I’ve a variety of time for Hyundai’s N efficiency vehicles. The i30 N flirts with being the most effective mid-size scorching hatchback and the upcoming i20 N, which we’ve pushed earlier than in prototype kind, is ready to provide the supermini class an equally onerous time. Hyundai takes it so severely that the i20 N will even obtain extra physique construction stiffening and welding over the common i20.
However sporting sub-brands can’t stay on hatchbacks alone, so inevitably consideration now shifts to a crossover: the Kona, a funky-looking automobile that, shorn of the cladding of this improvement automobile, may look fairly endearing on 19in wheels and with the fitting stance, like a pseudo-fierce little motion determine or a baby yelling ‘raaa!’ whereas impersonating a tiger. Go along with it.
Anyway, if R is nice sufficient for the Volkswagen T-Roc and ST for the Ford Puma, then N is outwardly ok for the Kona, and it will get some suitably spectacular {hardware}. As within the i30 N, there’s a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, driving the entrance wheels by way of an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. There’s no phrase on a handbook model but. Identical for energy and torque outputs or efficiency figures, or value, however you’ll be able to think about it in i30 N phrases – round 250bhp and an identical quantity of foot-pounds.
The Kona N you see here’s a improvement hack, however I’m instructed the trip and dealing with, whereas not lastly signed off, are near consultant.
The inside isn’t even that shut, however that’s superb; we’ve seen the within of sufficient Konas to think about it’s going to feel and look fairly good, and it’ll get added efficiency touches, like aluminium pedals, colored highlights and a thick-rimmed steering wheel. There’s most likely an enormous handbook someplace that every one producers flip to when specifying efficiency derivatives: ‘don’t overlook a pleasant bit of sewing and even contemplate a seatbelt spotlight’.
Nothing concerning the driving place significantly shouts ‘sport’, however the devices flip crimson in case you push a button of that identify. There’s an N driving mode, a configurable mode and a Consolation mode, too.
Alas, I’m not satisfied that both ‘consolation’ or ‘sport’ give a real reflection of the Kona N’s driving dynamics. This isn’t a tall automobile in absolute phrases however maybe it’s not the most effective place to start out, regardless of how proficient your engineers. The trip, on 235/40 R19 Pirelli P Zero tyres, is exceptionally brittle, particularly over greater lumps and bumps; there’s a complete bag of highway noise and it’s skittish and trampy below onerous acceleration. Fairly onerous work.
The steering is reasonably weighted and fast, not disagreeable, and if torque steer and a few notable self-centring counts as really feel, it has that too. However it’s in command of a reasonably ragged chassis that doesn’t appear to vary an excessive amount of in case you press by way of the totally different driving modes. The trip appeared no harsher round city in Sport to me. The firmness is probably the inevitability of attempting to maintain actions properly contained when there’s a better physique to take care of than on the i30.
