Used Hyundai Kona 2017-present review

Giving a car striking looks can be a double-edged sword in terms of how it does in the new and used car markets. It makes sense in the new car market, because there’s often the complaint that each new vehicle looks much the same as its competitors. But the trouble is, rocking the boat might not work in the more conservative used car market, where changing fashions might make a vehicle unpopular. So, does the Hyundai Kona stand out as a used purchase, and is there an exemplary package hiding behind its quirky looks?

The engine range in the Kona consists of two petrol engines and one diesel. If you want four-wheel drive, you’ll need to go for the 173bhp 1.6-litre petrol that also comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The more frugal 118bhp 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine offers decent performance, while the 113bhp and 134bhp 1.6-litre diesels are the thriftiest models in the range, if not the most refined.

Inside the Kona. you're greeted by a dashboard that’s awash with hard plastics. Granted, that’s not unlike the Volkswagen T-Roc, but at least you get some coloured pieces that lift things in that car, whereas you’ll need one of the top two tiers of Kona to find similar design flourishes.

The Kona is at least well screwed together and comes as standard with plenty of equipment, although autonomous emergency braking isn’t standard unless you have a top-of-the-range Premium GT. Many rivals get this crucial safety as standard across the range. However, from SE and upwards you get electric lumbar support, which is a novelty in this market. Every Kona gets 16in alloy wheels, air conditioning, a DAB radio, cruise control and electric windows, but we’d go for an SE model, because this gets you a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with full smartphone compatibility, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.

The Kona has plenty of grip for a small SUV and a reasonable ride on its smaller 16in and 17in wheels. Larger 18in ones tend to spoil things, especially on rougher stretches of Tarmac. The steering is slightly heavier than that of its competitors, like the Seat Arona, but it is light enough for parking, has consistent weighting at speed and is quite precise. Road and wind noise, while not excessive, is greater than you'll find in many other small SUVs.

Space up front is fine and there’s lots of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel. Room for those in the rear is less impressive, and taller occupants will find their knees digging into the hard plastic backing of the front seats – something that will become uncomfortable on longer trips. The Kona's boot volume is smaller than the class average, but four carry-on suitcases should fit in there without too much issue.

At the time of writing, prices for an early Hyundai Kona start at £13,000 for a 2017 1.0-litre S model with less than 10,000 miles on it. However, if you increase your budget by £500, you can find plenty of better equipped SE examples.

Head further up the range to Premium for £15,000, while Premium SE is more like £17,000. Top of the range four-wheel drive Premium GT models are relatively rare on the used market and command a premium over lesser two-wheel drive versions, so be prepared to spend at least £21,000 or more.

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If you want the cheapest Kona to run, head straight for a diesel, provided you do enough miles to justify it. The best is the 113bhp manual with a combined NEDC figure of 67.3mpg, but the more powerful 134bhp automatic isn’t far off that, at 64.2mpg.

The popular 118bhp 1.0-litre petrol achieves a figure of 50.4mpg, but the top-of-the-range 175bhp 1.6-litre petrol is a bit too costly to run, with an average of 40.4mpg. This is likely due to the four-wheel-drive system and standard automatic gearbox.

Insurance costs will be similar to rivals', and Hyundai has one of the longest standard warranties available at five years and unlimited miles. Servicing cost will be comparable with rivals’, but certain jobs can be costly – for example, regassing the air conditioning, because Hyundai uses a more environmentally friendly refrigerant gas that isn't widely available at third-party garages yet.

Our recommended engine is the 118bhp 1.0-litre petrol, due to its impressive flexibility and reasonable economy. It’s not the most refined three-cylinder engine we’ve tried, but it makes better sense than the 1.6-litre petrol, which can be boomy when revved and is too thirsty. The 1.6-litre diesel engines, meanwhile, are coarse when worked hard and send unpleasant vibrations through the pedals. They're rare on the used market and tend to be more expensive to purchase.

SE is our favourite specification of Kona, because you get all the equipment you really need without having to pay over the odds. What's more, if you step up to Premium, Premium SE or Premium GT versions, you get larger 18in alloy wheels that spoil the ride quality. Premium cars do get a slightly larger 8.0in infotainment screen and more safety technology, though, along with other luxuries such as heated seats and steering wheel.

Our favourite Hyundai Kona: 1.0 T-GDi SE

For one of the best all-rounders in the small SUV class, have a look at a Seat Arona. It has a large boot for the class, most models are fitted with an impressive infotainment system and it has tidy handling with a sweet little turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine that manages decent fuel economy.

The Volkswagen T-Roc is pricier than the Kona, but it's one of the best-handling small SUVs. Its interior quality is disappointing, but it is spacious and well equipped.

If you like a long warranty, the Kia Stonic is also worth considering. Based on similar underpinnings to the Kona, the Stonic is good to drive and has plenty of gadgets fitted as standard.

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