Hyundai reveals its hottest SUV

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Hyundai has finally whipped the hanky off its hottest SUV, the all-new Kona N, which is not only joins the i30 N hatch and fastback (which we get here), i20 N (which is coming) and the Veloster N (which we don’t) in the Korean manufacturer’s growing high-performance N line-up but is also the first N SUV.

“Kona N is a true hot SUV with the performance level of a hot hatch. It breaks the rule that SUVs are less fun to drive. As an N model, it goes beyond the limits of an ordinary SUV,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group.

The Kona N is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine as the other N models, hooked up to an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission. The transmission is an enhanced version of Hyundai’s in-house developed 8DCT and to make it suitable for N models it has received improvements in durability and has been calibrated for faster shifting.

Want hot hatch thrills, but also want a small SUV? Hyundai can help you out there with the new Kona N.

The engine has an output of 206kW/392Nm in normal mode, a boost to 213kW for 20 seconds in “N Grin Shift” mode (yes, really) that also delivers even more aggressive gear shifts.

**READ MORE:

Body coloured wheel arches and a more aggressive bumper mark the Kona N out from the rest of the range.

* Hyundai's updated Kona is here now

* Hyundai teases hot Kona N SUV

Inside the Kona N gets all the usual N goodies, including the programmable buttons on the steering wheel.

* Hyundai sets EV record for distance driven on one charge

* Hyundai to expand N range even further

Those exhausts hint that the Kona N is a bit more than you bog-standard small SUV.

The Kona N also features a launch control function and, when enabled, will see the small SUV sprint to 100kmh from a standing start in 5.5 seconds. It also features an “N Corner Carving Differential”, which is an electronic limited slip differential (E-LSD) to control the torque distribution to the driving wheels.

The heavily bolstered N seats look particularly supportive.

Which, if you haven’t guesssed by now means that, like the rest of the N range, the Kona N is FWD. While Hyundai says that it has no plans for an AWD version of the Kona N, or any other model in the N range for that matter, it will “monitor the market” to see if demand is there. Otherwise, its all FWD for the time being.

Not that that is actually a bad thing, because the i30 N in either of its forms is a thoroughly fantastic thing, a nd Hyundai says it has developed the Kona version for those wanting hot hatch thrills, but who need the space and added practicality of an SUV. For the record, the Kona N has the largest boot in the N range.

To those hot hatch thrills, the Kona N comes with the cheesily-named “N Grin Control System” that the company says “offers the same driving fun at all levels.”

The system offers a high level of customisation, with five drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, N and Custom, each of which adjusts the operating parameters of the engine, stability control, exhaust sound, and steering.

The body’s extra welding points, improved strut ring structure and reinforced skeleton enhance rigidity to minimise body roll.

As you would expect from a new car, the Kona N comes standard with a new 10-inch infotainment and digital cluster system featuring a racing head-up display (HUD) that Hyundai says “adds a game-like dimension to every driving experience under N or Sport drive modes” by adding things like a lap timer and track maps that help place the driver’s location within the circuit along with other information.

In terms of exterior looks, the Kona N has been kept relatively subtle, with body-coloured fenders and 19-inch wheels providing the most obvious hint of something special within.

Hyundai has developed a new colour for the Kona N. Called Sonic Blue it is a new spin on Performance Blue, the colour most associated with N brand to date, and the company says it was developed specifically for the Kona because its research suggested that buyers of a hot SUV preferred a slightly more subtle shade than the in-yer-face Performance Blue.

The Kona N also packs a front lip spoiler, double-wing roof spoiler and side skirts, while a wide lower air intake dominates the front bumper.

Of course, the Kona N also comes packed with the latest safety and driver assist features, such as forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning and smart cruise control.

While revealing the Kona N Hyundai also revealed that it had big plans for the N brand in terms of “e-performance”, hinting at the possibility of electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.

The company already runs the Veloster N ETCR in the Electric Touring Car Championship in 2019 and says the mid-engined RM20e that was revealed at the Beijing Motor Show in 2020 will “continue to serve as a ‘rolling lab’ for testing various electrified powertrains, possibly even hydrogen fuel cells.”

No prices have been announced for the Kona N yet, with Hyundai NZ saying it will reveal them closer to the Kona’s local launch, which is scheduled for the second half of this year.

Given that the $54,990 i30 N asks $10k more than the top-spec i30 N-Line, we would expect to see the Kona N breaking through the $60,000 mark, particularly given that the current Kona N-Line is $49,990, and while the i30 N is currently manual, the Kona will get the dual clutch transmission which will also bump the price up a bit.