Following the launch of the facelift Hyundai Kona, the 1.6 Turbo and N Line variants were subsequently launched in July last year. The 1.6 Turbo comes with an RM146,888 price tag while the range-topping N Line variant goes for RM156,888.
Bearing in mind, the highest spec Honda HR-V RS is priced at RM118,581 while the CX-3 has an RM126,829 price tag. Even the newly launched Subaru XV GT Edition with EyeSight comes in lower with an RM146,788 price tag, and these are the usual suspects the Hyundai Kona will be going up against.
So what do you get for all that money?
For starters, the Kona N Line is based on the 1.6 Turbo Kona but stands out with a far more funky exterior. We’re talking about different wheel designs, different front grille, and bumper designs, and some N Line badges here and there to remind you that it’s different.
Under the hood is a 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired to a 2nd generation Hyundai Smart Stream 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. There’s 198 hp and 265 Nm to drive the front wheels, with 0 to 100 km/h rated at 7.7 seconds.
There’s no shortage of gear on the outside, you get slim and sleek LED daytime running lights with unique LED headlamps underneath them. The front bumper also gets additional extensions on sides with blacked-out trims for a more aggressive look. The same applies to the rear with the Kona N Line sporting dual exhaust tips and a sportier rear bumper.
Inside, the seats are upholstered with a mix of suede and leather and offer plenty of support, especially in the rib section. Both the front seats are electronically adjustable but the lumbar support is only available for the driver. The seats even come with cooling and heating functions – a feature we used as religiously as the air conditioning.
Upfront is a head-up display that doesn’t pop up every time you start the car. If you’re not the type to use head-up displays, the one in the Kona N Line can be buried forever.
Other features include a terrain selector which includes Sand, Snow and Mud, along with drive modes such as Sport, Normal, and Eco. The foot lighting which comes on and goes off once you start driving is definitely a simple but effective feature.
There are three USB ports, including one for charging, and if you hate dealing with cables and wires, there’s also a wireless charging pad. What’s also wireless is the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature – without a doubt one of the Kona’s key selling points.
If that’s not impressive enough there’s also a 10.2 inch fully digital, coloured instrument colour with different displays according to the drive mode selected – again, another standout feature of the Kona against its competitors.
Another practical plus point worth mentioning in the Kona N Line is the cupholders; which were large enough to hold 1-litre bottles. On the topic of storage, the small bin above the rear USB for smartphone storage is also another practical feature.
There’s also plenty to note on the safety front as the Kona is equipped with the Hyundai Smart Sense driver assistance system.
It includes features like forward collision warning and autonomous braking with pedestrian and vehicle detection. It also has lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, adaptive cruise control, front vehicle departure alert, high beam assist, safe exit warning, rear-cross traffic alert, and a blindspot monitor.
Most useful of all, especially for young families with newborns is the Rear Occupant Alert feature which triggers the horn if a child is detected to be in the car, once it has been locked. On top of that, the Kona N Line comes with six airbags, hill start assist and hill descend control as standard.
The facelift 2.0 Kona
The Hyundai Kona N Line, like the 1.6 Turbo and 2.0 variants, come with a 5-year/300,000 km warranty and a 3-year/50,000 km free maintenance package.
If the 1.6 Turbo or N Line is a little steep, there are other options as the Kona starts from as low as RM119,888 for the 2.0 base model and RM136,888 for the 2.0 Active – more information on those two variants here!
GALLERY
