The 2019 Hyundai Kona is offered with two powertrains. The two base trims house a 2.0L Inline-4 engine with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the other top trim levels have 1.6L turbocharged Inline-4 engines that produce 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard on the base trim, but 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is also available on the higher trims.
A very good feature of Kona is the availability of AWD drivetrains in all trims that cost approximately $1,400 more than the standard FWD. The Kona has average power and acceleration with the base engine but things change with the turbo engine. With the base engine, Kona goes from 0-60 mph in 9.6 seconds but with the turbocharged mill, the same goal is achieved in 6.6 seconds.
Models
|
2019 Hyundai Kona SE
|
2019 Ford Ecosport S
|
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i base
|
2019 Mazda CX-3 Sport
|
MSRP
|
$21,390
|
$21,590
|
$22,895
|
$21,790
|
Engine
|
2.0L Inline-4
|
2.0L Inline-4
|
2.0L Flat-Four
|
2.0L Inline-4
|
Drivetrain
|
AWD
|
4WD
|
AWD
|
AWD
|
Transmission
|
6-speed automatic
|
6-speed automatic
|
CVT
|
6-speed automatic
|
Power
|
147 hp @ 6,200 RPM
|
166 hp @ 6,500 RPM
|
152 hp @ 6,000 RPM
|
148 hp @ 6,000 RPM
|
Torque
|
132 lb-ft @ 4,500 RPM
|
149 lb-ft @ 4,500 RPM
|
145 lb-ft .@ 4,000 RPM
|
146 lb-ft @ 2,800 RPM
|
0-60 MPH (seconds)
|
9.2
|
9.8
|
9.0
|
8.2
|
Quarter-Mile (seconds)
|
17.3
|
17.5
|
16.9
|
16.3
|
Top speed (MPH)
|
124
|
110
|
122
|
114
|
In terms of the power figures, Ecosport has the edge but its performance number says something else. The Mazda CX-3 comes out as the top performer, followed by the Crosstrek, Kona, and EcoSport. In the quarter-mile race, the Mazda CX-3 again beats all the other competitors.That said, the least torque is produced by the Kona.
How well does the 2019 Hyundai Kona handle?
Even though the steering wheel of the Kona is on the heavier side, the response it provides is good. As you drive it at high speed around the corners, you'll find that the body roll is very minimal for a car of this size. The upper trim that includes a turbocharged engine, however, is not smooth when cruising under 60MPH.
AWD systems are also available in all trim levels, giving you more confidence on the road at a very affordable price. Overall ride is smooth but acceleration is not as quirky as some rivals. Transmission can be jerky at low speed but as you push the gas pedal, it tends to run smoothly.
Braking Performance
In terms of body weight, the Hyundai Kona comes out to be one of the lightest vehicles in this class, and it has large rotors at the front as well. The rotors on the rear are somewhat small, which contributes to a bad braking performance in total. The 2019 Hyundai Kona moves ahead 129 feet almost before coming to a complete stop from 60-0 MPH. Despite that, the car's braking system, like automatic emergency braking, functions well without any problems.
Models
|
2019 Hyundai Kona SE
|
2019 Ford Ecosport S
|
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i base
|
2019 Mazda CX-3 Sport
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
|
11.0
|
NA
|
11.6
|
11.6
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
|
10.3
|
NA
|
10.8
|
11.1
|
Curb Weight (lbs)
|
3,084
|
3,300
|
3,157
|
2,952
|
60-0 MPH (feet)
|
129
|
125
|
N/A
|
119
|
CX-3 is the least heavy car in the segment and also has the largest pairs of front and rear brake rotors which help it stop at just 119 ft from 60-0 mph whereas the EcoSport which is the heaviest SUV in the competition, stops 4 feet further as compared to the Kona. Crosstrek has the same front brake rotor as the CX-3 but the rear brake rotor is 0.4 inches shorter than the CX-3.