2026 Hyundai Kona Limited Has Bougie Features For Budget Buyers, But Doesn’t Offer Driving Fun – Jalopnik

Finding the proper automotive that checks all of your bins is a difficult pursuit, however discovering the proper automotive that checks all of your bins and is in your worth vary will be a lot tougher. In a time when the wealthy are reaching new ranges of wealth which have by no means been seen earlier than — and so they’re sharing their lavish existence on social media — the overwhelming majority of us who reside paycheck to paycheck are left to observe all of the enjoyable from the opposite facet of the display. If you’ve got champagne style on a beer finances, then I feel I’ve the best automotive for you, as long as you prioritize luxurious options over driving enjoyment: the 2026 Hyundai Kona Limited.

Full disclosure: Hyundai lent me a 2026 Kona Limited for every week so I might reside with it and write this evaluation. Prior to receiving the press automotive, I prayed it would not be highlighter yellow. My prayers had been ignored.

The Kona is one in every of two subcompact crossovers from Hyundai, touchdown one rung above the most cost effective new automotive on sale right now, the foot-shorter Hyundai Venue. Pricing for the 2026 Kona begins at $27,100 together with vacation spot, however my take a look at automotive was a high trim Limited AWD mannequin that requires you to half with a minimum of $36,385. While that is not particularly low cost on the floor, it is what’s inside that counts, and the Kona Limited comes loaded with luxurious options like ventilated entrance seats, a formidable eight-speaker Bose stereo, a surround-view monitor, a hands-free tailgate, distant parking, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s show, and full-speed adaptive cruise management. Some of these are options you will not discover obtainable on many vehicles with out spending hundreds extra.

Opting for the SEL Premium or Limited trim brings extra energy within the type of Hyundai’s turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 engine that sends 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque by means of a correct 8-speed automated transmission to the entrance wheels, or all 4 in that case optioned. The normal engine on Kona SE and SEL Sport trims is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque by means of a CVT, with AWD additionally an possibility.

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If gasoline effectivity is your precedence, you will wish to follow the front-wheel-drive base mannequin that returns 28 mpg metropolis, 35 mpg freeway, and 31 mpg mixed. Opting for all-wheel drive drops these numbers considerably to 26 mpg metropolis, 29 mpg freeway, and 27 mpg mixed. Upgrading to the turbo does not damage gasoline financial system an excessive amount of, with front-wheel-drive Kona turbos returning 26 mpg metropolis, 31 mpg freeway, and 28 mixed, and all-wheel-drive turbos getting 25 mpg metropolis, 28 mpg freeway, and 26 mpg mixed.

Over the course of my week residing with the Kona, I grew to like the Highway Drive Assist, ventilated seats, bodily local weather management buttons, elevated driving place and Bose stereo. Hyundai’s adaptive cruise management did a decent job dealing with LA’s hardest site visitors jams and distracted drivers with out a lot sudden intervention on my half as the motive force, however I discovered the system to take a seat too near the best lane line, significantly when passing semi-trucks. There had been a number of pucker moments, however you need to have your palms on the wheel anyway so it is simple to right that tendency in tight conditions.

If I’m sincere, I’m a sucker for ventilated seats whether or not they’re in a Kona or a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, however the truth that you will get this luxury function in a Kona is nice information for compact crossover patrons. I feel each automotive ought to provide them. The Kona’s normal 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system works properly when you might want to use it, however fortunately the overwhelming majority of every day interactions are achieved utilizing its beneficiant array of bodily controls. All HVAC duties are carried out with bodily controls, in addition to drive mode choice, digicam activation, and most radio controls. There are additionally loads of buttons and switches on the steering wheel that do not require the motive force to look away from the highway to make changes. This would possibly seem to be a “no duh,” however when some vehicles require you to make use of the display to carry out a activity so simple as adjusting your air vents or quantity, it earns the Kona brownie factors.

Logan Okay. Carter/ Jalopnik

I used to be stunned by how excessive the seating place is within the Kona; you’re feeling such as you’re eye-level with of us in a lot bigger automobiles, which many patrons demand. I might care much less about an elevated driving place, however it does assist with seeing over and round site visitors and parked automobiles. The entrance seats are spacious, with sufficient journey to swimsuit my 6-foot-8 body comfortably. If you are carrying tall people within the again seat, they will thanks profusely for those who scoot the entrance seats ahead a smidge to present them some wiggle room. They’ll be saved comfy with second-row air vents, too, which come normal in all trims above the bottom SE.

Logan Okay. Carter/ Jalopnik

The entrance cabin can also be rife with small merchandise storage, from cavernous cupholders that spring into motion while you want them and fold away when you do not, to a detachable bin underneath the middle arm relaxation that hides much more storage beneath it. Yes, most surfaces are onerous injection-molded plastics, however they nonetheless look good in my take a look at automotive’s pleasing gentle grey inside colour, and necessary bits just like the arm rests are properly padded. The inside seems trendy and stylish, and the huge array of comfort options spoil, however the swaths of onerous plastic surfaces do not feel significantly premium.

Seeing as how my press automotive was fitted with a turbocharged engine, I hoped the Kona would really feel enjoyable and playful, however it did not. I discovered the engine response to be inconsistent; generally after I stomped on the throttle the automotive would react accordingly and get going shortly, and different occasions it could merely meander. Even when utilizing the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to carry gears, I could not rely on constant energy supply on twisty roads. The difficulty wasn’t too obvious in day-to-day driving, however there’s some noticeable turbo lag when making an attempt to shortly draw back from a cease.

The Kona’s journey could be very squishy, bordering on wallowy — on the undulating freeways and pace bump-filled roads round LA, the entrance finish would porpoise after hitting a bump. This high quality triggered me to decelerate on rougher, twisting roads, which was a disappointment. But the suspension’s floppy demeanor returned a pleasantly cozy journey high quality round city, and the cabin is quiet on the freeway, so for those who do not care about dealing with, the Kona will likely be an awesome alternative.

Logan Okay. Carter/ Jalopnik

Its steering is weirdly gentle, significantly at low speeds, so I discovered myself unintentionally whipping the Kona round parking heaps and 90-degree turns extra aggressively than supposed. Those fast directional maneuvers did not play properly with the overly squishy springs, so the automotive wallowed round loads, even when straightening the wheel. Of course, there isn’t any semblance of highway really feel that comes by means of the wheel, both, which did not assist issues.

I’ve prevented discussing probably the most polarizing side of the Kona, significantly on the subject of my Neoteric Yellow press automotive: its look. The Kona’s styling is definitely daring, with sharp creases and angles balanced with rounded curves, however there is no such thing as a excuse for this highlighter paint colour. Styling is subjective although, so chances are you’ll love the Kona’s statement-making seems and colour choices. [Editor’s note: I absolutely love this color but respect Logan’s opinion. -Daniel Golson]

My complaints concerning the Kona mustn’t deter most patrons, as long as you do not care about how briskly you may weave down a winding highway. In every day driving eventualities, the Kona fares simply superb, and for those who worth consolation and isolation from the highway, it needs to be towards the highest of your buying checklist. Hyundai is understood for packing numerous options and magnificence into an reasonably priced package deal, and the 2026 Kona isn’t any totally different. If you need a compact crossover that is filled with bougie options at a cut price worth, the Kona’s bought you lined.