HYUNDAI scored such a massive hit with its loniq 5 that it's easy to forget the brand's earlier EV efforts. There was the Prius-rivalling model called loniq, but also the Kona, a small SUV offered with a choice of hybrid powertrains or as a pure-electric version. Now there's a second generation of the car, and we've grabbed an early chance to drive it in the UK.
Buyers loved lots about the original Kona, but many reckoned it was a little too compact. Hyundai has responded to this by moving the car onto the same K3 platform as the likes of the Kia Niro, and stretching its length and wheelbase. The end result is a car that now sits halfway between a Nissan Juke and a full family SUV, instead of one that was barely a jacked-up supermini, previously.
The Kona really does look like a mini Tucson from certain angles, too, thanks to complex surfacing along the flanks especially around the rear wheelarches, which some may find a little fussy. But there's a sleek sci-fi look to the front end, with its wraparound pixel bar.
Inside, the pair of 12.3-inch displays that dominate the facia are lifted pretty much straight from other Hyundais, but they run new software here, with a cleaner interface that features larger and easier-to-prod 'widgets'.
The rest of the cabin feels notably more upmarket than the previous Kona; there are soft-touch finishes on all of the key surfaces, and robust, well made plastics where they're needed, in heavy-use areas. The open interior architecture also means storage is great.
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2023-utgaven av Auto Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2023-utgaven av Auto Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PEUGEOT E-2008 GT
Our Peugeot EV and classic BMW may be the perfect two-car garage
SHOW 'N' TELL
Our 2024 Performance Car of the Year, Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N EV, takes on the revamped Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
F1 EXHIBITION IS GO GO GO
Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill shows us around a celebration of the greatest sport on Earth
BYD Dolphin Active
Lower power means a more affordable price, but the new entry-level Dolphin is left wanting in other areas
Mercedes-AMG CLE Coupé
FIRST DRIVE We get behind the wheel of new CLE that aims to offer both comfort and a scincillating driving experience
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Ergonomic improvements are a welcome enhancement to VW's iconic hot hatch, but there's still no manual version
Toyota Prius
FIRST UK DRIVE Toyota's hybrid pioneer finally returns to these shores in fifth-generation guise and exclusively as a plug-in hybrid
INSURANCE SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
INSURANCE FRAUD BUREAU EXPERT GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON THE LATEST SWINDLES
Honda's updated HR-V sports sharp new look
Brand's best-selling model in Europe has also received some interior revisions and extra safety kit
Audi sets £70k start price for new A6 EV
ORDER books for the new Audi A6 e-tron are open now, with prices from just under £70,000 and deliveries starting next February.