General

Hyundai Kona is our Subcompact SUV Best Buy of 2020

By 11/20/2019 10:06pm
  • Energetic, youthful design
  • Impressive safety features
  • Choice of gasoline or all-electric powertrains
  • Fuel efficiency of up to 33 mpg
  • Kona Electric boasts 258-mile range
  • Pricing starts at $21,195 | Price yours
  • On sale now | See Kona models for sale near you

For the second year in a row, the Hyundai Kona has earned the crown as the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy winner among subcompact SUVs. That’s even more impressive when you consider the Kona itself is only a couple of years old, debuting last year as an all-new model in a segment that was already bustling with competition. Thanks to loads of style, safety systems galore, an excellent warranty and a variety of features to match your budget, the 2020 Hyundai Kona remains at the top of the subcompact-SUV pack.

Standout Style, Serious Safety

You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but cars are a different story. And it only takes one look at the Kona to tell this small crossover has a stylish, youthful tale to tell. Pronounced fender flares and body cladding convey an adventurous nature, while thin, angular headlights and the Kona’s squat overall shape suggests sporty intentions.

The mishmash of shapes, curves and angles are many, but they combine to create one of the most distinctive crossover SUVs out there. The Kona’s individualism can be further highlighted (literally) with exterior colors like Sunset Orange and Lime Twist.

Inside, the Kona’s 2-row/5-passenger cabin is less outlandish but practical. Controls are right where you want them, and everything is in within reach. Front-seat headroom and legroom are strong, though the rear-seat bench reflects this SUV’s subcompact nature, especially compared with the Honda HR-V. The Kona does make the most of its rear cargo space, with a nifty dual-level floor and the ability to expand from 19.2 cubic feet to nearly 46 with a flip of the rear seats.

While the 2020 Kona’s style is whimsical, its safety is serious. All models come with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and a driver-attention monitor that can detect drowsy or inattentive driving. All are welcome in a world of ever-increasing distraction and busyness.

Step up just one trim level and you get the added assurance of blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. And for 2020, the top-line Ultimate version benefits from the addition of adaptive cruise control.

Three Powertrains, Including Electric

The 2020 Hyundai Kona stands out among its competitors in that it offers a choice of not one, not two, but three different powertrains.

The first two are traditional gasoline engines available to all. As standard the Kona uses a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder. With 147 horsepower, it gets the job done and adequately moves Hyundai’s little SUV. Opting for the turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, however, turns the Kona from perfectly fine to surprisingly perky. With it, the Kona packs 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, which enable the Kona to squirt from stoplights and dance around slower traffic.

With either, all-wheel drive can be had instead of the standard front-wheel drive. Pro tip: In addition to the better traction you get with all-wheel drive, this option also improves the Kona by replacing the torsion-beam rear axle with a multi-link setup. If you’re not an engineer, all that means is an AWD Kona will handle and ride better than a front-drive version.

The Hyundai Kona’s third powertrain option is a little harder to get, but recommendable in its own right. That’s because it’s all-electric. The Kona Electric ditches a conventional gasoline engine and instead packs an electric motor that makes the equivalent of 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque. That equals tire-squealing oomph. More importantly for the EV crowd, the Kona Electric boasts a 258-mile range, one of the best out there.

At launch, the Kona Electric was only available in California, but availability quickly expanded to 10 states, mostly along the coasts.

Features and Value

Whichever model or powertrain you choose, the 2020 Hyundai Kona offers an impressive roster of features. All come packing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, conveniently conveyed through a 7-inch touchscreen.

Step-up features include everything from a larger screen and Infinity premium audio system to leather interior, head-up display and a pedestrian-detection system. As with all new Hyundai models, the 2020 Kona comes with a terrific warranty that includes 10-year/100,000-mile coverage for the powertrain.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona starts just over $20,000, and even a well-equipped model slides in comfortably under the $30K mark. That makes the Kona appealing for younger drivers on a budget, while its overall flair can’t help but capture a spectrum of other drivers who remain young at heart.

In addition, the Kona offers exceptional powertrains, a long list of standard features, impressive resale value numbers, and a lofty warranty, attributes that continue to put it ahead of its rivals — and again makes it the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award Winner among Subcompact SUVs.

More 2020 Hyundai Kona

Build and price your own 2020 Hyundai Kona to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Konas for sale today at dealers near you.

More 2020 Best Buys