Hyundai Kona review

As for trims, there are five to choose from – S, SE, Premium, Premium SE and Premium GT. Entry-level models get 16in alloy wheels, electric windows, hill start assist and lane departure warning on the outside as standard on the outside. Inside, there is air conditioning, tinted rear windows, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Upgrade to SE and you gain 17in alloys, roof rails, rear parking sensors, rear view camera, and smartphone integration, while Premium trimmed Kona’s include 18in alloy wheels, a skid plate, climate control, auto wipers and lights, and keyless entry and start.

Premium SE models adds electrically adjustable and climate controlled front seats, a leather upholstery, folding mirrors, a heated steering wheel and front parking sensors, while the range-topping Premium GT Kona is equipped with a host of safety equipment and LED headlights.

More immediately obvious than these features is a colour palette far brighter than Hyundai’s usual offering, these shades set off by a contrast colour roof. Inside, the upholstery stitching and various decor elements complement the exterior hue, with this theme optionally – and a little startlingly – extending to the seatbelts.

Substance to go with the Kona’s style

More colourful to behold than most Hyundais and more sophisticated inside, too, were it not for the slightly cheapening effect of an interior that’s entirely black, headlining included. There’s relief in the contrast colour stitching and decor, but the all-black door trims look cheaper than they actually are. The sophistication stems from the presence of the large, tablet-style screen emerging from the centre console, the dashboard’s soft-feel insert and, if fitted, the head-up display screen emerging from the instrument binnacle.

Comfortable, high-mounted seats, plenty of space and a reasonably clear control layout make the Kona an easy thing to drive, and if you’re in any doubt at the adequacy of a 1.0 triple for the hauling job ahead, fear not – the well-managed turbocharger ensures decent lugging power.

Mid-range pull is good, too, and even though a 12.0sec 0-62mph sprint is hardly rapid, the Kona rarely feels slow. The three-cylinder’s beat isn’t obvious until it’s worked hard, and while not the creamiest of triples, it revs to its 6800rpm limiter with some enthusiasm. All of which reduces the need for repeated shifting in search of torque, the gearlever nevertheless a willing assistant.