What's New
- The 2021 Hyundai Kona is primarily a carryover from the 2020 model year.
- A new Night model adds 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim pieces and comes with the turbocharged engine.
Pros & Cons
- Available all-wheel drive
- Strong turbocharged engine
- Goes all-in on big personality
- Standard engine is underpowered
- Lacks cargo space
- Only decent fuel economy
Hyundai Kona Overview
Now three years into its maiden run on the market, the Hyundai Kona subcompact crossover remains one of the more boldly styled vehicles in its segment. The 2021 Kona is primarily a carryover from the previous model year with the addition of the blacked out Night trim. This is also the last model year before it’s mid-cycle re-fresh for 2022.
The Kona is technically a five-passenger vehicle, but the its back seat is best suited for a pair of intimately acquainted friends, groceries or a canine companion—not unlike most rivals such as the Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade and Ford EcoSport. Cargo room is tight with only 19.2 cubic-feet available behind the second row, but it sits mid-pack among peers, with the Jeep Renegade offering the least amount of storage (18.5 cubic-feet). Despite its tight dimensions, it’s also one of the more fun to drive models.
The Hyundai Kona comes in six trims: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, Night and Ultimate. The base SE, SEL, and midgrade SEL Plus get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The new-for-2021 Night trim as well as the Limited and Ultimate add an eager turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque and mated to a mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All trims are available with all-wheel drive for a $1,400 upcharge.
Trim Specifications
The base SE trim ($21,685) comes with front-wheel drive, 16-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, a 60/40 folding rear seat, a six-speaker stereo, a rearview monitor, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual USB ports.
Standard safety tech includes forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assistance and a driver attention warning system.
The SEL model ($23,485) adds blind spot warnings, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alerts as well as larger 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, SiriusXM radio and HD Radio. The SEL Plus model ($25,335) gets Hyundai Blue Link services, wireless device charging, LED headlights and taillights and a 315-watt Infinity audio system.
The new Night trim ($27,385) offers blacked-out interior and exterior accents, along with 18-inch wheels. Stepping up to the Limited trim ($27,485) adds leather upholstery, fog lights, a power sunroof, and automatic climate controls. The top-of-the-line Ultimate model ($29,335) gets high beam assist, pedestrian detection, a reverse parking distance system as well as an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, a head-up display and rain-sensing wipers.
Warranty
5 Years/60,000 Miles
10 Years/100,000 Miles
7 Years/Unlimited Miles
5 Years/Unlimited Miles
3 Years/36,000 Miles