2017 Hyundai Kona 1.6L 7AT AWD (177 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Hyundai expanded its crossover range in 2017 with the Kona, a vehicle meant for the urban environment but capable enough to tackle some unpaved roads and, obviously, some curbs without breaking a sweat.

The Korean automaker was already famous for its reliable vehicles and their good price-per-value index. So, when it saw the buyers’ appetite for crossovers, it considered entering into this market segment. After some trials with a lifted version of its B-segment i20 hatchback, which resulted in the iX20, Hyundai knew it was on the right path and developed the Kona almost from scratch. The car inherited some parts from the third generation of the i30 and some of the engines available in the company’s parts bins. Then, with some additional off-road-inspired styling and some engineering, it resulted in the Kona, a crossover that impressed potential buyers with its bold look and friendly prices.

Hyundai’s design team was bold and installed LED daytime running lights at the front ends of the hood, flanking a slim air intake. Below, on the bumper, the automaker placed the headlights in chromed rectangular clusters that flanked the diamond-shaped main grille that sported the brand’s badge in the middle. Lower, between the bumper and the black lip spoiler, the 2017 Hyundai Kona was available with tiny fog lights.

Thanks to its tall stance for a vehicle its size, the 2017 Hyundai Kona boasted unpainted black plastic cladding around the front and rear wheel arches. The front fenders had a creased line on their top, resembling a set of flared ones from an off-road vehicle. Furthermore, the automaker added curved sculptured lines on the upper sides of the doors, between the handles and the lower window line. At the back, a set of taillights extended from the quarter panels onto the tailgate adorned the rear end of the vehicle, while the lower bumper featured a silver plastic cladding resembling a rock slider. As an option, customers could get the car with a two-tone paint job, sporting a black floating roof design.

However, the interior was one of the most attractive parts of the 2017 Hyundai Kona. Its tall greenhouse allowed the automaker to use high-mounted seats, partly solving the legroom problem for those seated in the back. At the front, the bucket seats were mildly bolstered to provide some side support for their occupants. The instrument cluster faced the driver and was filled with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, which sported the coolant temperature and the fuel level gauges, respectively. In addition, a small LCD took center stage between the main dials. At the same time, Hyundai put a touchscreen for the infotainment system atop the center stack, sized between 5 and 8 inches, depending on the market, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

At the sales’ start, the first generation of the Hyundai Kona was available with a choice of two gasoline engines, while three turbodiesel powerplants joined the bandwagon in 2018. Furthermore, Hyundai surprised its customers with the introduction of a hybrid drivetrain.