Here for a good time, not a long time
I feel the same way about crossovers & subcompacts that I do about those tech-fabric stretch suits. If you’re going to wear a suit, wear a proper goddamn suit. If you’re going to buy an SUV…
I’ve felt that way for over a decade. The first car I bought for myself at 15 years old was a 1999 Land Rover Discovery. I reckon that I might’ve caught some viral strain of a superiority complex from that rig. Not from the Land Rover brand, mind you, but from the feeling one gets driving around a hulking 7 seater that weighs over 2 and half tons. From that point on, I’ve turned my nose up at the subcompacts and crossovers of the world. Forget your practicality, your cost effectiveness, your utility… they’re lukewarm cars.
A strong opinion from one who had only driven the worst these categories have to offer. Vehicles like the Kia Soul, the BMW X3 and the Honda HI-V. I mean HR-V. Corny, kitschy - and rather ironically - soulless cars. But after driving around Hyundai’s new N-tuned Kona, I’ve seen the error of my ways in slapping a big “meh” sticker on all subcompacts. Perhaps there is hope yet.
The Kona N is the little crossover that could. It’s a golden retriever of a car: endlessly exuberant and utterly compliant with the utmost buffoonery.
My friend Jordan and I hooned this little car around for over 2 days all over northern California, and it never stopped being an absolute hoot.
Frankly, I’m impressed. With only 2 Liters and a turbo smaller than a cinnamon roll, Hyundai milks 276 horsepower out of this little 4 Cylinder. It’s torque-y too, with just under 300 ft-lbs. And that teeny turbo? You’ll feel that kick in at 1,750 RPM. Which, for a quick revving 4 Cylinder, is nothing at all. Watch out though, cuz it’ll torque steer. This little car ain’t cheap, however. The Kona N model starts at 34k. For a subcompact, that’s high. Granted, this is a performance car. It’s got a turbo and a whole bunch of other bells and whistles, so you’re getting what you pay for.
Here’s the sad news: the Kona N has been discontinued. The 2024 Kona will feature a de-tuned, dulled version of the N called the N-Line. It will have a1.6L Turbo that produces almost a full 100 horses less than it’s predecessor. According to Hyundai, this is due to tightened international emissions standards for performance cars as well as poor sales for the Kona lineup. It’s a shame that a truly fun, if not slightly overpriced, model in an otherwise dull and dreary category will die in obscurity.
The Kona N was here for a good time, not a long time. That ain’t a bad way to go.
