This company’s most sporty crossover borrows a lot of its running gear from the Veloster N hot-hat.
After months of speculation, Hyundai finally released the sheet from the 2022 Kona N. This is the sportiest version of the company’s compact cross-country. The Kona, which uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from the VelosterN, is one of Hyundai’s most powerful SUVs, with 276 horsepower and 289 pounds-feet (206kilowatts, 392 newton meters). The Kona N is the automaker’s first “true hot SUV”.
The Kona N in the US will most likely be in a one-class market, but Hyundai isn’t content with its current position. This small SUV has a stiffened suspension and a crisp-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. It also features some new goodies that set it apart from the Kona siblings. The automaker hasn’t stopped tweaking its lineup to add more verve. Only the hottest Kona is one of 18 performance vehicles Hyundai will have in its global lineup by next year. It joins the current Veloster N; N Line variations of the Tucson, Kona and Elantra; the future Elantra N; as well as several other unspecified projects.
Go Fast Goodies
The Kona N’s powertrain is the most noticeable difference to other trim levels. The 2.0-liter four mentioned above is already in the Veloster N , where it displays lots of low-end torque, minimal turbolag, and an exhaust note worthy for a performance car. It produces 81 horsepower (60 kW), and 94 lbft (127 Nm), more than the turbocharged four-cylinder 1.6-liter fours found in the Kona N Line or Limited trims. The “N Grin Shift”, a temporary boost that powers up to 286 ponies (213kW) at the touch of a button, is ideal for launches and quick passes. Hyundai claims that it can sprint at 62 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 149.
The Kona N will receive an eight-speed, wet-dual clutch transmission (likely the one found both in the Sonata N Lineand Veloster N), one more than the “dry” DCT paired with the 1.6-liter. The Kona N will not have a manual transmission, nor all-wheel drive. This is a strange choice considering Kona’s performance-SUV preferences. Four driven wheels would be a great help for the torque steer that occasionally rears its head in Veloster N.
An electronic limited-slip front diff will keep the SUV firmly planted. N-specific 19-inch forged aluminum wheels with Pirelli P-Zero tires are also available. The Kona N has a higher-friction brake material and larger brake rotors to increase stopping power. Hyundai also improved the Kona N’s body by adding weld points and strengthening the skeleton. Strut rings have been redesigned for more rigidity and less body roll in corners. Hyundai claims that the curb weight is about 3,340 pounds which improves all-around performance by only 100 pounds over a VelosterN.
There are five drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and N. These will affect throttle mapping, traction, stability controls, steering weight and exhaust sounds. We hope that the Kona N’s active exhaust sounds just as loud and boisterous as the Veloster’s.
Vanity Muscles
You want the performance variant to look at least a little different if you go through the effort of purchasing it. Hyundai agrees. The 2022 Kona N will have a significantly revised bodywork. The updated Kona family gets new headlights and daytime running lights. The N model also receives a reshaped bumper with sharper grille textures. A new rear bumper features hilariously large twin exhaust outlets.
Split rear wings and a front lip spoiler provide additional downforce. Side skirts have been reshaped to add more strength. N-speciifc triangular brake light, which is also a part of the Veloster, recalls it. Also, the family’s cherished smatterings red pinstriping on the lower body has become a family tradition. The family keeps it all together with body-colored wheel arches borrowed from the Kona N Line. The small SUV’s bold styling is perfectly suited by an aggressive wheel design.
The Daily Grind
The supportive looking front bucket seats are as comfortable as the Sonata N Line’s similarly shaped seats. They have microfiber suede seat faces with faux leather inserts. The interior of the Hyundai 2022 Kona N features Performance Blue accents, as with all Hyundai performance products. This includes the steering wheel-mounted drive mode selector and DCT gear selector. The chunky steering wheel with metal pedals looks great and should be comfortable to use. A hand-operated parking brake makes it feel old-fashioned.
The N comes with a 10.0-inch digital cluster and an identically-sized infotainment display, just like other 2022 Kona models. The performance model also gets “N Mode Design”, which can communicate lap times and place the driver on a particular circuit, presumably using pre-programmed track layouts. The system was designed to give the driver a gaming experience. This is a strange choice if you have the opportunity to actually go on a track, rather than just fantasizing about it in Gran Turismo.
The Kona N will be able to provide active safety features such as blind spot collision prevention, adaptive cruise control, lane follow assist, automatic emergency braking, and lane following assistance.
Try It
The BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GTLA will have less direct competition. However, the price is lower and the performance is better than those of the Jaguar E–Pace. We hope that the Hyundai Kona N will inspire other mainstream automakers to make sportier, more luxurious versions of their small crossovers, such as the Nissan Kicks Nismo or Volkswagen Taos GTI.
The 2022 Hyundai Kona will be on the market by the end of this year. Pricing is unknown at the moment. It will likely cost more than the Veloster and other members of the compact crossover range. A starting price of $34,000 is possible, plus or minus a few hundred.