Used 2021 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is the vehicle of the moment. And for the foreseeable moments to come. That’s because it’s a subcompact SUV/crossover, which happens to be what many people want to drive these days.

On top of that, the 2021 Kona is one of the top choices in its class. It took our award for Subcompact SUV Best Buy of 2019 and 2020, by virtue of its combination of practicality, efficiency, value, engaging nature and excellent warranty.

Last year, it was crash-tested by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning a maximum five stars overall from the former and given the accolade of Top Safety Pick by the latter.

One more reason why the Hyundai Kona will continue to be a vehicle of the moment is the all-electric version (available in 10 states) with 258 miles of range.

Short vehicles got no reason… to be comfortable, with their little wheelbases and budget suspensions (apologies to Randy Newman). The funny thing is that the Hyundai Kona is supple and stable, given the modest distance between its front and rear axles.

The Kona is arguably at its best in town, where it can slip through traffic and squeeze into small parking spots. But longer freeway jaunts are nothing to dread.

The 147-horsepower engine in the three lower levels does its job sweetly and economically. And the 175-horsepower turbocharged alternative in the higher trims brings entertaining acceleration to complement the Kona’s nimble handling.

As well as providing optimum traction, the all-wheel-drive option also entails an independent rear suspension, which is a more sophisticated setup and improves both the ride and the dynamics.

The 2021 Kona Electric SUV can feel a bit choppier than its regular counterpart, due to the weight of its battery pack. Yet it feels more planted, because of the lower center of gravity. Like other electric vehicles (EVs), acceleration comes on like flipping a light switch, accompanied by an eerie almost-silence (no engine or exhaust noise).

The driver-adjustable regenerative braking system can be set to different levels. At its maximum, it can almost enable one-pedal driving.

The quest for user-friendliness means a cabin not quite as “individual” as the outside, but that’s no cause for complaint. The 2021 Kona features a 2-row/5-passenger interior that’s just as positive in its own way. The front seats are perfectly comfortable, and the controls are easy to see and use, with physical buttons that complement the standard touchscreen (a 7-inch item in most trims and an 8-inch display in the top Ultimate trim).

The rear accommodations are limited — no big surprise given the Kona’s subcompact stature. Legroom is tight for adults, and headroom is only adequate. But there’s a decent amount of cargo space behind those rear seats. And the adjustable load floor with hidden storage is a smart inclusion.

The Kona Electric SUV has its own twists, such as replacing the transmission lever with buttons for Drive, Reverse, Neutral and Park.

Some might call it busy, others might just say there’s a lot going on with the Hyundai Kona’s exterior design. Elements such as the slanted headlights, “floating” roof, and exaggerated fenders take the Kona in a different stylistic direction than other Hyundai vehicles.

For an extra $400, a contrasting roof color is one way to give a new Kona greater visual impact. Roof rails are standard at the SEL level, enhancing practicality and exhibiting a more utilitarian vibe.

Higher trims stand out even more with features like LED headlights, taillights and fog lights, shark-fin antenna, and sunroof. The Night Edition has high-gloss black accents and is available in Galactic Gray, Chalk White, or Ultra Black.

Kona Electric models don’t need a traditional grille. This is where the charge port is located, near the driver’ s-side headlight.

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES
The Kona comes with several active safety features. All models include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention monitoring. Blind-spot monitoring doesn’t cost much more.

KONA ELECTRIC VEHICLE
The battery-powered 2021 Kona has an impressive 258-mile range, beating most other electrics (at any price) and even its own cousin, the new Kia Soul EV rated at a respectable 243 miles.

In basic SE form, the 2021 Kona still has a generous amount of features, including a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, a blind spot function in the driver’s side mirror, and two USB ports up front. Among the active safety features are driving attention monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance.

For an extra $1,800, we recommend the Kona SEL, adding blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, keyless entry/ignition, leather-wrapped steering wheel, hidden cargo compartment, roof rails, rear privacy glass, heated side mirrors, HD/satellite radio, and the option of a roof painted in a contrasting color.

An entry-level Kona Electric SEL is comparable to the regular SEL model.

Like all new Hyundai vehicles, the Kona has a fantastic warranty that includes 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain.

For a little extra indulgence, the 2021 Kona SEL Plus adds an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, powered sunroof, 8-speaker Infinity audio upgrade, LED fog lights, self-dimming rearview mirror with a remote garage door opener, wireless phone charging, and Hyundai’s Blue Link system allowing the owner to monitor and perform certain functions (such as locking/unlocking) with a smartphone.

The new Night Edition is now the first Hyundai Kona to have the turbocharged engine/7-speed DCT transmission powertrain. It’s more performance-oriented and comes with 18-inch alloy wheels from RAYS, a well-respected third-party manufacturer of sporty rims. Cosmetic additions include black upholstery and black side mirror housings. It also has LED headlights and taillights.

The 2021 Kona Limited leans more toward luxury, with leather seating surfaces and automatic climate control. Plus aerodynamic wipers that might help reduce some wind noise at freeway speeds.

Naturally, the Ultimate trim tops the Hyundai Kona range. It brings a pedestrian detection function to the automatic emergency braking, plus adaptive cruise control, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, a head-up display, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing wipers.

All-wheel drive is optional for all 2021 Kona models.

The SE, SEL, and SEL Plus versions of the 2021 Kona have a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. This amount of energy is about average for the segment. It goes to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.

The Night Edition, Limited and Ultimate models come with a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. This configuration delivers swift acceleration and raises the fun factor considerably. Once again, front-wheel drive (FWD) is the default setup, with AWD on the options list. And despite having a turbocharger, it’s OK to use regular gasoline with this engine.

The Kona Electric uses an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and a gutsy 291 lb-ft of torque. This variant is front-drive only. Range from the 64-kWh lithium-ion battery is an impressive 258 miles, only one mile less than a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV.

Recharging takes about 9.5 hours on a 240-volt Level II charger. With a Level III Quick Charge station, the Kona EV can reach 80-percent capacity in 54 minutes.

In some good news, Hyundai has partnered with Electrify America to offer 250 kilowatt-hours of free charging to Kona EV owners. The offer applies to new buyers as well as those who have already purchased a 2021 Hyundai Kona EV.

That works out to about 1,000 miles of free charging.

2.0-liter inline-4
147 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
132 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/33 mpg (FWD), 25/30 mpg (AWD)

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
175 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/32 mpg (FWD), 26/29 mpg (AWD)

Permanent-magnet synchronous motor (Kona Electric)
64-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
201 horsepower
291 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 132/108 MPGe
Range: 258 miles