It’s mocking that my coffeemaker would give adult a spook a same week I’m pushing a all-new 2019 Hyundai Kona, a car as gratifying as a crater of coffee it brings to mind. The doubt is, is it a Braun or a Keurig?
From a looks standpoint, it’s a Braun, despite a new one. There’s small clarity of classicism here, merely an over-caffeinated pattern that wears a inexpensive gray cosmetic cladding suggestive of a Pontiac Aztek. Couple that with an over-caffeinated headlight design, a vast assertive grille, swoopy side sculpting, prominent circle arches and a cliched blacked-out back roof pillars, and you’ll consternation if Homer Simpson – or someone during De’Longhi – designed it.
It cloaks a ideally suave subcompact crossover, one that starts during a reasonable $21,035. Offered in SE and SEL trim with a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter engine corresponding to a six-speed involuntary transmission, it’s also accessible in plusher Limited, Ultimate and Iron Man trim (the latter being finished in gray and red) starting during $26,595, and propitious with a 174-horsepower 1.6-liter 4 corresponding to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All models come with front-wheel expostulate or all-wheel drive. Opting for all-wheel expostulate brings an combined advantage over combined traction; it also replaces a obsolete back lamp spindle cessation with a some-more worldly multilink back suspension.
Consider a bottom car a Keurig. It’s adequate, though you’re blank a additional season and zip that comes from a turbocharged four, that is truly a Braun, despite a new one. But when it comes to handling, it’s some-more a Braun of old. Its truly frolicsome inlet and manageable reflexes outgun many of a competitors, nonetheless it comes with abounding amounts of highway noise. Engine is responsive, nonetheless it takes a complicated stifle feet to overcome some initial turbo lag. Nonetheless, a delivery creates a many of a accessible power. Steering is rather numb, with a scintilla of highway feel filtering through, and physique gaunt is clear though not excessive. It adds adult to a witty pushing experience, generally when attack a pushing mode symbol changes, that changes a Kona’s mode from normal (decaf) to competition (caffeinated).
The Kona can be propitious with forward-collision warning, involuntary puncture braking and blind-spot warning. After distant too many fake alarms, we incited a systems off.
Interior peculiarity was about what you’d design given a price. As you’d expect, a instrument quarrel is anchored by a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen depending on indication and is framed by by-pass buttons, creation a complement a snap to operate.
Head and legroom are really good in a front chair though some-more singular in a second row. Cargo space is adequate.
In a category famous for a parsimonious accommodations and mediocre handling, a Kona stands out for both, not distinct a corporate kin a Kia Soul, that is distant some-more convincing as a complicated despondency wagon. Nevertheless, if we like a Kona’s manly look, a doing and facilities won’t disappoint.
Despite a quibbles, a 2019 Hyundai Kona delivers a tasty pushing experience, most like a Braun coffeemaker – despite a new one.
2019 Hyundai Kona
Base prices: $21,035-$32,995
Engine: DOHC 2.0-liter four-cylinder
Horsepower: 147
Torque: 132 pound-feet
EPA fuel economy (city/highway): 25/30 mpg
Wheelbase: 102.4 inches
Length: 164 inches
Cargo capacity: 19.2-45.8 cubic feet
Ground clearance: 7 inches
Curb weight: 3,259 pounds