Hyundai Kona review

The Kona’s interior has never really split opinion like its exterior. As is the fashion nowadays the infotainment screen, now 8-inches on base spec SE Connect cars and 10.25-inches on all others, stands proud of the dashboard. All specs now get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s an optional – or standard with top spec Ultimate trim – head-up display. It's of the cheaper flip-up sort, not projected straight onto the screen like some, that providing you can adjust it high enough for you to see, is well worth having.

The dials are no longer manual and are now displayed on a clear 10.25-inch screen, and the manual handbrake has also been swapped out in favour of a cleaner electronic one. The cabin certainly doesn’t feel too fussy but there’s still proper buttons for all of the important functions. Great climate control panel too.

Material quality in the pre-facelift Kona was a mixed bag, but Hyundai has improved things this time around. It’s spec dependent, of course, but most of the main touch points feel relatively high-end and you can inject a bit of life with different colour packages. N Line cars will get red stitching, metal pedals and N logos on both the gear lever and the seats.

Rear-seat space remains disappointing. You can seat one adult behind another in the Kona, and headroom is okay, but adults will not be very comfortable back there for longer than a half hour or so. If they’re tall or especially long of leg, they’ll struggle to get comfy. Not that anyone uses their back seats anymore, mind. Boot space is average for the class but remains smaller than that offered by the Puma.