2024 Hyundai Kona Up Close: A Little Bigger, a Little Bolder

Hyundai recently took the wraps off its redesigned 2024 Kona lineup, and the 2023 New York International Auto Show marked the new subcompact SUV’s first public showing in the U.S. We checked out three examples — the top-line Limited, the sporty N Line and the all-electric Kona Electric — on the show floor.

Related: More 2023 New York Auto Show Coverage

The new Kona is larger than the previous-generation model by more than 5 inches in overall length, an inch in width and a little over 2 inches in wheelbase. The base engine is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes an estimated 147 horsepower and is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Limited and N Line versions get a gutsier powerplant: a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that makes an estimated 190 hp, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission in place of the previous-gen Kona’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Kona Electric offers a choice of a 48.6-kilowatt-hour battery paired with an electric motor that delivers 133 hp or a 64.8-kWh battery paired with a 201-hp electric motor. The larger battery offers a maximum driving range of 260 miles, according to Hyundai’s estimate.

Related Video:

Crisp New Styling

The new Kona carries over the overall shape of its predecessor but adopts several of Hyundai’s latest design cues, such as slim full-width daytime running lights and taillights and a dramatic diagonal crease that runs through the front and rear doors (similar to the Elantra compact car and Ioniq 5 EV). The N Line and Kona Electric wear body-color wheel-arch cladding, but other Konas get dark-finish wheel-arch “armor” that gives them a more rugged, SUV-esque look.

The full-width lighting treatments give the new Kona a bold, futuristic look, and Hyundai has done a fine job differentiating the versions via deftly executed body-trim variations. The Kona Electric gets a smooth, “grilleless” nose with an offset charge-port door; the look effectively communicates it’s an EV. The example on the show floor wore eye-searing Neoteric Yellow paint; extroverts can also choose a similarly bold Soltronic Orange color.

The Limited on display wore a subdued-but-interesting paint color Hyundai calls Mirage Green; it’s a military/industrial-looking gray hue with just a hint of putty green. The N Line gets an appropriate sprinkling of sporty body-styling touches, including a gutsier-looking front end with mesh grille inserts, a diffuser-style rear bumper with sporty looking dual exhaust tips and a large-ish spoiler mounted on the rear liftgate.

Inside Story

The Kona’s cabin gets a number of welcome new features that bring it thoroughly up to date. Dual 12.3-inch gauge-cluster and infotainment screens reside in a slim panel, a treatment very similar to the Ioniq 5’s. One curious “feature” is a black square that’s about 4 inches wide and tall on the left side of the gauge panel that’s covered in a meshy, stereo-speaker-looking fabric. This serves no function; we were told it is simply a “design-flow element.” Uh, OK.

To free up space, Hyundai moved the Kona’s gear selector from the console to the steering column; a fixed stalk on the right side of the column has a twist-knob at its end (twist forward for Drive, back for Reverse), capped off by a button to engage Park. Its placement and action seemed ergonomic enough on the show floor, but we’re anxious to test it for real on our first drives.

All the Konas on display share a steering wheel that has a pleasingly sporty, upscale look and feel, with comfortable protrusions at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions, a leather-wrapped rim with contrast stitching and numerous push-button/thumbwheel controls. Happily, the center-stack control layout sticks with good ol’ traditional physical buttons and knobs rather than the often frustrating touch-sensitive controls. An easy-to-access wireless charging pad is prominently placed at the leading edge of the center console, just below dual USB-C ports and a 12-volt power outlet.

Front-seat storage for small items is competitive. A handy horizontal storage tray — complete with ambient lighting — stretches across the passenger side of the dashboard. Hyundai and Kia’s versatile “pop-out” cupholders have arched cup retainers that can be retracted to create a large, unsegmented console bin when you don’t need drink storage — a clever touch. The center console bin beneath the padded armrest is peculiar, however: In place of a traditional console bin, there’s a very small lift-out tray above an open bin with a pull-out partition.

As with the exterior, Hyundai has differentiated the new Kona’s cabin via smart model-specific trim touches. The fit and finish is commendable in all the models we sat in, though the monotone black trim and plasticky door panels of the Limited made its overall ambiance a bit dull — hopefully Hyundai will offer color options other than all-black. The N Line boasts a number of unique touches that give its mostly black cabin a livelier, appropriately sporty vibe, such as suede-like seat-upholstery inserts, satin-finish sport pedals, red contrast stitching, and neat red accent stripes on the seatbacks and dashboard. The Kona Electric’s cabin was pepped up via light gray upholstery and door panel inserts and several lime-green accents.

Space for People and Stuff

The Kona’s upsized dimensions pay dividends in passenger and cargo space. There’s good room for most adults in the front seats, though the housing for the moonroof might brush the top of your head if you’re very tall.

Average-sized adults should be comfortable in the rear seats as long as the front-seat occupants don’t have their seats adjusted all the way back. The Kona Electric has a slight advantage over its gas-engine siblings here because there’s no center driveline hump in the rear seat, which frees up a bit more legroom in the middle. Dual USB-C ports, a tiny cubby bin, and, if equipped, dual climate control vents are located at the trailing edge of the center console.

Cargo space is notably improved over the outgoing Kona. According to Hyundai’s measurements, there’s 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded, up from 19.2 and 45.8, respectively, in the previous-gen model. The load floor is smooth and wide, and there’s a small depression in the driver’s side of the cargo area that looks big enough to accommodate a half-gallon milk carton. The Kona Electric we examined had an adjustable cargo-floor panel that could be set at a lower level to free up a bit more vertical space.

Based on our first examinations, the new Kona looks to be a stellar update to what was already one of our favorite subcompact SUVs. Stay tuned for more details, including pricing and our first-drive report, closer to the 2024 Kona’s launch. It’s slated to start arriving in dealerships this summer.

More From Cars.com:

• Top 10 Most Efficient Electric Cars
• Hyundai Offers Flexible EV Access With Evolve+ Subscription Program
• 2023 Cars.com Affordability Report: Best Value New Cars
• 2023 Hyundai Kona Shuffles Equipment, Makes More Features Standard
• What to Know Before Purchasing an Electric Vehicle: A Buying Guide

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.