mode buttons, and red “NGS” button add to the individuality. What’s more, the digital suite includes distinct display modes (a huge movement in the centre, for example) to heighten the feeling of being in a hot car.
The introduction of the manual handbrake is perhaps the best N-specific improvement for the Kona. The stock Kona has an electric emergency brake, but it’s ineffective at kicking the rear end onto a slick surface. The Hyundai engineers behind this car seem just like us who love a short slip when it starts snowing, and they made sure the car was up to the task.
The Kona-N’s analogies to its contemporaries are a bit strange, due to the lack of clear comparisons. The cars you’re most likely to be compared to are all hot hatchbacks, as there are no affordable crossovers. For a similar cost, the GTI is offered. Prices for the Toyota GR Corolla, Mini JCWs, and Volkswagen Golf R cars are rising quickly if you want an all-wheel drive.
You may have noticed that the problem with this is that, given the choice, most enthusiasts will likely choose a high-performance vehicle over a crossover.
Hyundai does an excellent job of making the Kona N so fun to compare to these vehicles, but its overall performance will be hampered by its longer size. Not to mention, the Kona N doesn’t offer a manual transmission option.
High-performance luxury SUVs, which seem to be ubiquitous these days, rarely share the same perks, as they are always the most powerful and luxurious version of them. Why not choose the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 over the standard GLE 450 if you have the money? It’s faster, has flashy (but still classy) AMG badging all over, and the only real trade-off is a slightly larger monthly payment that your bank account might not notice. But the Kona N is designed to appeal to people who like a tough Veloster N, have a small budget, and don’t care about ride quality, interior features, or small details. It’s designed for people like me who love to drive.
Is the Hyundai Kona N a quality SUV for 2023?
Nothing compares to the 2023 Hyundai Kona N at this price point. The Hyundai Kona N, on the other hand, is more of a standalone hot hatchback than a small performance crossover. Even though it has a crossover body, the Kona N’s primary purpose—which it accomplishes admirably—is to provide speed and fun without making too many other sacrifices.
The interior materials are a little disorganized in some spots, and there isn’t much room in the back seat, but those flaws go away once you push this oddity a little. The ride quality is fairly stiff for bad road conditions. along a winding road. It’s always a plus when you can have a lot of fun for a fair price in a small car.
The Kona N is an excellent alternative for anyone considering a Volkswagen Golf GTI: The Hyundai has better performance and a more engaging driving experience, comes with a higher level of standard equipment, and doesn’t require many practical compromises, even though the Golf is more expensive when outfitted with the Kona N trim level. It’s simple to overlook the Hyundai’s slightly less expensive cabin given its significant price-performance advantage.
