Hyundai failed on this rendition of the Kona N. I had money down on the Kona N a year ago and pulled it when I corresponded Asian youtubers who had race track access to the Kona N test mules, that where all 2WD. When I found that out, I pulled my money. It is really sad Hyundai did not add the AWD option or came out with just an AWD version. A $1,400 option. And no excuse that they would have to design parts as the rear diff in my car can handle 1,100 ftlbs of torque per the manufactures website. So that means you could make a 800 hp Kona N AWD and be in the safe threshold of torque ratings of the rear diff. The measurements as far as chassis are so close to the GTI/Golf R. So my AWD car is so close to the Golf R and GTI close to the Kona N. They also have the full drivetrain for up and coming cars. 1/3 of Hyundais are AWD , so it is a "breeze" for them to add AWD. The Hyundai rear Multi-Link suspension was designed by an Audi/VW BMW engineer.
The Kona N has been "crippled" with a horrid roll center for "no good reason" If there was a Kona N AWD it would be the King of the N cars, so now it basically a crippled "also ran." There was a youtube tester that drove a Kona N and Elantra N side by side and that tester called out how twitchy the Kona N is because Hyundai did not lower it. The roll center is killing this car for no good reason. The Kona needs more weight in the rear to be setup a more advantageous weight distribution. My AWD kona, I had to add 100+more weight over and above the added rear diff and driveline weight. This added weight added SO SO much to handling balance. This is even after I added semi ridged semi solid suspenion bushings and lowering it 2 inches with increase spring rate springs and "tuned" with spring rubbers.
As an owner of a lowered tuner AWD Kona Limited, I would love to have bought one, but AWD it too important to me in the corners and for towing my boat. If you enable Sport Mode you engage AWD full time at a 95/5 ratio. That makes all the fdifference in the world for towing for me towing. I get a front diff grown in 2WD and NO load in AWD. The Kona is rated for 2,800 lbs towing in Europe/Australia and I tow max 1,400 lbs. Here is a match up of a Kona N vs GTI. The VW has 247hp and the same ftlbs of torque. But as many know if torque matches up your car will be close
.