Hyundai Kona?

[JTK]

Just curious if we have any owners here and experience with the 2.0L "Nu" series MPI Atkinson cycle engine and 6spd shiftronic from Hyundai? A family member just traded his 2017 Honda Civic hatchback 1.5T, 6spd manual for a new leftover 2018 Kona SEL, FWD. He loved his Civic aside from getting stuck in traffic with the 6MT and had over 80K miles on it. He wanted something with a tad more ride height. He shopped new Honda HR-V and CR-V. The CR-V was too much $ and he didn't care for the HR-V as much as the Hyundai Kona. He got a better trade allowance with Hyundai and a much better buying experience I'm told. He got the Kona for $22K +TTL.

 

[WhyMe]

been looking for a car for my kid. was gonna get an eleantra but saw the kona. its a pretty cool car. we can get one for 3-4k off msrp without even negotiating. got a big snow storm here last night. the awd would come on handy . should have bought it last week

 

[gofast182]

My neighbor just looked at the Kona and HR-V this past weekend. Of the two she preferred the Kona but didn't love it, at least not in the SE trim.

She ended up buying a new Civic after loving the way it looks, drives, and all of the equipment for the same money that you don't get on those small CUVs.

 

[JustN89]

I've got the 2.0L Nu engine with 6 speed auto in my Elantra. It's been a great combo providing excellent fuel mileage. It's not fast, but it's no dog either. I've had it for coming up on 2 years now and 32k miles and haven't had one issue with that combo.

 

[Langanobob]

Wife just got a new 2.0 SEL Kona AWD last week. Haven't had it long enough for a review but it seems like a nice little car.

She always does her own research on cars and all of her past selections have worked out real well. If the Kona follows suit it should be a good vehicle.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted by JustN89
I've got the 2.0L Nu engine with 6 speed auto in my Elantra. It's been a great combo providing excellent fuel mileage. It's not fast, but it's no dog either. I've had it for coming up on 2 years now and 32k miles and haven't had one issue with that combo.

Ditto. Only difference is I have 16k on my 2017 Elantra. I would buy it again.

 

[mclasser]

Originally Posted by MONKEYMAN
Originally Posted by JustN89
I've got the 2.0L Nu engine with 6 speed auto in my Elantra. It's been a great combo providing excellent fuel mileage. It's not fast, but it's no dog either. I've had it for coming up on 2 years now and 32k miles and haven't had one issue with that combo.

Ditto. Only difference is I have 16k on my 2017 Elantra. I would buy it again.

+2 I've got it in my '18 Elantra. The 2.0 doesn't sound as refined as Honda 4-bangers that I'm used to, especially when you get on the gas. It gets up to speed fine on the highway. The 6-speed auto is pretty smooth.

 

[oil_film_movies]

I'd read the reviews (scroll down the page for two of them) at https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/kona first before buying.
It does appear to be a good buy. Numb steering and stumbling transmission are some negatives, but there are lots of reasons to overlook those minor flaws. Korean cars are some of the best values available, long warranties, fun-ish, practical cars. VW does currently have an even longer warranty, so investigate a VW Golf as a competitor here. The Golf gets high marks for handling & steering too.
BTW, the Kona Electric is a great EV choice.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
Korean cars are some of the best values available, long warranties, fun-ish, practical cars.
One of these things is not like the others.....
Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
VW does currently have an even longer warranty, so investigate a VW Golf as a competitor here. The Golf gets high marks for handling & steering too.
You have redeemed yourself!

 

[MK2]

Interesting thread. I myself is planning to get my wife a Kona or the cheaper Kia Soul, not sure if these will be good enough for a family of 4. Our ten year old Sonata has been very reliable at 140K.

 

[Nick1994]

Hyundai makes one heck of a car. For the price you pay, even if it does have a random problem, that's still money in the bank.

My 90k miles Sonata has only had 1 CV boot with a slight tear, was pretty cheap to get it fixed too.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted by maxdustington
Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
Korean cars are some of the best values available, long warranties, fun-ish, practical cars.
One of these things is not like the others.....
Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
VW does currently have an even longer warranty, so investigate a VW Golf as a competitor here. The Golf gets high marks for handling & steering too.
You have redeemed yourself!


Sorry, times change. The Kona is a fun drive. But just like those who bash VW having never sat in one, i guess you've not driven a Kona?

And I've owned plenty vdubs.

 

[Andy636]

Can't you buy the 1.6 T-GDI in the US?

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted by Andy636
Can't you buy the 1.6 T-GDI in the US?

Yes. Mainia on this forum has one.

Regarding reviews with the 2.0 and 6 speed transmission. The reviews I saw did not utilize the Sport mode or Tiptronic feature. Lot of choices that transform the way this combo performs.

 

[Langanobob]

Originally Posted by Andy636
Can't you buy the 1.6 T-GDI in the US?

Yes, but as I recall the Kona models that come equipped with the 1.6 T-GDI also come with some other upgraded features that drive the price up by several thousand USD.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted by Langanobob
Originally Posted by Andy636
Can't you buy the 1.6 T-GDI in the US?

Yes, but as I recall the Kona models that come equipped with the 1.6 T-GDI also come with some other upgraded features that drive the price up by several thousand USD.

 

[GenesisGuy70]

The fiance has that engine in her '17 Elantra, 25,000 miles and not a problem to speak of. Oil changes every 7,500 and nothing else. I had a '17 Elantra as well at one point in time but didn't care for the car, the engine is a solid day-to-day driver though. Put it in sport and slide the shifter into manual mode and it has more than adequate get up and go. I think the transmission is great too. They make a good pair.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Steering & handling deficiencies are mostly found in Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and a lot of FCA vehicles in general. Some people insist on excellent steering & handling performance, and some don't know or care.
Its all individual choices. Certainly a VW Golf will have a longer warranty and have better driving dynamics too. Yet cars like the Kona are basically acceptable to most people.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
Steering & handling deficiencies are mostly found in Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and a lot of FCA vehicles in general. Some people insist on excellent steering & handling performance, and some don't know or care.
Its all individual choices. Certainly a VW Golf will have a longer warranty and have better driving dynamics too. Yet cars like the Kona are basically acceptable to most people.

Having owned a bunch of Chrysler vehicles and my Santa Fe I would beg to differ on the steering. Toyota I might agree with you on the Highlander because it had electric steering and it had a delay from right to left that bugged me.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted by StevieC
Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
Steering & handling deficiencies are mostly found in Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and a lot of FCA vehicles in general. Some people insist on excellent steering & handling performance, and some don't know or care.
Its all individual choices. Certainly a VW Golf will have a longer warranty and have better driving dynamics too. Yet cars like the Kona are basically acceptable to most people.

Having owned a bunch of Chrysler vehicles and my Santa Fe I would beg to differ on the steering. Toyota I might agree with you on the Highlander because it had electric steering and it had a delay from right to left that bugged me.

Unless you did real test drives, over the same terrain for each vehicle, for yours and dozens of other competitors, you wouldn't know.
Only use expert analysis from real test drives when comparing steering & handling. Anecdotal comments like yours are worthless. All it "proves" is the level of handling is tolerable to you personally.