We take a look at the sports-inspired Hyundai N Line SUV.
- Fun to drive
- Independent rear suspension is a nice touch
- Striking looks
- Thirsty on the daily grind
- Second row is small for the class
- Dual-clutch auto suffers from low-speed issues
Introduction
In 2021, we have been treated to a raft of new performance and performance-inspired Hyundai N cars.
Just recently, we drove the Hyundai i20 N and full-fat Kona N, so stay tuned for those reviews. However, earlier in the year, the brand released an updated version of its first N Line series of performance-inspired cars, which includes what we’re driving today: the 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line.
In the case of the brand’s small SUV, the model has two versions – N Line and N Line Premium. Both sit alongside regular, high-grade variants as a more performance-oriented alternative, as their specification closely mirrors what’s found in the 2021 Hyundai Kona Elite and Highlander versions.
However, where the N Line models differ is in terms of hardware. In the front, there’s a new 146kW/265Nm turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and underneath, a completely revised independent rear suspension set-up. Outside, there’s a comprehensive N Line styling kit and 18-inch wheels with Continental tyres. Inside, sports seats and red highlights.
As Hyundai has created a two-prong attack, the cost increase varies depending on which version you’re after.
The gap between a $31,600 Kona Elite and $36,300 Kona N Line is $5600. The gap between a $38,000 Kona Highlander, and what we’re testing today, the $42,400 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium, is $4200.
All costs are before on-roads, so add around $4000 for the drive-away price. In metro NSW at least, a 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium costs $46,482 drive-away, in a free colour choice.
| Key details | 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium |
| Price (MSRP) | $42,400 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Ignite Flame (red) |
| Options | None |
| Price as tested | $46,482 drive-away (NSW) |
| Rivals | Volkswagen T-Roc | Mazda MX-30 | Kia Seltos |
Inside
Inside, trinkets are aplenty. First impressions come directly from ‘sports’ leather seats that are more ‘sports-inspired’ in reality. Bolstering is not deep, but they are comfortable and supportive enough. Both front seats are electrically adjustable, heated and cooled, and the driver’s side adds electric lumbar support.
All 2021 Hyundai Kona N Lines come with an opening sunroof as standard, unless you decide on a contrasting roof colour, in which it becomes a plain tin top instead. Front-seat occupant space is good and storage decent too.
Two large cupholders can be found in the centre console, alongside a neat, rectangular cubby and decently sized armrest storage. Front door pockets are generous and will house a one-litre water bottle.
In the second row, space is small for the class. I’m 183cm tall and my knees just grazed the first-row seat backs when sitting behind my own driving position. Another point is that its roof line tapers significantly toward the rear of the car, which encroaches on head room in the second row.
Overall, width is the Kona’s worst enemy, as three younger children will just about fit. Have growing teenagers? You’d want to step up to a Tucson.
The issue of width became noticeable when installing a convertible booster seat. An Infasecure Rally, a common and safe support seat used by many parents across Australia, will foul up against the headlining when installed in a Kona. You won’t notice this issue using a convertible rearward- and forward-facing seat, however, as they tend to be shorter and narrower.
With a seat of that type installed in a rearward-facing fashion, the front passenger does lose leg room. In a forward-facing fashion, front passenger space remains fair.
Interestingly, both a Ford Puma and Skoda Scala – one of which is from the class below – are packaged better to provide greater second-row space. It proves that exterior dimensions can sometimes be misleading, and it’s up to the efforts of clever engineers to create internal space.
Second-row amenities are snazzy for the segment, however, with guests in either rear outboard locations treated to seat heating. Other features include two shallow door pockets, a fold-down armrest with two cupholders, and a USB port, but no rear air vents.
Boot space is above average at 374L. More than what the Subaru XV offers, but less than what’s found in a Volkswagen T-Roc or Peugeot 2008. Its dimensions mean a stroller will have issues slotting in up against the seat backs; however, this is an issue common to a few from this segment. With the stroller loaded, a week’s worth of shopping and a small handbag can both be accommodated.
| 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 374L seats up / 1156L seats folded |
| Length | 4215mm |
| Width | 1800mm |
| Height | 1575mm |
| Wheelbase | 2600mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Infotainment is sorted by a new 10.25-inch infotainment system, complete with native navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and DAB+ radio. The mention of wired connectivity is because the entry- and mid-level Konas offer wireless capability with their 8.0-inch systems.
That aside, the graphics and usability of the newer widescreen system are top-shelf. The screensaver setting with ambient background navigation is a nice touch, as is the full-screen integration of smartphone mirroring systems like Apple CarPlay.
Audio is handled by an eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo with external amplifier. It handled a wide gamut of music well, but lacked punch from its centre, dashboard-mounted speaker. Fixing that issue alone would elevate the audio experience significantly.
Lastly in terms of shiny new things, Hyundai has finally gotten on board the digital instrumentation train. Offered exclusively on the N Line Premium and Highlander models, the 10.25-inch digital instrument panel sports various themes that adjust according to the drive mode selected.
Its graphics are sharp and response rate decent, but it does lack the clever levels of customisation found in Volkswagen Group’s trailblazing Virtual Cockpit systems. Shade thrown, it does lift the perceived quality of the cabin, and this reviewer is glad to see legibility of driver information increased too.
Safety and Technology
Driver and occupant safety on the move are well catered for.Hyundai’s SmartSense technology package is fitted as standard, which includes blind-spot monitoring, camera- and radar-based autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control, as just some.
Despite the lane-keeping assist function sometimes being intrusive – and once or twice mistaking road repairs for road lines – you’d rather have the option to turn it off (sometimes) than not have it at all.
The Hyundai Kona has a five-star ANCAP safety rating having been testing in 2017. Six airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, two ISOFIX and three top-tether child seat anchorages.
| 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2017) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
The 2021 Hyundai Kona is a flagship mainstream small SUV that sits at the top of its class.
It’s over 10 per cent, or $6000, more expensive than a top-of-the-line 2021 Nissan Juke Ti. Then again, Hyundai offers more ‘car’ for the money. What it’s more likely to compete with is middle-rung European product, like the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc 140TSI Sport.
Long name aside, the VW starts from $41,800 before on-roads and options. After adding some of the options available, mainly to level the specification playing field, the real price of the Volkswagen is closer to $48,000 drive-away.
Still, you can cut the cake differently and walk away with a cheaper and optionless Volkswagen, if you want. The other alternative in the segment is the unique and hybrid Mazda MX-30 G20E Astina.
Complete with backward-opening rear doors and an interior made from sustainable products – like recycled plastic water bottles – the funky Mazda starts from $45,628 drive-away and offers something alterative to the decadent shopper.
Hyundai expects you to return a Kona N Line to its service network every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. The first five services cost $319 each, or $957 for three years and $1595 for five.
| At a glance | 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 10,000km |
| Servicing costs | $957 (3 years) | $1595 (5 years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.9L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.7L/100km |
| Fuel type | 91-octane petrol |
| Fuel tank size | 50L |
Driving
As a performance-inspired model, the Kona N Line Premium is beholden to being fun and peppy to drive. The turbocharged mill now produces 146kW in 2021 trim, some 16kW more than the outgoing engine, but torque remains as before at 265Nm.
The difference between the old and the new will be unnoticeable to most, but under the microscope, the new car does feel stronger up top. Compared to the Veloster Turbo, which has 4kW more and lugs around 45kg less, the Kona N Line Premium’s performance feels slightly blunt. Ideally, given the way it looks, and how it’s also emblazoned with N badges head to toe, a power-to-weight ratio similar to the Veloster’s would be ideal.
Over the course of the loan, fuel usage initially sat at around 9.0L/100km and concluded at 8.5L/100km, nearly two litres over the official combined claim of 6.7L/100km. If you’re going to be running one around town, and less so on the freeway, expect your fuel usage to sit above what Hyundai claims.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission has its flaws, one of which is hanging onto second gear in stop-start traffic at speeds as low as 5km/h. Upon applying throttle, you’re met with a slight shuddering sensation as the clutch tries to grapple with the load. It’s also quite prone to general low-speed jerkiness and hesitation, and takes a mindful yet careful foot in order to extract smooth driving.
All dual-clutches feature similar traits, but the Kona’s felt more troubled to unwise inputs than others. On the move, and in regular scenarios, it remains a decent partner to the engine. The spread of seven speeds is handy and makes quick bursts of acceleration simple enough to access, like on motorway on-ramps or lane-closing situations.
Ride quality is firm, but an honest interpretation of a fun-to-drive and sporty SUV. Around town it’s not brittle, nor does it run out of suspension length over bigger road imperfections, which are usually the two biggest problems with warmed-up SUVs. Out on faster sections of road, it’ll entertain with a flat composure and quality high-speed bump absorption. The suspension set-up promotes confident steering, and in turn confidence overall in the driver.
It’s surprising how well the Kona N Line Premium responds when pressed. The Continental tyres help build confidence with excellent bite, and the car has clearly been tuned to take advantage of what they have to offer. For something that suggests face value is where performance stops, there’s actually some ability to tap into.
| Key details | 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium |
| Engine | 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 146kW @ 6000rpm |
| Torque | 265Nm @ 1600-4500rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 99.2kW/t |
| Weight | 1474kg |
| Tow rating | 1250kg braked / 600kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 10.6m |
Conclusion
The new 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line Premium is a nicer topper on the brand’s small SUV offering. While engine performance is great, the dual-clutch transmission does have its low-speed woes. If you’re planning on test driving, make sure you trial a route with some stop-start traffic to get a feel for its behaviour. Also, don’t be shy to bring your parental paraphernalia, too, if you’re expecting or planning, as second-row space can be tight.
However, its N Line trimmings make it feel more dedicated than previous iterations, and worth the four to five grand step-up over a garden-variety Kona. There are leather seats that are heated and cooled, a sunroof, plus other gadgets that feel reserved for a high-grade model.
Don’t forget that its underpinnings are significantly altered as part of the N Line step-up, too, including the independent rear suspension set-up and turbocharged motor.
What’s more important is that it’s fun to drive, fun to look at, and likely to pluck on the strings of your more youthful side.
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