Hyundai Kona Hybrid test: family suite

The Kona rises frankly in range, with everything that has good and bad news.

Essay – Hyundai Kona Hybrid: the mouth of employment

Hyundai Kona is renewed. Larger and more technological, it takes up the recipes that have made its success. First contact with the hybrid version.

Some will say that the Hyundai Kona was a box for the Korean brand. Small and stylish, he offered a whole range of engines to meet all needs. If diesel engines were quickly forgotten, the urban SUV focused more on electrified engines. Its only real defect: a menu menu (4.21 m), which struggled to stand out from the Hyundai Bayon (4.18 m) introduced into the range in the meantime. If its name does not change, the Hyundai Kona is now larger, and keeps the revenues that have contributed to its success. We put contact with the hybrid version available at launch.

From the small urban crossover smaller than a Renault Captur, the Hyundai Kona now tickles the compact SUV segment. Like his cousin the kia niro, he takes volume and now reaches a length of 4.35 m. This places it in a particularly busy segment, sandwich between the Honda HR-V and the Toyota CH-R, both available with a hybrid engine. Like the latter, the Kona plays the card of stylistic eccentricity with a look notably marked by a LED banner, and assisted by optical blocks at the ends of the shield. Unsurprisingly, he hit the streets, but it will be necessary to be cautious in the tight places so as not to scratch the glasses.

Ioniq atmosphere on board

If he does not take up as much space as his cousin, his new measurements are obviously used to habitability, one of the Achilles heels of the previous version. And it is at the rear that the changes are the most noticeable thanks to the 6 cm elongated wheelbase. Guard has roof and knee radius are now in the right average, which makes it possible to envisage great departures at several.

And the hold is also one of the big winners during this passage of relays: the trunk climbs from 332 to 466 L. A beautiful evolution which allows him to pass distance from his two competitors aroused, who struggle to exceed 400 L. The modularity of the Korean SUV is however basic with a split bench in three parts, but not sliding, and a modular floor on two levels.

On board, the atmosphere changes radically. Like Kia Niro, which simulates the atmosphere of the Ev6, the Kona draws its inspiration from the Ioniq in the range. Large, bright and almost refined, the driving station does not give in to the whole touch. It is distinguished by a large digital slab made up of two 12.3 -inch screens, and a central panel with a whole batch of physical control. The latter is not as fun and modern as the Touch Bar du Niro, but the ergonomics are simpler. The instrumentation handset retains the graphics already known on board Hyundai, but the info-divisional system has reviews. Not enough to change the lives of regulars, however.

The imposing market selector installed behind the steering wheel (is it useful to do so big for this type of order ?) Getting space on the central console. This offers an imposing storage with retractable cup holders, while an induction smartphone charger is installed under the different USB ports. In short, the upgrading is attracted, which is not really the case with the materials used, uniformly hard and fragile. But then again, the trend is also observed among competitors.

A less harsh suspension, but ..

If the Hyundai are generally more comfortable than the equivalent Kia, wanted more dynamic, the Hyundai Kona is not as rigorous as its cousin in terms of damping. And this is above all the case at low speed, where the flanks of the tires cannot compensate for the small deformations. Under these conditions, the hectic and a little dry suspension shakes the passengers. Paradoxically, the pulling passages do not make the back of the rear passengers suffer with a slightly more pompous damping. Admittedly, damping is much less rough than before, but difficult to be comfortable under these conditions.

On the secondary roads, these grievances are forgotten and give way to a generally convincing chassis. This is also the case of the NEXEN NFERA PRIMUS tires sufficiently up to delicate situations. Here, it is more slow management in the event of strong solicitation and sticky around the medium point that slows the avoidance. A character shared with the Niro, also based on the new K3 platform. Finally, let us note a high perched driving position which may not satisfy those who like to drive low, and the lack of relative maintenance.

As sober as Kia Niro Hev

This new technical basis also makes it possible to share mechanical configurations. However, the Hyundai Kona will not choose the rechargeable hybrid engine, and will only be available with the HEV hybrid engine. Here we find the usual tandem composed of an atmospheric 4-cylinder at the 105 hp Atkinson cycle, associated with an electric machine of 43 hp between the engine and the box. The Hyundai teams did not tell us if the latter was taken over from the Niro. However, everything suggests that it is the same unit, which is distinguished by the disappearance of the backpack. This is provided by the electric machine, which allows the passage to save a handful of kilos.

If it is more reactive than before when downgrading, the hybrid tandem with redesigned management does not clearly improve the performance. At 0-100 km/h announced in 11.2 s, we measured an 80-120 km/h in 7.7 s aboard this hybrid SUV of 1,410 kg at vacuum. Nothing new with this engine of a total of 141 hp for 265 Nm in total, which is reluctant to pass the higher relationship when it is asked too much.

The electric traction chain is powered by a battery with a capacity of 1.56 kWh. Management makes it possible to push the developments to the power of the electric machine a little further, up to the surroundings of 40 km/h. And to allow the most players to repel the interventions of the heat engine, pallets behind the steering wheel allow you to modulate the strength of the regenerative braking, to the complete stop by tightening the left palette, as aboard an electric. In sport mode, they are used to change the double clutch gear reports. We quickly get into the game, especially since hybrids do not often offer this kind of artifice.

As part of daily mixed use, the tandem allows you to control consumption. We have thus noted an average close to 5.0 l/100 km at the end of our test, with a minimum of 4.2 l/km on secondary roads and 6.7 l/100 km on a highway. This is what a Honda HR-V can do, with very different driving pleasure because of its technology, no less convincing. Barely 7 cm longer, the Nissan Qashqai e-Power could be a little less sober, but it is more efficient.

Hyundai Kona increases its prices

With this new generation, the Hyundai Kona gains as much in measurement as in maturity. It now offers real family benefits for those who do not want to move towards a larger SUV, like the Hyundai Tucson for example. And he also makes a serious leap in terms of presentation, allowing him to have nothing to envy his new competitors with long teeth. Although damping is not easy on bad roads, it is much less brittle than before. Finally, the hybrid tandem is not technically exceptional, but it manages to keep consumption among the lowest in the segment despite the configuration. Japanese competitors must use some confusing technical eccentricities to do as well as.

In short, Hyundai signs a good rise. The fact remains that the measurements are not the only ones to inflate: the price grid also leaps. Available from € 33,400 does not finish intuitive entry -level, the new Kona climbs at € 39,900 in high -end finish n line executive.

Hyundai Kona Hybrid: test of the test

• Convincing consumption
• Complete series equipment
• Correct soundproofing

Hyundai Kona Hybrid test: family suite

Following a first compact opus, with rather urban aspirations, the second generation of the Korean SUV sees this time frankly larger. A bit too much ?

Zapping Auto Moto Essay: driving Peugeot 2008 restyled !

The Kona is not renewed; he reposition himself, nuance. From one generation to another, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is no longer really the same car. Problem, those who rightly appreciated this small Korean SUV for its almost reasonable prices as its size, quite relevant in town, risk regretting the first of the name by discovering the second.

First of all because by stretching almost 15 cm, this hyundai now reaches 4.35 m long. To take a stallion known to the greatest number, it is more than a first generation Nissan Qashqai. Nothing to do with an urban crossover.

Then, this change in dimension (s) is logically accompanied by strong inflation. With a first price standing today beyond € 33,000, the entrance ticket increases by around € 9,000 from one version to another.

But since these are as many technical developments as a progression within the brand’s hierarchy, no need to compare longer what is no longer comparable. And then this supplement of ambitions has not only disadvantages.

Less city dweller in the soul, therefore because of its size as some details such as spotlights always integrated into the shield, but now frankly exposed, the Kona becomes a much more family machine. 6 cm increased, the wheelbase clearly benefits habitability. Lots of things, the rear seats prove to be equivalent to those of an SUV in the higher category to which, among other things, belongs to the big brother Tucson or the Peugeot 3008.

In the absence of a sliding bench, small attentions such as the inclination of the second row files in two positions also appear. Just behind, the trunk has an additional 100 liters to now combine more than 450. What easily travel more than in love.

Bright, particularly in the presence of a light leather upholstery and the optional panoramic sunroof from our high -finish copy, the cabin gives all the more a nice impression of space, but also modernity.

The presentation is inspired by that of the largest ioniq. The aesthetics of the central console, a hi-fi chain of the 1980s, of a fun offset with the futurism of the body, makes its little effect once again.

This choice also has ergonomic virtues. To the pretty screens of the instrument handset (in series from the second creative level) and the multimedia system, both of 12.3 ”, are added good old buttons to adjust the air conditioning or the radio in a Only gesture, without getting lost in the meanders of a digital interface. Awesome.

On the central tunnel, a slightly larger dial than the others act as a driving mode selector. But to tell the truth, playing it to pass in particular to the Eco program, committed by default, in sport does not have great interest.

Because if there is something that evolves quite little about the Kona, it is its motorization in its hybrid version. Similar to that used by the Kia Niro cousin and the only alternative to purely electric proposals to come this fall (which largely explains the price difference with the first generation available in 100 % thermal), this traction chain cumulating 141 hp and 265 nm always supports badly to be abrupt.

If this is the case, the 6-speed double clutch robotic box sets to hesitate, sometimes making the 4-cylinder 1 snore 1.6 atmospheric more than reason. It is therefore better to put the soft pedal in order to take advantage of sufficient performance, greater operating fluidity and achieve the passage of small fuel savings. The on -board computer will display an average consumption of 5.8 l/100 km at the end of this first test at the varied course. Not bad.

In general, this hyundai lends itself quite little at a removed pace. Not that she lacks rigor, far from it. Rather a little low -speed comfort. In any case, his conduct is not exciting. The behavior remains placid and the silent direction although it is precise. Without having taken the trouble to put the most intrusive driving aids in standby, the experience can even brush the horripilant because of sound alerts and repetitive trajectories corrections. This is the only ransom of an endowment, whether it is security or not, really ple-thrique. Electric front seats, heated and ventilated, 360 ° camera, hand-free tailgate, navigation, remote parking assistance ..

It is necessary to make you want to sign a check of almost € 40,000 here in this executive version. Fortunately, for all those who believe that Kona is definitely too much, Hyundai has the solution: the Bayon.

Our verdict

The Kona rises frankly in range, with everything that has good and bad news.

WE love

• Presentation efforts
• Habitability
• Very rich endowment

We love less

• Rate
• Any driving
• Footprint in urban use

Hyundai Kona Hybrid 141 Executive technical sheet

BUY

• Test version: 38,900 €
• From € 33,400
• Average manufacturer’s consumption/During the test (l/100 km): 4.7/5.8
• CO2/Malus: 106-107/0 €
• Tax power: 5 CV
• Country of manufacture: Korea

Range offered

• Hybrid 141 hp, from € 33,400 to € 39,900

TO DRIVE

• Motor: before, transverse, 4-cylinder, direct injection, 16 valves, variable distribution per chain, 1,580 cc + Synchronous electric machine with permanent magnets
• Transmission: traction, 3 -speed robotic
• Maximum combined power: 141
• Maxi cumulative torque: 265
• Vacuum weight (kg): 1,485
• Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m): 4.35×1,83×1.59
• Shopping (m): 2.66
• Tank (L): 38
• Maximum speed (km/h): 165
• 0 to 100 km/h: 11 ”2
• Serial tires: 215/55 R18
• Test tires: Nexen n’fera primus

LIVE

• Width at the AV/AR elbows (cm): 149/145
• Length to the legs ar (cm): 74
• 5/2 (l) box: 466/1 300

Recommended options

• Electric sunroof: 800 €
• Metallic paint: 550 €

Main competitors

• Kia Niro Hybrid, from € 32,340
• Renault Captur E-Tech, from € 32,900