Advertisement
BBC TopGear
BBC TopGear
Subscribe to Top Gear newsletter
Sign up now for more news, reviews and exclusives from Top Gear.
Subscribe
SUVs

The Hyundai Kona is a very bold Juke rival

Much styling, optional 4WD and up to 174bhp: Hyundai's mini SUV isn't messing about

Published: 13 Jun 2017

This is the Hyundai Kona. It’s a little SUV to take on the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Vauxhall Mokka X.

Unlike all of those, it looks genuinely rugged, with proper rubber wheel arches (Hyundai calls it ‘protective armour’), while there’s optional four-wheel drive.

Advertisement - Page continues below

Its big draw will be its styling. Taking influence from the Juke, perhaps, it’s unashamedly bold. There’s a lot of styling in there, actually; the split running lights and headlights appear to be nods to both the Juke and Citroen’s new mini SUV, while there’s Hyundai’s new Audi-esque grille and all manner of other flourishes. The bonnet vent and rear pillars are particularly interesting.

It’s a global car, so it’ll be sold in Europe, America and Hyundai’s Korean home market, with a slightly different setup depending on where it’s sold. So there’ll be differing engine choices and tweaked suspension for each market. In Europe, expect a handful of turbocharged petrols and diesels, with a 118bhp 1.0-litre petrol likely to be the best value.

There will be a 174bhp 1.6-litre petrol, too, which ought to make the Kona pretty quick in a class of sensible cars; 7.7sec to 62mph quick, in fact. Hyundai promises the Kona will be fun to drive, and there’s a bespoke suspension setup depending on whether you go for front- or four-wheel drive.

Hyundai is overtly aiming this car at “the Millennial demographic”, so there’s tons of customisation available inside and out, a head-up display (spot the little glassy square in the pic above), wireless phone charging and all sorts of active safety tech.

Advertisement - Page continues below

Ultimately, though, these things are probably bought for their looks. So tell us: do you think Hyundai’s got it right with the Kona?

Top Gear
Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

More from Top Gear

Loading
See more on Hyundai

Subscribe to the Top Gear Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

BBC TopGear

Try BBC Top Gear Magazine

subscribe