The 2024 Hyundai Kona N-Line is drastically different from the outgoing model. Not only does it receive Cyberpunk 2077 styling but it is also significantly bigger. It’s actually similar in size to the very first Tucson, only not as tall. So is this new and bigger car just as much fun to drive as the old one?
Performance
Engine – One thing that remains from the old Kona N-Line is the 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. However, it does lose 5 hp. It now produces 190 hp & 195 lb-ft of torque (142 kW & 264 Nm). With the car’s bigger size and increased weight, it’s not about 100 kg (220 lbs) heavier than before at 1,580 kg (3,483 lbs), the new Kona N-Line is not quite as quick as before. You probably won’t notice this, however, unless perhaps you drive both cars back to back. The engine still picks up quickly and pulls almost right up to the redline. You can feel the power band plateau a little bit as it reaches 6,000 rpms. But unless you’re taking this car on a track day, the power is plentiful for accelerating from a stop or merging onto a highway.
Fuel Economy – Due to the 2024 Kona N-Line’s increased weight, and perhaps aerodynamic properties, its fuel economy is not as good as it was before. This car is now rated for 9.7 L/100km (24.2 MPG) in a city and 8.3 L/100km (28.3 MPG) on a highway. During my time with it, I averaged 8.8 L/100km (26.7 MPG) which is right in the ballpark of what it is rated to achieve. However, in the previous Kona N-Line, I managed to achieve 8.0 L/100km (29.4 MPG). 0.8L/100km (2.7 MPG) may not seem like much but over thousands of kilometers and with the high cost of fuel, particularly here in Vancouver, it all adds up.
Transmission – Out with the old, in with the new. The old being the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and the new being a traditional 8-speed automatic. The old 7-speed felt hesitant and jerky when setting off from a stop. The new one has much less hesitancy. The shifts between gears are not as crisp as the old but they are very smooth and to me, that’s a good trade-off for a vehicle that will spend most of its life in a city environment.
Braking – Though this is a more sporty looking version of the Kona, the N-Line’s brakes are not some crazy race derived setup with 12-piston front calipers. They’re just regular brakes that provide plenty of stopping power with a good, firm feeling pedal.
Handling – The previous generation of the Hyundai Kona N-line was a fun little crossover. The steering was direct with a decently balanced weight for driving enthusiasm as well as city maneuverability. I wouldn’t say that it was as much fun to drive as the benchmark that is the Mazda CX-30 but perhaps second best in this segment.
This 2024 Hyundai Kona N-Line doesn’t feel as enjoyable to toss from corner to corner when you find yourself on a twisty road. The bigger size and extra heft make the car a bit lazier than it was before. But with its increased footprint, it feels stable through the turns and it can handle the mid-corner bumps without getting out of shape.
In Canada, this N-Line version is equipped with standard AWD. It’s not a particularly sophisticated AWD system but it does allow you to lock the center differential and send equal amounts of torque to the front & rear wheels. In the United States, FWD is standard with this AWD system being a $1,500 USD option.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – With the longer wheelbase of the 2024 Kona, this crossover rides almost like a compact SUV. It’s not all perfect with quick, sharp potholes at highway speeds being very evident as the 19” wheels drive over them. But on city streets with more moderate sized potholes or manhole covers, the suspension copes well.
I also found the seats to be comfortable for my 6’4” height while making long commutes. My butt didn’t feel numb and my lower back did not feel any pain.
Interior Space – With this new 2024 Kona being bigger, you do get more passenger and cargo space. However, you won’t really notice the increase in size while sitting in the front seats. These seats provide an almost identical amount of legroom with the previous generation having a tiny bit more headroom. However, at 6’4”, I did not have any issues with headroom in the new one.
It’s in the back seats where the longer wheelbase of the 2024 Kona is most evident. Sitting behind my seating position in the old Kona was a nightmare. It is sunshine and daisies by comparison in the new Kona. I have just the right amount of legroom and headroom behind my taller than average seating position. Additionally, the backrests can recline a little bit which provides a tiny bit more headroom. There is a center armrest with 2 cupholders.
The trunk also benefits from the larger size of the Kona. It can accommodate 723 L (25.5 cu-ft) of space behind the back row and 1,803 L (63.7 cu-ft) with the 60/40 rear seats folded. There is some space underneath the floor but the Kona N-Line does not have a spare wheel. Instead, it’s a tire mobility kit.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The 2024 Hyundai Kona N-Line has a generally quiet cabin. Most outside noises don’t intrude too much on the inside thanks to the sound deadening materials used throughout and the acoustic windshield. But predictably, if you rev up the engine, it is very evident.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 Hyundai Kona starts at $25,999 CAD ($24,100 USD)which is not too bad. It’s in the same ballpark figure as other crossovers. However, this price is for the FWD variant. If you want to add AWD, tack on another $2,000 CAD. This Kona N-Line starts at $35,499 CAD ($30,650 USD) but this demo car does not have the Ultimate package which adds ventilated front seats, surround view cameras, and a power driver’s seat among a few other goodies. To get this package, it’ll increase the price of the N-Line by $3,000 which puts it well within the same realm as the Mazda CX-30 Turbo which has more power, better driving dynamics and a slightly better interior in my opinion but not as much space.
Gadgets – In addition to the gadgets I mentioned in the Ultimate package, this Kona N-Line is also equipped with leather & suede upholstered seats, heated front seats (sadly no heated rear seats), heated steering wheel, a sunroof with a power operated cover, dual zone automatic climate control, wireless phone charging pad, and 64 colour ambient lighting system.
The 2024 Hyundai Kona also sees the introduction of an updated infotainment system. Essentially, this system is the same as the one found in other current Hyundai models but it receives a few new graphics & features. The Home screen has a new and simplified layout with movable tiles instead of icons. Dig deep enough through the submenus and you’ll find that some items look identical to the previous iteration. I still find this new layout and graphics easy to discern and to use. The big update is the introduction of wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto. Once connected, my Android phone stayed connected and the system worked flawlessly. However, every time that I had to start up the car, Bluetooth would instantly connect to the car but not wireless Android Auto. I always had to manually select the Android Auto connection and wait until it connected instead of it automatically connecting as soon as my phone was detected. Hopefully this will get fixed with an over the air update.
Interior Design – The 2024’s Kona interior is now more inline with other Hyundai products. It features a dual-screen layout for the driver instrumentation and the infotainment touchscreen. Hyundai has also kept physical buttons & knobs for the most commonly used functions such as the climate or heated seat controls. There’s also a large storage bin in between the front seats or at the push of a button, two cup holders can pop out almost like magic. The materials are ok with most of them being plastic but they don’t feel like they are from the lowest bidder. Additionally, I like the feel of the leather/suede upholstery on the seats.
Exterior Design – The 2024 Kona looks nothing like the previous generation and this N-Line further looks different than the standard Kona. It has a split rear spoiler, LED light bars both in the front and back, dual offset exhaust pipes, and a unique front bumper. Personally, I like the look of this Kona N-Line but not so much the standard Kona or the Kona EV.
Safety – The 2024 Hyundai Kona is equipped with a lot of standard safety & driver aids but not all are available on the base Essential trim. However, it still has the “essentials” which include forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane following assist with lane keep assist, blind spot sensors, rear cross traffic alert, safe exit warning, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Adaptive cruise control is available one trim level up. For features such as surround view cameras, blind view monitor, remote smart parking assist, highway driving assist, and parking distance warning with collision avoidance, you have to opt for the Kona N-Line with the Ultimate package. These features are grouped differently for the Canadian & American markets.
Warranty – In Canada, the 2024 Hyundai Kona N-Line is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty. In the United States, the basic warranty is 5 years / 60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – Overall, Hyundai did a good job in updating the 2024 Kona. It has plenty of space for a small family, it’s a bit more comfortable as a commuter car, and it looks really cool in this N-Line trim. But unfortunately, it lost some of the sporty driving characteristics in becoming bigger. The previous Kona was a great blend of sporty driving and daily commuting but this one is leaning more towards the commuter side of things. Which in retrospect is probably what more shoppers of this type of vehicle are interested in.
Thank you to Hyundai Canada for providing the vehicle. www.HyundaiCanada.com
2024 Hyundai Kona N-Line Gallery
