Everything I Love and Dislike about the 2020 Hyundai Kona

The 2020 Hyundai Kona is a phenomenal new car that anyone can buy, whether it is your first car, or if it is going to serve as your family car. I reviewed the 2020 Hyundai Kona SEL Plus trim, and here are all of the things I love and dislike about it.

2020 Hyundai Kona, Everything I Love

I love the way the new Kona drives, as it is far more refined than a vehicle in this class deserves to be. The comfort and quietness of this car are hitting above its weight class for sure. The model I drove utilizes a 2.0l naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 147 HP; a turbo 1.6l four-cylinder is also available, putting out 175 HP. What I liked about the four-cylinder I drove was even if you wring out the motor, it’s not ridiculously loud like some other four-cylinder compact cars. The Kona is always a refined experience.

Another attribute that I love about the Hyundai Kona is the fuel economy. The 2.0l I drove is rated to get 28 city and 32 highway in front-wheel-drive form, which is what I drove. You can pound on this 2.0l port-injected motor continuously and still average 30 mpg in the city.

I like the sturdy build quality of the 2020 Kona as well. Sure it might not use the best materials in the world, but the vehicle doesn’t feel like a tin can and doesn’t creak or rattle. Seats were plenty comfortable, and all the features were easy to use. The car is exceptionally ergonomic, and the infotainment is by far the easiest to use out of any vehicle.

Finally, I like how Hyundai offers an all-wheel-drive option with the Kona. This feature makes the Hyundai Kona an incredibly versatile vehicle for all conditions and areas. The other benefit of getting AWD in the Kona is that you get a multi-link rear suspension system as opposed to the torsion beam rear suspension found in the FWD models like the one I tested. The multi-link will further refine the ride quality in the rear as well as improve handling dynamics.

2020 Hyundai Kona Dislikes

My only real problem with the car is the lack of space despite the Kona being an “SUV.” There isn’t a lot of rear leg space even though I sit closer to the steering wheel. I’m 5’ 11” and yes I can sit behind myself, but 6 ft. and over individuals will probably have issues fitting.

The trunk isn’t massive either, but of course, it is a decent size. It’s plenty big to fit most people’s items; however, it’s not as much as one would think for an SUV. This car really isn’t an SUV, it’s just a slightly lifted car, and there’s nothing wrong with that because getting in and out of it is much more comfortable.

You could nitpick some other things like the hard touch plastics and the fact that the Kona might not be the fastest car in the world. There is a turbo motor on offer, but I would skip it as the 2.0l is cheaper and probably easier to maintain in the long run. But most importantly, the 2.0l will get incredible gas mileage while being satisfying to wring out.

As a whole, you can never go wrong with the 2020 Hyundai Kona. It is a vehicle I often recommend to people shopping for a new car. The 10-year warranty on these new Hyundai vehicles is just the cherry on top.

Kevin Meyn is an automotive journalist for Torque News concentrating on Hyundai content. Kevin is the founder of Exhaust Sports Auto Youtube channel, where he does professional car reviews on new and used vehicles. Through the use of various resources and extended Automotive expertise, Kevin documents the latest in automotive news revolving around Hyundai. Kevin graduated from NC State University studying Supply Chain Management but has had a passion for cars since he was a child. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Instagram @exhaustsports.