The 2018 Hyundai Kona is the first vehicle to feature the Korean automaker’s new and aggressive design language for crossovers. From its planted stance to its eye-catching front fascia, the Kona exudes a youthful, adventurous vibe. Add to that an available turbocharged engine and an independent rear suspension on all-wheel-drive models and you’ve got a recipe for a unique and energetic subcompact crossover.
Read our 2018 Hyundai Kona First Drive right here.
Armor Up!
Perhaps the most striking part of the 2018 Hyundai Kona’s exterior is its “body armor,” the cladding that extends into the headlights and into the rear reflectors, which also house the reversing lights. The automaker says this detail was inspired by a Spartan warrior’s helmet, and makes the crossover look like it’s wearing a helmet when viewed head-on.
Vector Through Corners
All 2018 Hyundai Kona models come with a brake-based torque vectoring system to help mitigate understeer when you’re driving enthusiastically. Front-drive Konas use the front inside brake to keep the car from understeering while cars with all-wheel drive use front and rear inside brakes to help you take corners more securely.
Efficiency-Minded, Yet Torque-Rich
Hyundai’s 1.6-liter turbo-four is standard on the Limited and Ultimate grades, and this particular version is the high-efficiency iteration of an engine thathas seen many updates since it first appeared in the first-generation Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Its compression ratio is higher at 10.0:1, gets a new block, new heads, and a new turbocharger, which should help it make the most out of every drop of fuel without giving up all that precious low- and midrange torque.
Lock That Diff!
The 2018 Hyundai Kona comes with a locking differential when you opt for all-wheel drive. With a press of a button, you can lock the Kona’s differential and split the torque distribution to 50/50 front/rear, which is especially helpful when you’re trying to get through snow, gravel, or wet roads.
Two-Tone Spices Things Up
On the SEL trim, the 2018 Kona is available with a black or dark gray roof when you pick Surf Blue, Pulse Red, or Sonic Silver. This gives the car a more distinctive appearance, as the contrasting color makes the roof appear like its floating, especially with lighter colors. Should you want a two-tone interior, a gray and black color scheme is available on all trims.
A Signature Green
Lime Twist is the 2018 Kona’s signature color, Hyundai says. The car’s cladding contrasts well with the lime green, and the color is also present inside with i accents, contrast stitching, and seat piping, helping break up the black in the cabin.