Name: Hyundai Kona N (2021 - 2023) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Hyundai Kona N
Rating: 60.0

Summary

The Hyundai Kona N was a compact five-door SUV/crossover which is the performance-enhanced version of the standard Kona SUV range, and currently the largest model in the Hyundai ‘N’ family.

First arriving on UK roads in Autumn 2021, the Kona N had a fairly short production life as it was discontinued in late 2023 when the overall Kona range was replaced with an all-new model. At this stage, there has been no announcement about an N version of the new Kona.

The Kona N was powered by a 276hp 2.0-litre petrol engine – the same unit found in the Hyundai i30 N hot hatch. Autocar said that the combination of this powerful engine and the SUV’s agile handling made the Kona N feel like “a true hot hatch with a dash of extra ride height”, while Top Gear claimed that the Hyundai was the “most fun small performance crossover on sale”.

This accolade was slightly hollow when you consider that there weren’t many performance crossovers on the market at the time, and many reviewers stated that the class-leading Ford Puma ST was a better option. Comparing both models, What Car? concluded that the Kona N offered “less practicality, a smaller interior and louder road noise at motorway speeds”, while Parkers added that the Puma ST was also cheaper.

“You do have to accept a few small sacrifices”, Auto Express argued, “but they’re easy to make for the breadth of ability on offer here – the Kona N is more thrilling than many hot hatchbacks on sale.”

As of May 2024, the Hyundai Kona N holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 60%. As a used car, the Kona N is let down heavily by its high running costs. It’s also not helped by fairly poor media reviews and a safety rating that is now out of date.

Kona N highlights

One of the most exciting small SUVs to drive
Handling that inspires confidence
Well-equipped
Intuitive infotainment
Competitively priced

Kona N lowlights

Loud engine at high speeds
Rather cramped rear seating
Interior design uses cheap plastics
Not as practical as the Ford Puma ST
Stiff suspension

Key specifications

Body style: Small SUV
Engines: petrol
Price when new: From £35,820 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2021
Last updated: N/A
Discontinued: Winter 2023/24

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kona N is arguably the most appealing N model Hyundai has made yet. It’s civilised enough to use every day, yet on the right road it’s more thrilling than many hot hatchbacks on sale. You do have to accept a few small sacrifices – we’d like a little more practicality, for one – but they’re easy to make for the breadth of ability on offer here.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
“The Kona N is the second-ever European Hyundai N model to include an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s fast, fun and brilliant to drive.”
Read review

Autocar+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“A true hot hatch with a dash of extra ride height, the Kona N offers plentiful performance – if you can accept the trade-off in comfort that entails.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Kona N is – for better or worse – able to nail the feel of far smaller, lighter and uncompromising hatchback. But while it has the practicality of a crossover, there’s been no quarter given to ride comfort. Some might call it a one-dimensional, I’d call it a brief, nailed.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.4 / 10
“In the Kona N, Hyundai has created another fantastic performance model – one that makes a great alternative to a Volkswagen T-Roc R.”
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Hyundai Kona N is a small SUV that majors in exciting hot hatchback handling and performance. Practicality isn’t outstanding though, and it looks dull inside.”
Read review

Evo+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s more than just a badging exercise to cash in on what’s been achieved at Namyang and the Nürburgring with the i20 and i30, it’s a performance crossover that’s rich in ability and credibility.”
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed:
“The Kona just isn’t all that spacious or practical given its class positioning, and we’ll let you make up your own mind about the styling. What we will say is the Kona N might not be the consummate all-rounder, but it’s got a real sense of personality and feeling of fun that’s sorely missing in some more expensive hot SUVs.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.4 / 10
“If you really must have a fast SUV and plan to take it on track, you might want to consider the Kona N. However, it’s just too firm for our liking and not as entertaining as the cheaper, more practical Puma ST.”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Hyundai Kona N is an uncompromising small car, and it’s true that out on a smooth racing circuit its rock-hard stance, aggressive diff and stonking power would likely make it feel tremendous. On British roads in the depths of winter, though, it feels just a bit too wild.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s joyously silly. And if you can cope with mildly insatiable thirst and a firm ride, it ought to be more than capable of handling everyday life too. ‘Most fun small performance crossover on sale’ may sound like faint praise, but it’s a title true of the Kona N either way.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Hyundai Kona N successfully mixes sports car and small SUV, making it fast and engaging on winding roads but civilised and usable when driven normally. Compared to the Ford Puma ST and other rivals, the Kona N’s performance holds its own, but it’s let down by its lesser practicality, smaller interior and louder road noise at motorway speeds.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2017
Date expired: January 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 87%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 62%
Safety assist: 60%

Notes on safety rating

The Hyundai Kona N shares its safety rating with the regular Kona range, which was crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and awarded a five-star rating.

However, this rating expired in January 2024 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

However, if you are comparing a used Kona N to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Hyundai Kona N was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of May 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Hyundai Kona N to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Kona N, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	33 mpg	E	33 – 33 mpg	E – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	194 g/km	D	194 – 194 g/km	D – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	27	B	27 – 27	B – B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£324	C
Year 2	£762	C
Year 3	£1,192	C
Year 4	£1,385	C
Year 5	£1,775	C
Overall	£5,438	C

The Hyundai Kona N is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The biggest bill for any car owner is usually petrol, and the Kona N is very thirsty. While this is not that surprising, given that it’s a performance model, it still means that you’ll be shelling out regularly to fill up the tank.

Insurance costs shouldn’t be too bad, while servicing costs are fairly average.