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| That's a toit ass in any language. |
THE Hyundai Kona has garnered yet another international award last week, this time in the States, where the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year automotive media jury named the Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric CUV models the dual winner of the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.
Deon Sonnekus, marketing manager at Hyundai SA, said in a statement this is the first time that a
Hyundai Crossover Utility Vehicle model has won the Utility Vehicle of the Year category.
Hyundai Crossover Utility Vehicle model has won the Utility Vehicle of the Year category.
What made this award extra special is that it happened at Detroit — home of the muscle car, tuned V8s, big pickups and soul music.
This after the Texas Auto Writers Association also said this is the best sub-compact sport utility vehicle at the 2018 Annual Texas Truck Rodeo.
That a bunch of Texans and 54 American car journalists all picked this crossover from Seoul as the best utility vehicle the dollar can buy, underlines just how this cute but capable this little car is.
All these accolades mean the Kona is an odds on favourite in South Africa, where the crossover is a finalist for the Autotrader Car of the Year, to be chosen by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists in April.
In the flesh, the Kona looks as cute and sleek as a little wet otter, which has earned it a slew of design awards, including a Red Dot in 2018 and this year an International Forum (iF) award — one of the most important awards for industrial designers since 1953.
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| The only criticism that owners can level at the Kona is how all four corners and the side mirror have fragile lights placed where the glass have to hit something. Dealers call this revenue stream planning. |
Torque, and then some
The Kona is not “all looking and no cooking” either.
As Sonnekus explained, the iF awards are only bestowed after a rigorous testing cycle to ensure the quality of the award is as high as possible.
I did my own bit of rigorous testing last week, loading the family in the little 1-litre, expecting to row its six-speed manual up the steep hills towards Wartburg.
Launched locally in October 2018, the Kona comes with only two drivetrain options —a burbly little 1-litre T-GDI Executive for R379 900 or the rev-happy 2-litre NU Executive automatic for R399 900.
Both models have six-speed transmission that sends the power to the front wheels. And does the 1-litre send that power!
At one point, with cruise control on in fifth gear going up a steep hill with no loss of speed despite all four seats being occupied, I started seriously doubting that I was driving in the little 998 cc turbo engine.
Upon reaching my destination, I even checked under the bonnet to make sure the dealership did not perhaps send me the 2-litre by mistake.
The overstroked three-cylinder makes 172 Nm from 1 500 rpm to 4 000 rpm with peak power of 88 kW at 6 000 rpm.
This means you can basically shove the Kona in third gear in city traffic and then forget about changing gears. On the open road, fifth gear will meet all your needs up hill, and if you hook sixth, you will match or exceed Hyundai’s lowest consumption of 6,8 litres/100 km.
Sonnekus said the Kona 1.0 turbo can do 181 km/h, and I believe him.
Inside, smooth, contoured surfaces fold around the occupants with bright highlights that add pizazz to the cockpit.
Four presses of a button connected Bluetooth and the backlit AUX and USB plug points are both aesthetically pleasing and very practical in the dark.
The onboard computer offers a wide variety of information, including instant and average fuel consumption, and the tyre pressure, which is standard equipment on both models.
A seven-inch touchscreen controls the navigation, infotainment and sound system. The sound is excellent thanks to four speakers and two tweeters.
The Display Audio also allows passengers to mirror their smartphone’s content onto the system’s seven-inch display via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
More than meets the eye
In the front, there is over a metre of legroom with the seat all the way back, while the rear offers 880 mm knee space with the front seat pushed forward.
The boot swallows a respectable 361 litres with the seats up, and more than double this with the 60:40 split rear seat back rest folded down.
The exterior rearview mirrors can fold in with remote control to protect from damage in tight parking spaces. The sun visors include vanity mirrors with illumination, and the centre roof console includes a sunglasses holder.
Safety
The Kona achieved a five-star safety rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
Active safety features include an Anti-skid Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Downhill Brake Control, Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning. Passive safety features include two front, two curtain and two side-impact airbags.
Numbers at a glance
Price: R379 900
Engine: 998 cc, three cylinder
Torgue: 172 Nm from 1 500-4 000 rpm Power: 88 kW at 6 000 rpm.
Warranty: 7 years or 200 000 km
Service plan: 5 years or 90 000 km
Roadside assistance, 5 years or 150 000 km.
