Home Automobiles “This Kona Is A Hoot!” According To Steve – Check It Out

“This Kona Is A Hoot!” According To Steve – Check It Out

Kona N built-in racetrack layouts

The new Kona N – a performance SUV within financial reach.  $35,445; that’s the modest price of the Kona N – one of the most unique enthusiast cars on the market today…or shall I say SUV.  However you describe the Kona N, this is Hyundai at its nuttiest and I mean that in a good way.

The high-performance N story began with the Veloster and has since spread to the Elantra and now the Kona with more to come later this year.  Available in white, black, blue or red with a 2.0-liter turbo, 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, a limited slip, electronically controlled shocks and summer-use Pirelli rubber, the Kona N is a front-wheel drive hooligan.  With 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque delivered more linearly via what Hyundai dubs “Flat Power” technology, this is a torque-steering, exhaust-popping, rigid ride with fun technology built-in.

Names like Grin Shift, Grin Control and Corner Carving Differential intertwine with N Mode infotainment creating a video-game-like atmosphere.  There’s launch control, all sorts of ways to measure and monitor your performance and even built-in racetrack layouts with lap timers.

This Kona is a hoot.

It’s super stiff and gives you the feeling that you’re driving a rally car. Short for N Grin Shift, when you press this button it’s like inserting a sugar IV needle into a kid’s arm; 20 seconds of over-boosted turbo and the most aggressive shifting available when rapid acceleration is required. Kudos to Hyundai for producing something this crazy that isn’t so over the top that it’s completely impractical.

This one’s for the driver who craves an automotive personality.

For TestDriveNow car critic Steve Hammes’ complete video review & test drive of the 2022 Kona N click here

A premiere automotive resource featuring video reviews by America’s top automotive critic Steve Hammes. Having road tested more than 2,000 new vehicles, Hammes, known as “The Go-to-Guy Before You Buy”, delivers at least two new reviews of his first-hand test drive experiences each week.