When the Hyundai Kona debuted in 2017, it arrived in a crowded segment as an affordable, athletic, and comfortable option in the compact SUV segment. It was well equipped to fight rivals like the Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda3 Turbo, and Toyota Corolla. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t get better, and the 2024 Hyundai Kona is a force to be reckoned with thanks to significant improvements. 

Is the 2024 Hyundai Kona bigger?

Yes, the 2024 Hyundai Kona is larger than before to improve passenger and cargo space without compromising its athletic and engaging nature.

Along with being larger, the new Kona is:

• Smarter
• More comfortable
• Efficient
• Distinctive

We got to see it for ourselves around the crowded city streets of Charleston, SC, and the surrounding countryside. 

The 2024 Kona grew six inches longer, 2.6 inches taller, and about an inch wider. Plus, it has a ground clearance of up to 8.3 inches. The longer wheelbase and increased width create a smoother ride and enhance stability. Passengers win with three extra inches of leg space. 

Also, the cargo volume grew by six cubic feet. You can access up to 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.7 cubes overall. Removing the traditional gear shifter freed space to add the multi-use storage console. 

Plus, the front seats are sculpted with a thin design, and the rear seat has a sofa-like design to save space while emphasizing comfort and support. 

The Kona has plenty of storage bins and trays to take advantage of. The reconfigurable cargo shelf also has several uses for cargo management and organization. 

Overall, it provides the class-leading passenger, interior, and cargo space in a smarter way. It’s a highly capable and comfortable option for traveling college kids and younger families. 

Is the 2024 Kona comfortable? 

Yes, the 2024 Hyundai Kona is extremely comfortable. I’ve been in the Honda HR-V, Mazda3 Turbo, Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Renegade, Kia Sportage, and Toyota Corolla this year, but the Kona takes the cake. The Kona N-Line is a little stiffer, like the Mazda CX-30.

It rides on the global K3 platform with a MacPherson strut suspension, stabilizer bar, and gas pressure shock absorbers. The FWD models have a torsion beam axle, and AWD models have a multi-link setup. 

Over cobblestone streets, train tracks beat up pavement sections, impacts are quickly settled for a smooth and relaxing ride. Plus, the brakes are confident and responsive. 

Sometimes, narrow streets surprise you with massive trucks blocking the interaction or horse-drawn carriages. But the Kona can stop on a dime and is agile enough to travel around obstacles. 

It’s also fitted with new sound insulation materials such as reinforced seals, new bushings, and improved floor padding. The tires also feature sound walls. The interior is peacefully quiet at highway speeds. 

The front seats are spacious, supportive, and ergonomic for hours of comfort. The sofa-like rear seat has plenty of space to relax and stretch out. It reclines, too. One of our passengers actually took a nap in the rear. 

Other comfort enhancements include rear air vents, heated/ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. 

How much power does the Kona have? 

The 2024 Hyundai Kona has a standard and economical 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. It’s no slouch, with the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. That’s plenty of power for merging into traffic and passing others. 

Upgrade to the turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four engine for 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission for smoother shifting. Also, the turbo engine helps the Kona reach 60 mph in roughly 5.3 seconds. 

With the standard engine, the Kona gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg on the highway and up to 29 mpg in the city. The turbocharged Kona gets about 24 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway. This is on par with rivals. 

The 2024 Hyundai Kona EV wasn’t at our drive event, but it has up to 200 hp and an estimated range of 260 miles. 

The Kona dares to be different 

You’ve probably heard people complain that every SUV looks the same these days, but the 2024 Hyundai Kona dances to a unique tune. It’s the first vehicle to adopt an EV design to ICE vehicles. Usually, the gas-powered models come first. 

It has a pixelated design to match the rest of the Hyundai SUV lineup, with a seamless horizon lamp and aerodynamic nose. A pixelated horizon lamp is featured in the rear with expensive characteristics and futuristic vibes. 

The Kona has sharp, distinctive lines and distinctive wheel arches with protective cladding. There are four different wheel designs, an integrated spoiler, and nine distinctive paint shades. 

The available 2024 Kona colors include Cyber Grey Metallic, Soultronic Orange Pearl, Lunar White, Abyss Black Pearl, Electronic Gray Pearl, Ultimate Red Metallic, Neoteric Yellow, Mirage Green, and Denim Blue Pearl. 

Let’s talk Hyundai Kona tech 

The 2024 Hyundai Kona is the smartest SUV in the segment, with over-the-air updates. It might not have wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto yet, but it’s coming soon. Hyundai didn’t want to push it out before it was ready. 

It has a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with an available 12.3-inch digital guage cluster with a seamless design. It has faster loading times, upgraded graphics, animations, and improved GPS accuracy. This was made apparent with instant navigation directions around South Carolina. 

The system is primarily a touchscreen interface, and some users may prefer more physical controls. However, it’s more intuitive and advanced than other touchscreen units, and connecting phones is easy. 

You can use your phone or smartwatch as a digital key, get three years of Bluelink+, can use the remote parking assist. The 360-degree camera display is extremely helpful, and USB C ports are in every row. The wireless phone charging pad is in front of the center console. 

How safe is the 2024 Kona? 

The 2024 Hyundai Kona is extremely safe. It rides on a reinforced platform with increased body rigidity and collision performance. It has hot-stamped high-strength steel, reinforced side pillars, an impact bar to disperse loads, a double box frontal structure, and mounts to absorb impacts. 

Standard safety features include blind spot warning, forward collision warning assist, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, rear occupant reminder, and safe exit assist. 

A few optional features like highway driving assist, the blind spot view monitor, and parking distance warning aren’t offered by any other options in the class. 

How much does the new Kona cost? 

The 2024 Hyundai Kona starts with an MSRP of $24,100, and the top-spec Limited model takes the price up to $31,650. These prices don’t include the $1,335 destination fee, but they do include extra space, comfort, tech, and convenience compared to rivals. 

Standard features include a 12.3-inch display, 17-inch wheels, a dual-level cargo floor, Bluelink+ connectivity, OTA updates, Hyundai SmartSense, push-button start, keyless entry, remote start, LED projector headlights, HD/satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, USB-C ports, a haptic steering wheel, and an electronic parking brake. 

It remains quite the bargain with extra space for cargo and passengers, advanced tech, improved capabilities, and efficient yet athletic engines. The interior design is upscale yet simple and driver-focused. 

The soft-tex leatherette upholstery and soft-touch covered surfaces are durable with near-luxury quality. The Kona is totally new and ready to change the game.

Stay tuned for our Kona EV review. Do you think it’s the class leader, or does the Kona need more work?