All the dealers by me sell everyone they get before it actually lands. It may not have huge sales but they are in demand. I think Doug is underestimating this one.
Same by me; Definitely huge demand. Went with the Elantra N because oddly enough the rear seat legroom is much better and trunk is pretty damn decent too
@@mdkflip7231 I am still traumatized that they made the whole driveshaft assembly with the bits and ends connecting it a one unit not that I doubt Hyundai hasnt accounted for longevity, just the weight saving effort from that seems to just result in a slim, weight save
19:58 Doug, the only reason this car won't sell is if dealers continue with their criminal markups. Otherwise, these things will sell like crazy. Hyundai's N models are all at the top of my list, and I don't think I'm alone there. The Veloster N is finally a real hot hatch that's somewhat affordable, and the Kona N is the next best thing. All the fun but with a far more practical back half. Hyundai has clearly done some marketing research to find what people actually want. Enthusiasts have been chomping at the bit waiting for this car to finally hit the streets in the US for what feels like ages. Personally, as long as the dealers don't fuck everything up like they have been, this car will move off lots really quickly. This isn't something silly like a Nissan Juke Nismo RS that's so obscure that you can still find them for sale at fairly low prices despite this ridiculous market. These N cars are actually fun performance machines, not just economy cars with a body kit.
This was intended for Doug: Wait a minute... If I'm looking to buy a C8 Corvette (which is a new car, and retails around $70k) I can get it on your site for $25k OVER msrp, but AFTER it's been driven off the lot? Or if I'm looking for a 2022 CT5 Blacking (again, a new car) I can get it for like $50k, or $60k OVER msrp on your site! WOW, I'll be sure to go to your site, so I can pay damn near double msrp for a pre-owned new car, so the rich @$$-h0l3s who pre-order these new cars, without even having the money to pay for them, can gauge the prices and use the auction money to pay these cars off, then keep the difference, and make tens of thousands of dollars profit, by using your site to rip off stupid people??? I'll be sure to assist con artists in extracting money from stupid upper middle class douchebags, who are just trying to keep up with the Joneses, and watch the upper middle class burn their of the disposable income on a car that they're either going to wreck, or trade in or sell at a loss... While all ohf this prices young and up-and-coming enthusiasts out of the "enthusiast car" market... CARS & BIDS!, ruining it for everyone.. but getting already rich people even richer in the process! It's only partially dealers. A Cars & Bids seller just sold a $100k msrp Hummer 4 for more than double it's msrp, and they came out this month...
You can get one in any color pretty much everywhere and actually pay msrp. $35.5k is what the window sticker said and that’s what I paid. If you can’t find one for $35k you’re not looking too hard.
Markups aren’t the issue here. The issue is Hyundai doesn’t exactly market this car as well as their standard Kona, also Hyundai is still a bit of a joke in the US which doesn’t help either.
Im in my late 20s, married, one dog, I’ve owned a few compact sports cars, and I now want something more suited for everyday commuting with more comfort, an upright seating position, cargo space, and a big CarPlay screen. The Kona N is EXACTLY what I want! If there’s more people like me, there might be a bigger market for this than Doug thinks!
Especially in Europe, where we tend to buy smaller cars in average. Like we consider the BMW X5 a "full size SUV", yet it's basically half the size of a Tahoe or Escalade, not to mention all the F150s and up
@@Inferiis the Suburbans and other huge trucks/SUVs here in the US are quite annoying. They literally don’t fit in most parking spaces or roadways, creating unnecessary stress for drivers around them trying to avoid hitting them in parking lots, narrow streets, etc. If our infrastructure was designed for those, it wouldn’t be a problem, but vehicles keep getting bigger and bigger every year. From a motorist standpoint, I identify as European 😅
@@sagersound they might be an inconvenience on a big city like nyc but here in Cincinnati theres no problem at all. Moms be driving their big ass truck like its civic
I think you overestimate the cargo space. We own the electric Kona and it infuriates me how relatively small the trunk is. A Corolla feels so much bigger than this.
These have exploded in the UK. We cant really have large high performance SUV's as much. Our roads are just too small. And with the immense failure of the GLA AMG series, these have boomed over here. There isnt really much similar to the Kona. The best we have I can think of currently is the Ford Puma ST. Which hasnt done too well. These things sell out before they come anywhere near a showroom floor! Hyundai is definitely back with a bang!
I have one with a full forge intake, with a bigger turbo elbow, Res delete, gpf delete and a bigger Flexi pipe, she's running just around 310hp and Jr's absolutely beast for what it is 😏
@@stevethomas760 hi Steve, N mode is indeed harsh on U.K. roads (owned multiple M cars recently for reference). It’s a simple set up though to set the adaptive to Comfort Suspension and then it’s all good for me.
The gauge cluster DOES show the music you’re listening to when you change stations or songs btw and it’s fully configurable with the menu button on the wheel. It shows a ton of info you just have to add it to the cluster through the menu.
but it still has the detachted main beam, turn signals and reverse lights, both front and rear. And car companies are pushing that trend a lot lately. Only cars it looks good on is Mk3 Golf and B6 Passat
I think the plastic actually looks better. Makes it a little bit more off roady. I think if they went more with a rallyish style car, 50/50 tires, higher suspension, lifting a bit, AWD, they would have had the coolest car to come out this year. Especially since Hyundai are going all out on WRC.
0:00 THIS ... 0:24 Cars & Bids 1:14 Car introduction 2:00 Begging to borrow your car 2:08 Quirks & Features 17:40 The Drive 22:35 Conclusion 23:05 Doug Score
I like how Doug talks about nobody buying these, but I've seen more Kona Ns on the road than Veloster Ns. Possibly even more than the regular Veloster turbo as well. Sidenote: a lady brought her Kona N out to autocross and absolutely dominated the FWD class.
I own one for 6 months now and man I could never be happier. This car is extra fair package for bucks which you never get nowadays. I have a 2016 RRS blacked out that I forget about since I own the Kona. So much fun to drive with the pops and bangs you treat roads different after you drive one. I just can't describe how proud I feel to close this deal. I believe such a vehicle won't last forever reliability wise but who cares the experience is priceless. The best part is that I blacked out red lines and rear emblem of Hyundai and got red of Kona badge which makes it perfect anonymous sleeper and you see it in people's eyes when they go huh!. Not to mention the simple yet so practical interior design. You get quality and all necessity you wish for. Material are perfectly put except the plastic which wouldn't break the deal. The interior is more than you expect you get all you need with no useless tech that counts from your bill. Dude if you get the cash go for it it's one of a lifetime deal!.
I’m jealous man, I’m currently looking for a car like this but this is alittle outta my budget. I could afford a regular Kona but i can’t do that after knowing this exists lol. I was just thinking if i got one of these i would remove all the emblems for the exact reason you did it. I’m curious how the stereo is? I don’t know why reviewers don’t mention the one thing you’ll be listening to the entire time you’re driving 🤷🏻
@@rickymahoney6664 thx 4 sharing your thoughts bro. Mentioning the stereo, it's meh! Not the best, you'd expect better I mean it's ok by itself but in comparison coming from lexus and rrs it sucks. I wish you can afford the car you like soon.
@RedBullRacing Yes. Amazing is the last word I'd use to describe a Hyundai. The only game Hyundai is on top of is copying other car designs and adding fake plastic vents and red trim.
@RedBullRacing You're joking right? The Ioniq looks identical to a GTI with stupid pixelated lights. The Kona/Sante Fe are ripoffs of the Blazer and don't get me started on the Tucson or Santa Cruz 🤮 Which luxury cars is Hyundai outperforming exactly? Its these kinds of ridiculous claims that make me think Hyundai has a room full of people commenting on YT.
Love the N performance models, even the Kona. The N treatment makes them SO much fun and entertaining to drive not to mention they're legitimately quick. I was so close to getting one of these before I decided on the EN.
@refined cottage cheese internet warrior I'd say it's about average for fwd and it's size, honestly I've driven awd vehicles with worse torque steer even with less torque
It competes naturally with the GTI, the GR Corolla, Civic R, MB GLA ... I don't think car shoppers are quite as concerned with the "raised hatch vs lowered compact SUV" as you think. The categories are uncomfortably blurring together and I think ppl will just buy whatever they like the look of. The GLA seems popular enough, despite being about the most cramped SUV possible.
You guys may not think anyone weighs them up against each other in their heads, but I think so. It's okay. It's just my opinion. Google thinks the competitor to this car is the Mitsubishi something cross, so I am a lot closer than that.
As a friend of many people who are active buying new cars, they honestly care about to two things mostly. What is looks like(big/small or fast/slow) & how do I connect my phone? Lol
My cousin got one and let me kill it for a bit and I'm so impressed by this that I'm thinking of getting one. AWD IS NOT NEEDED don't know how but it just goes Ike crazy. My cousin did low 13s in the 1/4 with no upgrade, that's crazy
Doug, all the lower end Kia’s now have the Lane Keep Assist without radar cruise control. It’s funny and I also agree it needs to come together standard
Drove a base Elantra rental across the plains with lane keep a few months back and I was surprised at how I felt less exhausted after the trip. After fighting the wind constantly for many hours in something without lane keep really makes one appreciate the feature with or without adaptive cruise.
The IONIQ line looks good, the new retrofuturistic sportscar does too, but everything else is pretty generic or unnecessarily flashy. Some cars also remind me of the Peugeot Hoggar concept
I don’t really like the design of this, but I also don’t hate it. I do think Hyundai is killing it, though. Very delighted with their offerings. @Brandon What ego boost? I think people just want something fun. Do people spend way more on a car than they can afford? For sure. I couldn’t imagine buying this new even at MSRP making any less than $80k a year, but many people would.
all these reviewers dont do their homework on how to unlock the electronic modes on all of these new cars. should be mandatory before filming. they only have 1 job.
i guess he didn't activate the boost button because he didn't want to crash, cuz he almost crashed a Dodge Challenger hellcat while activating track mode when he reviewed it 6 years ago.
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I LOVE this CAR. I got the KN in April. It is fun to drive has great pick up and sounds great. It has everything I need and room for my "family" life. It was the Hot Hatch I was looking for.
I'm not sure why Doug finds this at all unusual. It's just a hot hatchback. Doug doesn't seem to realize that compact crossovers ARE hatchbacks. They've just grown slightly and adopted beefier styling because that's what today's buyers want. This competes directly with the Golf GTI.
If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck... If calling a it a compact crossover is what it takes to sell cool hot hatches, so be it
@@mariussteenangell5262 Tiguan is waayyyy too big to be considered a hot hatch. It's a true crossover whereas the Kona is a hatchback. The public is being fooled into thinking they're in an SUV. Hell, SUVs are just lifted wagons.
If you can only have one car then you figure out how to import Cupra Formentor from Europe. Also small SUV, but AWD, 310 and 390 HP versions. And looks waaaaay better than this.
@@melluzi Cupra Formentor is way easier to get into the US, it's sold in Mexico.. And its not that great, at least way too expensive for what it is. It is sexy looking though!
Considering this thing is about the exact same size as my 09 Pontiac Vibe GT, this is absolutely a hot hatch with a little more ground clearance. And I'm here for it.
So, I have had my Kona N for about 2 months now. All I can say is if you want a car that always puts a smile on your face, this is it! So an edit to this. Orginally I ordered a GR86 back in december, and well they kept pushing the arrival date back. I was looking for another car for my wife and when I pulled in the lot, there was the Kona N. I took it out for a drive and instantly fell in love, bought it and never looked back at Toyota. here's the thing, no it doesn't have AWD which does suck, I understand why it's not there though. But this thing is a ton more practical over the GR, AND everyone in my family can drive it, and sit in it. Hell my daughter is learning how to drive with it. Is it quirky absolutely, but that's what makes this car so awesome! Will it sell? yes, they can't keep them in stock in my area, i was lucky to have pulled in to see it sitting there with 10 miles on it. If you see one, I would encourage you to get in it for a test drive. Doug, you're the best!
What do you think of the ride? I test drove one and to me it seemed very nervous/jittery. I'm not sure what suspension mode I was in, could have been N.
@@stevethomas760 the n mode suspensuin is pretty rough not gonna lie. But the custom mode lets you modify that so you can get all the n mode with a softer ride. That said even in the softest mode it is still a bit rough. I guess theres a compromise with the ride to have all the other sport stuff.
@@momlover75 I've owned WRXs since '02 and also drive a '91 NSX. Both of those seemed soft compared to the Kona N I test drove. Like I said I'm not sure what mode it was in. Looks like I'll take another test drive. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Congrats on your new ride
My previous car was a 2003 Mazda Protege5. I was prepared to drive that car until either it or I died, but I my son needed a car STAT so I passed it along to him this spring. It had about 140,000 mi on the clock at the time. I took my time considering what I might get to replace it, and the Kona N fit the form factor: 5-door hatchback, same nifty wheel base. My wife, who has NEVER shown any interest in car-shopping even if she will be the principal driver, actually caught Kona N fever. We purchased "our" Sonic Blue Kona N on the last day of May: Told the salesman we weren't going to pay for any dealer add-ons or "market adjustment," just straight MSRP (which was more than fair). He asked us how soon we could get to the dealership to pick up the car.
@@ronforeman2556 We only have 2 dealers in the area that's marking up cars. Oddly enough while my wife can careless about performance, she loves to drive it. She hasn't hit the red button yet, but plans on it at some point. There are some things I don't like about the car, it's not all great. i'm not all that impressed with the sound system, and one thing all of my other cars have with the satelite is that I can mark songs/artists as favorites and will alert me when they come on, this one doesn't do that. I don't like how I can't put my favorite stations in the order I want, but I heard that's fixed in the software update that came out a few months ago. I haven't updated it yet.
I picked up a '22 Kona N-Line a few months ago and it is fantastic. Fairly quick, good handling, AWD, a ton of tech, and an excellent warranty. I have been all over the car map, from a BMW 3-series most recently, and before that, a couple of Challenger R/T's, a Jeep Wrangler, and even an Eclipse GT. At this point in my driving life, this car checks just about all of the boxes and is legitimately a bunch of fun to drive!
@Larry Just purchased a 2022 N-Line myself. So far so good and I am really enjoying it. Also averaging about 36mpg, which is fantastic. I don’t have AWD, but it is fun to drive. Could have gotten an N, but wasn’t really my thing. The N-Line definitely checks a lot of boxes for me, as well.
Hello! Good to see someone talking about the N-line. I’m considering buying it myself, but am a bit preoccupied with the suspension, it seemed like it could fairly uncomfortable in roads that are not pristine. What has been your experience thus far?
Tbh, they really turned things around starting around 2011. It began with interesting car designs and a long warranty over the competition (and to counter their own reputation)
@@ecolon217 Yep, Hyundai started this growth with the 7 year warranty and low prices in the early 10s, then after their success in touring cars (like WTCC/WTCR) the N division really took off
@@ecolon217 yeah that first spiked around 2011 but dropped a bit over the years, but suddenly they are back on top again! I’m predicting another spike in 2031 🤷♂️
@@ecolon217 Yeah, the 2010 Sonata and 2011 Elantra were the two cars that really started to change things for Hyundai. That's when people actually started taking Hyundai seriously as a brand.
Excited to finally see this on Doug’s channel. I actually own Veloster n and Kona n. Going to be taking out the Kona to track with my racing slicks just for the fun of it. The Veloster has become my dedicated track car, but I do want to send the Kona around track soon. In my previous days out at track I have seen another Kona n owner there racing his on the auto track course.
Yeah, I see quite a few on the streets (more than Elantra N and Veloster N). It’s nice that they all share the same power train since it means that the Kona already has some aftermarket support too. Obviously not as good as the Veloster that has 4 years of it though.
what type of "slicks" are you running on the Kona N. I hope for your sake you have about 10K in suspension upgrades ,and lots of bracing. Running AutoX slicks on a stock Kona N is a recipe for disaster.Be careful
The Koreans are slowly becoming the new Japanese in terms of the automotive market. It seems like they’re the ones innovating now like the Japanese were back in the 90s and early 2000s
@@Fifthcell it's not innovation, it's actually going back in time. Noone makes real hot hatches anymore in this price range. The Fiesta ST has a 3 banger, while the Hyundai i20N has this i4 turbo and a lot of fun. They are the company who dares to make something oldschool yet really loved by car enthusiasts
In reality this makes a lot of sense. Many people want a fun race car with all the features but aren’t able to afford one. This is a great best of both worlds Practical and not financially demanding. There’s a market for stuff like this.
I have a 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo and a 2020 Veloster N. Throughout this whole video, I kept thinking "well, someone poured those two vehicles into a vat and this is what comes out". The Juke Nismo is essentially the only other "performance" crossover I can think of. And to be real, the difference in performance between the Veloster and the Juke is night and day. The Juke just happens to be good for gravel roads, "softroading" and gets pretty dang good mileage. My Veloster gets attention from the state patrol. :( I wish the Kona N had slightly more ground clearance and a manual transmission option. It would be tempting to sell my current cars for this and kinda have a two-fer for what each car provides for me.
It is pretty groovy looking but very disappointing that it's FWD-only. That sucks, especially if you live where it snows. AWD is very nice to have in inclement weather.
It's quite impressive that Hyundai is trying to be a company that makes really cool performance cars. After all, they are really trying to get into everything they could. Hot Hatches with the Veloster N, Performance Sedans with the Elantra N, and now Subcompact Crossovers with the Kona N. I'm not saying that the Tiburon or the Genesis are uncool cars, but these new models are making me really excited to see what they are gonna do in the next years. Loved the Kona N, BTW
@@AspireGMD We love our "boring" 2019 Kia Sedona SXL, especially with its "boring" heated & ventilated Napa leather 10-way power-adjustable driver & passenger seats.
I'm older and have a bad back when I saw last year that this higher stance Kona N subcompact SUV was coming out I was curious. I got my Kona N in March and it's one of the best car buying decisions I've ever made. I absolutely Love my Kona N! It is so easy for me to get in and out and it satisfies my need for a sporty car. The Kona N is a sleeper and turns tons of heads. I keep my in customized N mode with the suspension set to Normal and the steering lightened up a bit too. All others settings are full Sport+. Tons of tech and I slapped a JB4 on mine and it really amped up the fun factor X3! My local dealers can't get them and I had to drive 150 miles to get mine and put a deposit on it before it arrived. Dealers sell them super fast and it's rare if you can get one for MSRP. There is a market for these and people ask me all the time about my car.
Also it’s not just a dual clutch it’s a dual wet clutch not too dissimilar to a sport bike trans. It’s super fun to feel the different modes change the shift pressure.
I lost track of how many times Doug told us that nobody is going to buy this. It's an interesting observation to make, given that every single video review I've seen (and I've seen 'em all) shows drivers laughing with pleasure. And I haven't seen one comment below any of these videos where a Kona N owner says he doesn't like the car. When's the last time you saw a car reviewer giggle?
This car is a fkn beast I had mine for 2 weeks and it feels like a bull everything it does is aggressive lmao but fun. Im already at 4K miles I can’t stop driving it 😩
I was thinking the same thing lol. have a 2017 R and the new Golf R's are priced crazy and then all the capacitive buttons. Assuming this has the 100k mile warranty a good deal I'd say.
TBH I wanted a MK8 Golf R, but everywhere around here wanted 55k for them when I was looking. There was just no way in heck I was paying a 10k markup on a Golf no matter how sweet it is. Ended up with the Kona N at MSRP 3 months ago and still loving the thing. Such a cool, unique, and fun car for the money! Especially with the 10 year warranty, which is nice since I destroy everything I touch.
Personally I prefer no adaptive cruise control because I can’t even count how many times I’ve been behind a Tesla in cruise and it’s just braking so much for no reason it almost feels dangerous at times
The Kona N has a larger Turbo than the Veloster. Car and Driver got one to 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, and several outlets have hit 13.0 flat in the quatermile. A piggy back tune drops these into almost the 11s, which is hilarious. It's also tested faster than the outgoing Hyunda Civic Type - R in several tracks, including the N ring. Which is also hilarious.
@refined cottage cheese internet warrior Also depends on the road, if its not in great condition! I've found it to be controllable but also try not to go full throttle on less than smooth roads. Def requires attention tho hah!
@@CaliforniaKonaN Absolutely amazing. I have an old Toyota Tundra that I drive around most of the time but that once in a while when I do get in the EN I remember exactly how much I love it.
It’s a small cute little chipmunk car that just so happens to be really quick. I quite like this concept of making small and fast crossovers. It makes sense since full sized SUVS are just fighting against physics making them less useable
I drive a veloster N and everytime i see one of these they wave their ass off and have fun right along with me!! they are really cool Edit: Happened again the very next day!! If you saw a red VN in Ohio it was me!
That's awesome. I've only been able to do this once when I merged on to the freeway and immediately ran into another VN that had Canadian plates (in NorCal) and we just started driving along each other for several miles.
Picked up my sonic blue Kona N about two months ago and it has been a hoot. I literally enjoy every drive. It’s not perfect but it makes up for its small down falls. Power check, handling bits check, great sound check.
It sucks they don't seem to make Kona Ns in Sonic Blue anymore. One of the reasons why I went with the VN was cuz it was available in Performance Blue.
They have a 3 2023 KN's coming in about a week by me. White, Black, Sonic Blue. Reason I chose black is the interior's stitching is the same same the EN's Performance Blue which is a bit darker. I know it's nit picky, but I'm also disappointed when the blues aren't matching because the EN's interior colors are shoved into a KN. So I chose the Black base color because then it's also a little more under the radar public perception especially if I get black vinyl on the red.
I have one--0 to 60 after break in is high 4s.Not bad to have a 30MPG car/suv around town that can hit 155 mph and handle a speedbump as well as a lap on a track.Its also very stable at hi speeds.
@@jfresh2054 Yeah--it has an eco mode for around town and if I want i can get 27 to 31 MPG in daily driving as long as i drive normal--no sense in dogging the car during a daily drive.
I bought one at launch for my wife in black as a "family" car. It's been the best. There's certainly demand, and those who don't get it, don't need to. They're not the market. Having driven Veloster N's, and having raced slightly modified ones. The Kona keeps up, and surprisingly well up to about 135. Much more than anyone seems to give it credit considering it's market share. By the way, the N specific Pirelli P Zero's are heinous. Get yourself some Pilot Sport 4s's and enjoy performance. Enough to spin first, but not to the point where it makes the car physically slower because of the rubbers limitations.
isn't the Nissan Juke Nismo an example of a performance sub-compact crossover? I wonder why Doug didn't bring that car up as a competitor to this one...
I guess he hated that car because of the styling. He never reviewed it at all. I really like the Kona N, but i would still chose the Juke NISMO RS over this cuz unlike the Kona N, it offers a 6 speed manual. Something that the Kona N should have offered...
I look forward to driving this way more than other cars I had, like my previous 15 V6 Mustang, the Kona N is just so much more fun I picked this over the GTI and anything else just because of how it drives and sounds! I also like smaller cars, but wanted something more towards the performance side, this was perfect over the Veloster N because of the 4 doors and better hatch To me its basically just a lifted hatchback, I’ll even lower it to actually look more like a hatchback.
@@DSG-farts-connoisseur I can't do anything about this childish mentality of yours, I picked the GTI over the N for MYSELF as I found the N way more fun to drive, like the interior a lot more, and also it sounds way better. I definitely recommend the GTI for others, but also give the Kona N a try, it surprises you. I drove by a guy in a new GTI, he had his windows down, and the man wouldn't stop looking at me, with a impressed yet confused expression 😉
In Europe we call this a mini-SUV. And that performance version is very connected with our market. I own a petrol one, very simple and spacious vehicle, for our reality. Preety glad it arrived in the USA and you reviewed it. Thanks! A little trivia: this vehicle's name in Portuguese is a slang word for the female's intimate parts. So, here in Portugal, AND ONLY HERE, this car has a different name: Kauai.
Just an add-on: here we have an all-electric version of this and it's one of the most sold. It's cheaper than the Ioniq 5 and it has it all for european needs...
I think in 15 years we won't remember the Kona N as a weird car, but as a car way ahead of its time. Say hello to the future of hot hatchbacks. At the rate crossovers are replacing cars the hot hatch as we know it may go extinct.
As someone who works at Hyundai whenever we get one of these N cars they mostly sell quick because of high demand and really low inventory. It took a stick shift Veloster N in the light blue only two days to sell. They are highly desired special cars that I would honestly consider purchasing.
So glad to own one of these! I chose this over a VN or EN for a few reasons. 1) I already have a hot hatch (focus ST) 2) I like that it’s unique and they’re fairly uncommon 3) it’s just cool
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Doug you’re under estimating it for sure taking the thing around corners and throwing it around makes it so enjoyable I placed an order for mine after I drove it. I also think it’s the nicer looking N of the three.
You don’t have to be in N mode for NGS to work, it’s meant to put in you into the most aggressive mode and downs shifts to the lowest possible gear instantly even if you’re in eco to allow for quick passing, at least it is in my i30n
The fact that a compact crossover (whatever it's classified as) from HYUNDAI has better performance than an STi, BRZ, and other sportier cars, is crazy. Hyundai has done a great job lately with their cars.
This thing looks awesome to me. It’s the perfect LA car. Small enough to fit into all the tight parking spaces but with enough power to floor it down the highway (at 3am of course…the only time there’s not traffic)
No AWD is definitely a deal breaker for me but that being said this is an exciting car and as Hyundai continues to make a name in rally I look forward to seeing more weird performance stuff like this from them in the future
I really would have loved AWD even if it made it slower and more expensive but it seems many are happy with just FWD. Now, if they come out with an AWD all electric version with that sweet sweet EV motor torque... I'm trading in for sure lol.
@@Crewonephotography and unfortuantely we are getting far less rain than in years past, with no sign that we'll be back to the old averages anytime soon. At least there's lots of hot tarmac to play on.
Calling it now. The Elentra/Veloster/Kona N are the modern Neon/Caliber SRT's. These will be highly desirable, affordable fun cars for the every man much later if not today.
I love mine, it’s kinda funny though that it’s a slightly raised crossover/suv thing that they lowered. Which doesn’t make much sense but whatever, car make vroom vroom noises
Dougie saying nobody’s gonna buy the Kona N is like when Blockbuster genuinely laughed at the proposition of purchasing Netflix, and then declined. And we all know how that turned out. In the words of Kingpin, “business is booming,” when it comes to KonaN the Carbarian.
There’s a guy that brought his new one to our local circle track and he was killing it! No one realized how fast it was until he was smoking them around the ring. He had to stop because it was his wife’s daily and he almost put it in the wall once or twice… plus he got his J swapped integra running so…
@@macbook802 but the R will have numerous engine problems, costs $45k (excluding markups!), and has an infotainment system that even a tech nerd would get frustrated with trying to use. Plus the Golf R is literally boring as hell. The Kona N is an enthusiast vehicle, the R is just a tarted up Golf.
@@MDKN22 all infotainment systems are garbage, except for Tesla's. And my custom set up. And Hyundai has a worse reliability record than Volkswagen everyday of the week. And based on your assessment the kona n would actually be a tarted up Kona. The R is high performance and understated, how does that fit the tart bill? Are you the N-word or are you the R-word?
@@macbook802 definitely not a junk Volkswagen. They never last after the warranty expires without major problems. Hyundai doesn't have the best reliability record but that's because of the Nu and Theta engines, of which they've stopped production due to the issues. VWs throw CELs for everything. I see a lot of people who owns a VW in local car meet forums frequently talking about their CELs coming on.
I see the Kona N for a young family that needs the extra space and practicality but wants something more sporty than the base models. You didn’t mention the X2 M35i. I’d call the X2 the luxury market version but the Kona N looks like a great value if compared to that.
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X2 M35is are very nice, buy significantly more expensive. Even 3 year old used ones around me were going for 10k more than a Kona N. I'd never own a BMW(at this point any car for that matter since I destroy everything) without a warranty, so that would be a tough purchase. Love the X2 M35i and would happily own one otherwise, though.
Having owned this car a couple months now, the most Doug detail not mentioned here is that the NGS boost button works in all modes. You can be in ECO mode and NGS will keep you in ECO mode but throw you right at the redline with your exhaust sounding like the world's most pissed off kazoo.
God I wish we got that color in the US. Gravity Gold matte looks amazing on the Ioniq 6 (from Asian Petrolhead's video). I loved all your Kona N videos too! You convinced me to buy a Veloster N. 😁
I’m one of the weird people who fall in that “car enthusiast” & “shopping for a subcompact crossover” Personally I like them because they’re like hatchbacks but lifted and AWD (in most cases). Disappointing the Kona N doesn’t provide AWD, but I get it- after your explanation
@@drunkpolack7612 exactly which adds complexity and cost. What would have been a $36k vehicle turned into a $45-50k vehicle. It'd be tough to sell a subcompact generic vehicle at that price tag.
I own the Kona N. It’s a sleeper. Handles extremely well. Awesome exhaust. I kept up with a Camaro on the freeway today and the guy was like, wtf is that? 😂
I own the kona electric... it's even more of a sleeper haha you should see the looks of the people driving mustangs, porches etc when we both floor it on red lights lol one dude in a gla amg rolled then window down and went "what the hell is that thing" lmao cuz it doesn't even make a sound and doesn't look electric unless you look at it from the front
Doug the type of guy who calls an embossed logo 'printed'. Doug the type of guy who calls an embroidered logo a 'badge'. Doug the type of guy who calls an _actual_ badge an 'emblem'.
Loving my Veloster N. Really happy to see Hyundai coming up in the performance world and excited for what they have coming new with the RN22E and N Vision 74.
The car makes no sense, but you gotta appreciate a car manufacturer when doing this kinds of cars, it keeps things fresh and shows that they still care a little bit about doing cool things, instead of just sticking with what works and not doing anything interesting, like Toyota did for many many years (thank god for the GR models) Edit: also unpopular opinion but torque steer is fun
I love this lol. I'd own one of these in a heartbeat if I could afford it. And I honestly want to see the Tucson get this treatment. Especially if they paired it to a hybrid system. Would easily push 300+HP. And would be great for the tuscons size
I feel like this is the replacement for the Elantra N hatchback, since the hatchback didn't sell but the Kona did they're offering you some form of practical five-door sport compact.
All the dealers by me sell everyone they get before it actually lands. It may not have huge sales but they are in demand. I think Doug is underestimating this one.
that’s because Doug is very opinionated
Same by me; Definitely huge demand. Went with the Elantra N because oddly enough the rear seat legroom is much better and trunk is pretty damn decent too
@@mdkflip7231 I am still traumatized that they made the whole driveshaft assembly with the bits and ends connecting it a one unit
not that I doubt Hyundai hasnt accounted for longevity, just the weight saving effort from that seems to just result in a slim, weight save
Most new cars are like that. Idk if you heard about the chip shortage
@@aram430 more like realistic
19:58 Doug, the only reason this car won't sell is if dealers continue with their criminal markups. Otherwise, these things will sell like crazy. Hyundai's N models are all at the top of my list, and I don't think I'm alone there. The Veloster N is finally a real hot hatch that's somewhat affordable, and the Kona N is the next best thing. All the fun but with a far more practical back half. Hyundai has clearly done some marketing research to find what people actually want. Enthusiasts have been chomping at the bit waiting for this car to finally hit the streets in the US for what feels like ages. Personally, as long as the dealers don't fuck everything up like they have been, this car will move off lots really quickly. This isn't something silly like a Nissan Juke Nismo RS that's so obscure that you can still find them for sale at fairly low prices despite this ridiculous market. These N cars are actually fun performance machines, not just economy cars with a body kit.
This was intended for Doug: Wait a minute... If I'm looking to buy a C8 Corvette (which is a new car, and retails around $70k) I can get it on your site for $25k OVER msrp, but AFTER it's been driven off the lot? Or if I'm looking for a 2022 CT5 Blacking (again, a new car) I can get it for like $50k, or $60k OVER msrp on your site! WOW, I'll be sure to go to your site, so I can pay damn near double msrp for a pre-owned new car, so the rich @$$-h0l3s who pre-order these new cars, without even having the money to pay for them, can gauge the prices and use the auction money to pay these cars off, then keep the difference, and make tens of thousands of dollars profit, by using your site to rip off stupid people??? I'll be sure to assist con artists in extracting money from stupid upper middle class douchebags, who are just trying to keep up with the Joneses, and watch the upper middle class burn their of the disposable income on a car that they're either going to wreck, or trade in or sell at a loss... While all ohf this prices young and up-and-coming enthusiasts out of the "enthusiast car" market... CARS & BIDS!, ruining it for everyone.. but getting already rich people even richer in the process!
It's only partially dealers. A Cars & Bids seller just sold a $100k msrp Hummer 4 for more than double it's msrp, and they came out this month...
You can get one in any color pretty much everywhere and actually pay msrp. $35.5k is what the window sticker said and that’s what I paid. If you can’t find one for $35k you’re not looking too hard.
Markups aren’t the issue here. The issue is Hyundai doesn’t exactly market this car as well as their standard Kona, also Hyundai is still a bit of a joke in the US which doesn’t help either.
@ThatMisfitSnake! hyundai isn't a joke in the US. They're all over the place
The Hyundai Kona N has been selling like hotcakes here in Australia. There is about a 6 to 9 month wait between order and taking delivery.
Im in my late 20s, married, one dog, I’ve owned a few compact sports cars, and I now want something more suited for everyday commuting with more comfort, an upright seating position, cargo space, and a big CarPlay screen. The Kona N is EXACTLY what I want! If there’s more people like me, there might be a bigger market for this than Doug thinks!
Especially in Europe, where we tend to buy smaller cars in average. Like we consider the BMW X5 a "full size SUV", yet it's basically half the size of a Tahoe or Escalade, not to mention all the F150s and up
@@Inferiis the Suburbans and other huge trucks/SUVs here in the US are quite annoying. They literally don’t fit in most parking spaces or roadways, creating unnecessary stress for drivers around them trying to avoid hitting them in parking lots, narrow streets, etc. If our infrastructure was designed for those, it wouldn’t be a problem, but vehicles keep getting bigger and bigger every year. From a motorist standpoint, I identify as European 😅
Definitely is.
@@sagersound they might be an inconvenience on a big city like nyc but here in Cincinnati theres no problem at all. Moms be driving their big ass truck like its civic
I think you overestimate the cargo space. We own the electric Kona and it infuriates me how relatively small the trunk is. A Corolla feels so much bigger than this.
These have exploded in the UK. We cant really have large high performance SUV's as much. Our roads are just too small. And with the immense failure of the GLA AMG series, these have boomed over here. There isnt really much similar to the Kona. The best we have I can think of currently is the Ford Puma ST. Which hasnt done too well. These things sell out before they come anywhere near a showroom floor! Hyundai is definitely back with a bang!
Loving mine!
@@cpandsooz Difference of ride between N mode and the everyday?
Europe, the land of the super cars and the Kona
I have one with a full forge intake, with a bigger turbo elbow, Res delete, gpf delete and a bigger Flexi pipe, she's running just around 310hp and Jr's absolutely beast for what it is 😏
@@stevethomas760 hi Steve, N mode is indeed harsh on U.K. roads (owned multiple M cars recently for reference). It’s a simple set up though to set the adaptive to Comfort Suspension and then it’s all good for me.
The gauge cluster DOES show the music you’re listening to when you change stations or songs btw and it’s fully configurable with the menu button on the wheel. It shows a ton of info you just have to add it to the cluster through the menu.
I never liked the plastic all over the normal Kona, but this with the body matched pieces looks really good.
but it still has the detachted main beam, turn signals and reverse lights, both front and rear. And car companies are pushing that trend a lot lately. Only cars it looks good on is Mk3 Golf and B6 Passat
@@ChR0nos_7734 Detached turn signals are much more visible than those integrated into headlights. I'm all for it.
@@ChR0nos_7734 it's a matter of personal preference
I think the plastic actually looks better. Makes it a little bit more off roady. I think if they went more with a rallyish style car, 50/50 tires, higher suspension, lifting a bit, AWD, they would have had the coolest car to come out this year. Especially since Hyundai are going all out on WRC.
@@h0lycrap yea but Hyundai is taking a customized Veloster to WRC not the Kona N
0:00 THIS ...
0:24 Cars & Bids
1:14 Car introduction
2:00 Begging to borrow your car
2:08 Quirks & Features
17:40 The Drive
22:35 Conclusion
23:05 Doug Score
Begging lol
God bless
@@adj789 he was helpful to me
LMAOOO begging 😭😭😂 THISS is a great comment
Hero
I like how Doug talks about nobody buying these, but I've seen more Kona Ns on the road than Veloster Ns. Possibly even more than the regular Veloster turbo as well.
Sidenote: a lady brought her Kona N out to autocross and absolutely dominated the FWD class.
Did she roll it?
I'm scratching my head too.. our local dealers are selling these while they're in transit.
@@BretFrohwein scarce in SoCal.
EN’s too. Immediately scooped up.
They know electric cars are coming and the pace is going to be increasing.
He’s right. Who tf wants to own a car named the “Kona”? Lmfao
@@diablocls55 YeahGLA’/GLE definitely rolls off the tongue a little nicer!
I own one for 6 months now and man I could never be happier. This car is extra fair package for bucks which you never get nowadays. I have a 2016 RRS blacked out that I forget about since I own the Kona. So much fun to drive with the pops and bangs you treat roads different after you drive one. I just can't describe how proud I feel to close this deal. I believe such a vehicle won't last forever reliability wise but who cares the experience is priceless. The best part is that I blacked out red lines and rear emblem of Hyundai and got red of Kona badge which makes it perfect anonymous sleeper and you see it in people's eyes when they go huh!. Not to mention the simple yet so practical interior design. You get quality and all necessity you wish for. Material are perfectly put except the plastic which wouldn't break the deal. The interior is more than you expect you get all you need with no useless tech that counts from your bill. Dude if you get the cash go for it it's one of a lifetime deal!.
Its still a mommymobile crossover.
I’m jealous man, I’m currently looking for a car like this but this is alittle outta my budget. I could afford a regular Kona but i can’t do that after knowing this exists lol. I was just thinking if i got one of these i would remove all the emblems for the exact reason you did it. I’m curious how the stereo is? I don’t know why reviewers don’t mention the one thing you’ll be listening to the entire time you’re driving 🤷🏻
@@carguy-xv2cl mommies are the best bro! 💪
Can you confirm it doesn't have Adaptive Cruise?!
@@rickymahoney6664 thx 4 sharing your thoughts bro. Mentioning the stereo, it's meh! Not the best, you'd expect better I mean it's ok by itself but in comparison coming from lexus and rrs it sucks. I wish you can afford the car you like soon.
Hyundai is on the top of their game. All their cars and especially the N line look amazing
How much do they pay to post this same comment on every Hyundai video?
@@resetgang6638 I wish they payed me lol
@RedBullRacing Yes. Amazing is the last word I'd use to describe a Hyundai. The only game Hyundai is on top of is copying other car designs and adding fake plastic vents and red trim.
Until it blows up lol, my new forte gt blew at 6k miles and it’s been 2 months in the shop. Needless to say I have a lawyer
@RedBullRacing You're joking right? The Ioniq looks identical to a GTI with stupid pixelated lights. The Kona/Sante Fe are ripoffs of the Blazer and don't get me started on the Tucson or Santa Cruz 🤮
Which luxury cars is Hyundai outperforming exactly? Its these kinds of ridiculous claims that make me think Hyundai has a room full of people commenting on YT.
Love the N performance models, even the Kona. The N treatment makes them SO much fun and entertaining to drive not to mention they're legitimately quick. I was so close to getting one of these before I decided on the EN.
EN? whats that?
@@sj380wastaken EN = Elantra N, VN of course is Veloster N and I'm sure you guess what KN stands for :)
@@JasonYergin Or it could’ve been the AN, as on Avante N.
Hyundai's N division boosted my respect for Hyundai.
@@justin6581 True. And there might be an IN as in I30 N or I20N? 😄 so many possibilities
Doug is the type of guy when in a supercar is unimpressed but when accelerating a sub-compact car is acting like he's losing the control
As he should be.
Price adjustment button "on"
Torque steer is a real thing.
I guess he doesn't have enough experience driving FWD cars fast 😂
@refined cottage cheese internet warrior I'd say it's about average for fwd and it's size, honestly I've driven awd vehicles with worse torque steer even with less torque
I'm guessing he never drove anything FWD with torque from the 80s or 90s. A 1990 Cavalier Z24 manual had more torque steer and half the power.
It competes naturally with the GTI, the GR Corolla, Civic R, MB GLA ... I don't think car shoppers are quite as concerned with the "raised hatch vs lowered compact SUV" as you think. The categories are uncomfortably blurring together and I think ppl will just buy whatever they like the look of. The GLA seems popular enough, despite being about the most cramped SUV possible.
No it doesn’t. Gti & Type r are not even competition.. & people who buy those want 3 pedals….
The GTI is correct, but the GR Corolla and Type-R are not competitors… idk where you got that from
I get it, this guy is trolling. Gotta be comparing a cuv to hatchbacks 🤣
You guys may not think anyone weighs them up against each other in their heads, but I think so. It's okay. It's just my opinion. Google thinks the competitor to this car is the Mitsubishi something cross, so I am a lot closer than that.
As a friend of many people who are active buying new cars, they honestly care about to two things mostly. What is looks like(big/small or fast/slow) & how do I connect my phone? Lol
My cousin got one and let me kill it for a bit and I'm so impressed by this that I'm thinking of getting one. AWD IS NOT NEEDED don't know how but it just goes Ike crazy. My cousin did low 13s in the 1/4 with no upgrade, that's crazy
Doug, all the lower end Kia’s now have the Lane Keep Assist without radar cruise control. It’s funny and I also agree it needs to come together standard
I had a Kia sportage rental and that was the first thing I thought of when he said that
These options on these cars are a prime example of how everyone has become a total idiot.
@@lippers1057 yes i see more cars drifting around in their lanes than ever. The nanny is doing the driving for the baby.
They'll be offered on the next generation of i20, I'd wager, but I agree, it should've been in the current one as well.
Drove a base Elantra rental across the plains with lane keep a few months back and I was surprised at how I felt less exhausted after the trip. After fighting the wind constantly for many hours in something without lane keep really makes one appreciate the feature with or without adaptive cruise.
Hyundai design department has been absolutely slaying recently
deadass 💀
How so? Looks like every other crossover, LMAO, blind fools!
The VW Golf R competes. It's more expensive but has more horsepower plus AWD
The IONIQ line looks good, the new retrofuturistic sportscar does too, but everything else is pretty generic or unnecessarily flashy. Some cars also remind me of the Peugeot Hoggar concept
I don’t really like the design of this, but I also don’t hate it. I do think Hyundai is killing it, though. Very delighted with their offerings.
@Brandon What ego boost? I think people just want something fun. Do people spend way more on a car than they can afford? For sure. I couldn’t imagine buying this new even at MSRP making any less than $80k a year, but many people would.
Very disappointed Doug never pushed the NGS "boost" button on the steering wheel!
all these reviewers dont do their homework on how to unlock the electronic modes on all of these new cars. should be mandatory before filming. they only have 1 job.
He misses a ton of details and cool quirks.
i guess he didn't activate the boost button because he didn't want to crash, cuz he almost crashed a Dodge Challenger hellcat while activating track mode when he reviewed it 6 years ago.
Although be promised in the beginning
Being able to display two things at once in the infotainment is Doug’s dream come true
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I LOVE this CAR. I got the KN in April. It is fun to drive has great pick up and sounds great. It has everything I need and room for my "family" life. It was the Hot Hatch I was looking for.
I'm not sure why Doug finds this at all unusual. It's just a hot hatchback. Doug doesn't seem to realize that compact crossovers ARE hatchbacks. They've just grown slightly and adopted beefier styling because that's what today's buyers want. This competes directly with the Golf GTI.
And because some of them can qualify as "light trucks" for EPA purposes. I know, it's absurd.
Performance "tiny" crossovers are completely normal in Europe, there are plenty more models in this market.
Or the VW Tiguan R
If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck...
If calling a it a compact crossover is what it takes to sell cool hot hatches, so be it
@@mariussteenangell5262 Tiguan is waayyyy too big to be considered a hot hatch. It's a true crossover whereas the Kona is a hatchback. The public is being fooled into thinking they're in an SUV. Hell, SUVs are just lifted wagons.
Honestly, I quite like the idea of this. The sort of "if you can only have one car" type of thing.
If you can only have one car then you figure out how to import Cupra Formentor from Europe. Also small SUV, but AWD, 310 and 390 HP versions. And looks waaaaay better than this.
hot hatches have been doing this for nearly 50 years
Which in most developing countries, that is all we can have..
@@melluzi Cupra Formentor is way easier to get into the US, it's sold in Mexico.. And its not that great, at least way too expensive for what it is. It is sexy looking though!
@@melluzi The Cupra looks very generic
Considering this thing is about the exact same size as my 09 Pontiac Vibe GT, this is absolutely a hot hatch with a little more ground clearance. And I'm here for it.
So, I have had my Kona N for about 2 months now. All I can say is if you want a car that always puts a smile on your face, this is it! So an edit to this. Orginally I ordered a GR86 back in december, and well they kept pushing the arrival date back. I was looking for another car for my wife and when I pulled in the lot, there was the Kona N. I took it out for a drive and instantly fell in love, bought it and never looked back at Toyota. here's the thing, no it doesn't have AWD which does suck, I understand why it's not there though. But this thing is a ton more practical over the GR, AND everyone in my family can drive it, and sit in it. Hell my daughter is learning how to drive with it. Is it quirky absolutely, but that's what makes this car so awesome! Will it sell? yes, they can't keep them in stock in my area, i was lucky to have pulled in to see it sitting there with 10 miles on it. If you see one, I would encourage you to get in it for a test drive. Doug, you're the best!
What do you think of the ride? I test drove one and to me it seemed very nervous/jittery. I'm not sure what suspension mode I was in, could have been N.
@@stevethomas760 the n mode suspensuin is pretty rough not gonna lie. But the custom mode lets you modify that so you can get all the n mode with a softer ride. That said even in the softest mode it is still a bit rough. I guess theres a compromise with the ride to have all the other sport stuff.
@@momlover75 I've owned WRXs since '02 and also drive a '91 NSX. Both of those seemed soft compared to the Kona N I test drove. Like I said I'm not sure what mode it was in. Looks like I'll take another test drive.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Congrats on your new ride
My previous car was a 2003 Mazda Protege5. I was prepared to drive that car until either it or I died, but I my son needed a car STAT so I passed it along to him this spring. It had about 140,000 mi on the clock at the time. I took my time considering what I might get to replace it, and the Kona N fit the form factor: 5-door hatchback, same nifty wheel base. My wife, who has NEVER shown any interest in car-shopping even if she will be the principal driver, actually caught Kona N fever. We purchased "our" Sonic Blue Kona N on the last day of May: Told the salesman we weren't going to pay for any dealer add-ons or "market adjustment," just straight MSRP (which was more than fair). He asked us how soon we could get to the dealership to pick up the car.
@@ronforeman2556 We only have 2 dealers in the area that's marking up cars. Oddly enough while my wife can careless about performance, she loves to drive it. She hasn't hit the red button yet, but plans on it at some point. There are some things I don't like about the car, it's not all great. i'm not all that impressed with the sound system, and one thing all of my other cars have with the satelite is that I can mark songs/artists as favorites and will alert me when they come on, this one doesn't do that. I don't like how I can't put my favorite stations in the order I want, but I heard that's fixed in the software update that came out a few months ago. I haven't updated it yet.
I picked up a '22 Kona N-Line a few months ago and it is fantastic. Fairly quick, good handling, AWD, a ton of tech, and an excellent warranty. I have been all over the car map, from a BMW 3-series most recently, and before that, a couple of Challenger R/T's, a Jeep Wrangler, and even an Eclipse GT. At this point in my driving life, this car checks just about all of the boxes and is legitimately a bunch of fun to drive!
AWD? Doug just did 26 minutes of it not being or offering AWD
@@ChadMEbert N-LINE
@@ChadMEbert N-Line is AWD. N is FWD.
@Larry Just purchased a 2022 N-Line myself. So far so good and I am really enjoying it. Also averaging about 36mpg, which is fantastic. I don’t have AWD, but it is fun to drive. Could have gotten an N, but wasn’t really my thing. The N-Line definitely checks a lot of boxes for me, as well.
Hello! Good to see someone talking about the N-line. I’m considering buying it myself, but am a bit preoccupied with the suspension, it seemed like it could fairly uncomfortable in roads that are not pristine. What has been your experience thus far?
I’m telling you, Hyundai just all of the sudden is stepping up their game since 2020
To bad not their reliability, idiots to think otherwise.
Tbh, they really turned things around starting around 2011. It began with interesting car designs and a long warranty over the competition (and to counter their own reputation)
@@ecolon217 Yep, Hyundai started this growth with the 7 year warranty and low prices in the early 10s, then after their success in touring cars (like WTCC/WTCR) the N division really took off
@@ecolon217 yeah that first spiked around 2011 but dropped a bit over the years, but suddenly they are back on top again! I’m predicting another spike in 2031 🤷♂️
@@ecolon217 Yeah, the 2010 Sonata and 2011 Elantra were the two cars that really started to change things for Hyundai. That's when people actually started taking Hyundai seriously as a brand.
Excited to finally see this on Doug’s channel. I actually own Veloster n and Kona n. Going to be taking out the Kona to track with my racing slicks just for the fun of it. The Veloster has become my dedicated track car, but I do want to send the Kona around track soon. In my previous days out at track I have seen another Kona n owner there racing his on the auto track course.
Kinda awesome that people actually buy and track these
@@joshuamccormick5497 I almost bought an Elantra N but I needed a car with adaptive cruise and a softer suspension so I got an Elantra Limited.
Yeah, I see quite a few on the streets (more than Elantra N and Veloster N). It’s nice that they all share the same power train since it means that the Kona already has some aftermarket support too. Obviously not as good as the Veloster that has 4 years of it though.
what type of "slicks" are you running on the Kona N. I hope for your sake you have about 10K in suspension upgrades ,and lots of bracing. Running AutoX slicks on a stock Kona N is a recipe for disaster.Be careful
Michelin pilot sport cup 2s. So not actual slicks, but racing tires.
Hyundai is like when Japanese automakers can't make something a car enthusiast wants, Hyundai will.
You meant Tesla i guess, joke?
The Koreans are slowly becoming the new Japanese in terms of the automotive market. It seems like they’re the ones innovating now like the Japanese were back in the 90s and early 2000s
@@Fifthcell it's not innovation, it's actually going back in time. Noone makes real hot hatches anymore in this price range. The Fiesta ST has a 3 banger, while the Hyundai i20N has this i4 turbo and a lot of fun. They are the company who dares to make something oldschool yet really loved by car enthusiasts
I miss MazdaSpeed...
No actual car enthusiast would want an SUV
In reality this makes a lot of sense.
Many people want a fun race car with all the features but aren’t able to afford one. This is a great best of both worlds
Practical and not financially demanding. There’s a market for stuff like this.
I have a 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo and a 2020 Veloster N. Throughout this whole video, I kept thinking "well, someone poured those two vehicles into a vat and this is what comes out". The Juke Nismo is essentially the only other "performance" crossover I can think of. And to be real, the difference in performance between the Veloster and the Juke is night and day. The Juke just happens to be good for gravel roads, "softroading" and gets pretty dang good mileage. My Veloster gets attention from the state patrol. :(
I wish the Kona N had slightly more ground clearance and a manual transmission option. It would be tempting to sell my current cars for this and kinda have a two-fer for what each car provides for me.
I was thinking about the Juke the whole video.
I'm actually kinda impressed by these. Saw one on the road literally today in Australia. They look pretty fresh for a basic crossover
They all look the same, get out of here with that crap, junk crossover like the million before it, a boring dystopia!
Bring back the holden commodore and ford falcon
It is pretty groovy looking but very disappointing that it's FWD-only. That sucks, especially if you live where it snows. AWD is very nice to have in inclement weather.
@@ILOVEBACONBOY2018 dystopia is when cars looks similar
I'm sure they'll be roaming all over those COVID camps Australia is building. Enjoy it while you can!
It's quite impressive that Hyundai is trying to be a company that makes really cool performance cars. After all, they are really trying to get into everything they could. Hot Hatches with the Veloster N, Performance Sedans with the Elantra N, and now Subcompact Crossovers with the Kona N. I'm not saying that the Tiburon or the Genesis are uncool cars, but these new models are making me really excited to see what they are gonna do in the next years. Loved the Kona N, BTW
They need it, they've been the most boring car company for decades maybe other than Kia.
@@AspireGMD and Kia is basically the same company (so is Genesis)
@@AspireGMD We love our "boring" 2019 Kia Sedona SXL, especially with its "boring" heated & ventilated Napa leather 10-way power-adjustable driver & passenger seats.
@@ronforeman2556 Boring doesn't mean bad, just means nobody's going to turn their head to look at it or fantasize about a basic ass minivan.
The i30 N is the best among all of em
I'm older and have a bad back when I saw last year that this higher stance Kona N subcompact SUV was coming out I was curious. I got my Kona N in March and it's one of the best car buying decisions I've ever made. I absolutely Love my Kona N! It is so easy for me to get in and out and it satisfies my need for a sporty car. The Kona N is a sleeper and turns tons of heads. I keep my in customized N mode with the suspension set to Normal and the steering lightened up a bit too. All others settings are full Sport+. Tons of tech and I slapped a JB4 on mine and it really amped up the fun factor X3! My local dealers can't get them and I had to drive 150 miles to get mine and put a deposit on it before it arrived. Dealers sell them super fast and it's rare if you can get one for MSRP. There is a market for these and people ask me all the time about my car.
My friend let me drive his Kona N and man it was a fun car to drive.
Also it’s not just a dual clutch it’s a dual wet clutch not too dissimilar to a sport bike trans. It’s super fun to feel the different modes change the shift pressure.
I lost track of how many times Doug told us that nobody is going to buy this. It's an interesting observation to make, given that every single video review I've seen (and I've seen 'em all) shows drivers laughing with pleasure. And I haven't seen one comment below any of these videos where a Kona N owner says he doesn't like the car. When's the last time you saw a car reviewer giggle?
This car is a fkn beast I had mine for 2 weeks and it feels like a bull everything it does is aggressive lmao but fun. Im already at 4K miles I can’t stop driving it 😩
@@aidaaliten8817 balls
this video isn't about you, this isn't your channel
@@slowery43 bro he's just proving how good a car it is because he owns one 😂 calm down lol
@@slowery43 clown
@@slowery43 😂😂 omg I'm very toxic, but you're on another level
I fucking love this car. I am a Golf R owner and I would happily step down into this if I wanted to save a buck.
I was thinking the same thing lol. have a 2017 R and the new Golf R's are priced crazy and then all the capacitive buttons. Assuming this has the 100k mile warranty a good deal I'd say.
Do it. A lot more fun and save money.
TBH I wanted a MK8 Golf R, but everywhere around here wanted 55k for them when I was looking. There was just no way in heck I was paying a 10k markup on a Golf no matter how sweet it is. Ended up with the Kona N at MSRP 3 months ago and still loving the thing. Such a cool, unique, and fun car for the money! Especially with the 10 year warranty, which is nice since I destroy everything I touch.
@@apexcobra.official yeah got one over here wanting 54k. Kona N is available at MSRP
Personally I prefer no adaptive cruise control because I can’t even count how many times I’ve been behind a Tesla in cruise and it’s just braking so much for no reason it almost feels dangerous at times
doug underrating this one for sure
The NGS button should have been labeled “NOS” for “N Optimized Sport” and that way it felt even more “Fast and the Furious”
Probably not done because of copyright
I really hope Doug reviewed the Daihatsu Midget II that recently sold on Cars & Bids
The Kona N has a larger Turbo than the Veloster. Car and Driver got one to 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, and several outlets have hit 13.0 flat in the quatermile. A piggy back tune drops these into almost the 11s, which is hilarious. It's also tested faster than the outgoing Hyunda Civic Type - R in several tracks, including the N ring. Which is also hilarious.
That is crazy lmao
FWD in less than 5 seconds? Sounds like foot rollout or some other bullshit like tesla does.
@@killmeh2 That isn't from the factory time. They under rated it from Hyundai, but a bunch of the Car & Drivers of the world hit sub 5 second 0-60s.
Lol I can confirm, I've hit sub 5 0-60 in mine plenty of times. It's deceptively quick. Hopefully I can take it down to Pittrace this spring.
Love my Kona N! Glad it's getting some more reviews and recognition.
Hell yeah 🤘😎
Nope
@refined cottage cheese internet warrior Also depends on the road, if its not in great condition! I've found it to be controllable but also try not to go full throttle on less than smooth roads. Def requires attention tho hah!
@@JasonYergin N gang! How's your EN been?
@@CaliforniaKonaN Absolutely amazing. I have an old Toyota Tundra that I drive around most of the time but that once in a while when I do get in the EN I remember exactly how much I love it.
I went from not knowing what a Kona was to seeing them literally EVERYWHERE over the last few months.
It’s a small cute little chipmunk car that just so happens to be really quick. I quite like this concept of making small and fast crossovers. It makes sense since full sized SUVS are just fighting against physics making them less useable
I drive a veloster N and everytime i see one of these they wave their ass off and have fun right along with me!! they are really cool
Edit: Happened again the very next day!! If you saw a red VN in Ohio it was me!
That's awesome. I've only been able to do this once when I merged on to the freeway and immediately ran into another VN that had Canadian plates (in NorCal) and we just started driving along each other for several miles.
Picked up my sonic blue Kona N about two months ago and it has been a hoot. I literally enjoy every drive. It’s not perfect but it makes up for its small down falls. Power check, handling bits check, great sound check.
I'm 10k miles into owning my KN and I second everything you said
Calling your Kona N "not perfect" is like trying to find a needle in the haystack.
@@manoman0 Or needles in a pile of needles.
It sucks they don't seem to make Kona Ns in Sonic Blue anymore. One of the reasons why I went with the VN was cuz it was available in Performance Blue.
They have a 3 2023 KN's coming in about a week by me. White, Black, Sonic Blue. Reason I chose black is the interior's stitching is the same same the EN's Performance Blue which is a bit darker. I know it's nit picky, but I'm also disappointed when the blues aren't matching because the EN's interior colors are shoved into a KN. So I chose the Black base color because then it's also a little more under the radar public perception especially if I get black vinyl on the red.
Finally reviewing a real supercar
maybe leave comedy to those taht are at least a little funny
@@slowery43 comedy is subjective
Drive this car for a day. Really fun car. The exhaust sounds even better in person
My dirty little secret is that I love torque steer. It makes small cars feel like a handful. Which is fun.
Hyundai is really stepping up their game!
@@aidaaliten8817 balls
Yay the Kona N's been reviewed by Doug!
also, rip veloster
@@aidaaliten8817 bro u are annoying af
I have one--0 to 60 after break in is high 4s.Not bad to have a 30MPG car/suv around town that can hit 155 mph and handle a speedbump as well as a lap on a track.Its also very stable at hi speeds.
30 mpg?
@@jfresh2054 Yeah--it has an eco mode for around town and if I want i can get 27 to 31 MPG in daily driving as long as i drive normal--no sense in dogging the car during a daily drive.
I bought one at launch for my wife in black as a "family" car. It's been the best. There's certainly demand, and those who don't get it, don't need to. They're not the market. Having driven Veloster N's, and having raced slightly modified ones. The Kona keeps up, and surprisingly well up to about 135. Much more than anyone seems to give it credit considering it's market share.
By the way, the N specific Pirelli P Zero's are heinous. Get yourself some Pilot Sport 4s's and enjoy performance. Enough to spin first, but not to the point where it makes the car physically slower because of the rubbers limitations.
I just hope they would make an N version of the Kona Electric and give it AWD, would be so much fun to see.
isn't the Nissan Juke Nismo an example of a performance sub-compact crossover? I wonder why Doug didn't bring that car up as a competitor to this one...
I guess he hated that car because of the styling. He never reviewed it at all. I really like the Kona N, but i would still chose the Juke NISMO RS over this cuz unlike the Kona N, it offers a 6 speed manual. Something that the Kona N should have offered...
The Kona would destroy it in every measurable performance test.
I look forward to driving this way more than other cars I had, like my previous 15 V6 Mustang, the Kona N is just so much more fun
I picked this over the GTI and anything else just because of how it drives and sounds! I also like smaller cars, but wanted something more towards the performance side, this was perfect over the Veloster N because of the 4 doors and better hatch
To me its basically just a lifted hatchback, I’ll even lower it to actually look more like a hatchback.
and just like that, you stopped being relevant as soon as you said "I picked this over a GTI"
@@DSG-farts-connoisseur I can't do anything about this childish mentality of yours, I picked the GTI over the N for MYSELF as I found the N way more fun to drive, like the interior a lot more, and also it sounds way better. I definitely recommend the GTI for others, but also give the Kona N a try, it surprises you. I drove by a guy in a new GTI, he had his windows down, and the man wouldn't stop looking at me, with a impressed yet confused expression 😉
Ok grandma
@@DSG-farts-connoisseur yea...picked it over a GTI....more fun to drive than a Mustang....the dude is CRAZY with a capital C xD
@@fortheloveofnoise you probably drive a camry
Both KIA and Hyundai are doing really interesting things with their cars lately. Feels like they're really pushing the innovation.
Considering they are the same brand? Lol
@@lippers1057 Its a bot
In Europe we call this a mini-SUV. And that performance version is very connected with our market. I own a petrol one, very simple and spacious vehicle, for our reality. Preety glad it arrived in the USA and you reviewed it. Thanks!
A little trivia: this vehicle's name in Portuguese is a slang word for the female's intimate parts. So, here in Portugal, AND ONLY HERE, this car has a different name: Kauai.
Just an add-on: here we have an all-electric version of this and it's one of the most sold. It's cheaper than the Ioniq 5 and it has it all for european needs...
I think in 15 years we won't remember the Kona N as a weird car, but as a car way ahead of its time. Say hello to the future of hot hatchbacks. At the rate crossovers are replacing cars the hot hatch as we know it may go extinct.
As someone who works at Hyundai whenever we get one of these N cars they mostly sell quick because of high demand and really low inventory. It took a stick shift Veloster N in the light blue only two days to sell. They are highly desired special cars that I would honestly consider purchasing.
So glad to own one of these! I chose this over a VN or EN for a few reasons.
1) I already have a hot hatch (focus ST)
2) I like that it’s unique and they’re fairly uncommon
3) it’s just cool
How's the suspension and road noise?
07:18 That exhaust sounds better than most new Audi's, BMWs and Mercedes. No soft limiter either. Well done
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Doug you’re under estimating it for sure taking the thing around corners and throwing it around makes it so enjoyable I placed an order for mine after I drove it. I also think it’s the nicer looking N of the three.
I actually really, really dig this vehicle. They should make an alcantara/suede package for the doors, dash, and center console.
You don’t have to be in N mode for NGS to work, it’s meant to put in you into the most aggressive mode and downs shifts to the lowest possible gear instantly even if you’re in eco to allow for quick passing, at least it is in my i30n
Hyundai has improved their cars a lot within the last decade. Epic Review Doug!
@@aidaaliten8817 balls
The fact that a compact crossover (whatever it's classified as) from HYUNDAI has better performance than an STi, BRZ, and other sportier cars, is crazy. Hyundai has done a great job lately with their cars.
I really like all N cars. Still, my $27k gussied up economy grocery getter out performs this gimmicky Hyundai.
Super proud to have worked on it.
I have owned a Boxster and a Subaru BRZ. This is the one I want next. Oodles of fun.
This thing looks awesome to me. It’s the perfect LA car. Small enough to fit into all the tight parking spaces but with enough power to floor it down the highway (at 3am of course…the only time there’s not traffic)
The turning radius is horrid let me tell you, it's been a pain. This replace my 2nd gen IS250 and I didn't know how good I had it till now lol.
No AWD is definitely a deal breaker for me but that being said this is an exciting car and as Hyundai continues to make a name in rally I look forward to seeing more weird performance stuff like this from them in the future
I really would have loved AWD even if it made it slower and more expensive but it seems many are happy with just FWD. Now, if they come out with an AWD all electric version with that sweet sweet EV motor torque... I'm trading in for sure lol.
the E-diff (at least here in dry SoCal) makes me forget that AWD is a thing. FWD is lighter, cheaper, and has half the drivetrain loss of AWD.
the e-LSD almost makes AWD redundant in all conditions other than heavy rain.
@@Crewonephotography and unfortuantely we are getting far less rain than in years past, with no sign that we'll be back to the old averages anytime soon. At least there's lots of hot tarmac to play on.
@@carloscervantes836 Sport and EV don’t go together
Calling it now. The Elentra/Veloster/Kona N are the modern Neon/Caliber SRT's. These will be highly desirable, affordable fun cars for the every man much later if not today.
Considering the new "every man" doesn't even know what his gender currently is.
I mean sub compact crossovers are basically the 2020's hatchback. Half of them I could argue are just hatchbacks with large tires.
I have a Kona N. It's so much fun to drive.
I love mine, it’s kinda funny though that it’s a slightly raised crossover/suv thing that they lowered. Which doesn’t make much sense but whatever, car make vroom vroom noises
Doug.. this is another review where you bash the car and yet it’s in such demand.. like the fk8 type r
Dougie saying nobody’s gonna buy the Kona N is like when Blockbuster genuinely laughed at the proposition of purchasing Netflix, and then declined.
And we all know how that turned out.
In the words of Kingpin, “business is booming,” when it comes to KonaN the Carbarian.
Kona was once a brand for downhill Mountainbikes. Alloy frame, very solid. I had one in 2004
There’s a guy that brought his new one to our local circle track and he was killing it! No one realized how fast it was until he was smoking them around the ring. He had to stop because it was his wife’s daily and he almost put it in the wall once or twice… plus he got his J swapped integra running so…
I have a a couple of friends with these and coming from an st there incredibly quick and driving one was a lot of fun.
Hyundai has really proven themselves to be a serious contender with the N models and this one intrigues me the most.
Not really. Doug just sold you. The VW Golf R beats it in every way. Plus in the VW most people will feel more important
@@macbook802 but the R will have numerous engine problems, costs $45k (excluding markups!), and has an infotainment system that even a tech nerd would get frustrated with trying to use.
Plus the Golf R is literally boring as hell. The Kona N is an enthusiast vehicle, the R is just a tarted up Golf.
@@MDKN22 all infotainment systems are garbage, except for Tesla's. And my custom set up. And Hyundai has a worse reliability record than Volkswagen everyday of the week. And based on your assessment the kona n would actually be a tarted up Kona. The R is high performance and understated, how does that fit the tart bill? Are you the N-word or are you the R-word?
@@MDKN22 you're literally a self proclaimed "car enthusiast" with a broken turbo Hyundai. I'm pretty sure that makes you a biased N-boy
@@macbook802 definitely not a junk Volkswagen. They never last after the warranty expires without major problems.
Hyundai doesn't have the best reliability record but that's because of the Nu and Theta engines, of which they've stopped production due to the issues.
VWs throw CELs for everything. I see a lot of people who owns a VW in local car meet forums frequently talking about their CELs coming on.
I see the Kona N for a young family that needs the extra space and practicality but wants something more sporty than the base models. You didn’t mention the X2 M35i. I’d call the X2 the luxury market version but the Kona N looks like a great value if compared to that.
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X2 M35is are very nice, buy significantly more expensive. Even 3 year old used ones around me were going for 10k more than a Kona N. I'd never own a BMW(at this point any car for that matter since I destroy everything) without a warranty, so that would be a tough purchase. Love the X2 M35i and would happily own one otherwise, though.
Having owned this car a couple months now, the most Doug detail not mentioned here is that the NGS boost button works in all modes. You can be in ECO mode and NGS will keep you in ECO mode but throw you right at the redline with your exhaust sounding like the world's most pissed off kazoo.
Kona N in Gravity Gold Matte color looks insane. Hope Doug had that car for review 😢
God I wish we got that color in the US. Gravity Gold matte looks amazing on the Ioniq 6 (from Asian Petrolhead's video). I loved all your Kona N videos too! You convinced me to buy a Veloster N. 😁
They failed not having awd
I’m one of the weird people who fall in that “car enthusiast” & “shopping for a subcompact crossover”
Personally I like them because they’re like hatchbacks but lifted and AWD (in most cases). Disappointing the Kona N doesn’t provide AWD, but I get it- after your explanation
buy a sedan, you will almost never need any of the features in a subcompact crossover.
@@squadmaster114 Nah
@@squadmaster114 oh? Please tell me more of what I need based on your knowledge of my life
@@SuperPhoton905 you haul around your snot nosed brats. Thats about it probably. What else could you possibly need to haul that a sedan couldn't
This thing would sell like hotcakes if it was available in all wheel drive, I don’t know what Hyundai was thinking making it FWD only??
They apparently couldn't get the handling they wanted from an AWD system. I suspect it's also got something to do with pricing also.
I don’t think that Hyundai wanted to redesign their N engines/transmission to accept awd
You’d have to completely re-engineer the whole drivetrain
@@drunkpolack7612 exactly which adds complexity and cost. What would have been a $36k vehicle turned into a $45-50k vehicle. It'd be tough to sell a subcompact generic vehicle at that price tag.
Besides increased cost and engineering, they wanted to keep it as light as possible. Adding AWD would make it heavier.
As somebody who tracked their Kona N multiple times, never say never Doug 😜
Every time Doug says "N" you take a shot
We all dead
I own the Kona N. It’s a sleeper. Handles extremely well. Awesome exhaust. I kept up with a Camaro on the freeway today and the guy was like, wtf is that? 😂
I own the kona electric... it's even more of a sleeper haha you should see the looks of the people driving mustangs, porches etc when we both floor it on red lights lol one dude in a gla amg rolled then window down and went "what the hell is that thing" lmao cuz it doesn't even make a sound and doesn't look electric unless you look at it from the front
The Kona N is like the modern day Caliber SRT4 lol.
In a crossover society, the Kona N makes sense 🤷♂️
I hope these are still relatively cheap and available in a few years.
I really want to own one someday.
Nope. They are discontinuing it and the prices will go up
Doug the type of guy who calls an embossed logo 'printed'.
Doug the type of guy who calls an embroidered logo a 'badge'.
Doug the type of guy who calls an _actual_ badge an 'emblem'.
I bought my 2022 Kona N back in the beginning of June, It now has 5k miles and its been a trip to say the least!
Loving my Veloster N. Really happy to see Hyundai coming up in the performance world and excited for what they have coming new with the RN22E and N Vision 74.
The car makes no sense, but you gotta appreciate a car manufacturer when doing this kinds of cars, it keeps things fresh and shows that they still care a little bit about doing cool things, instead of just sticking with what works and not doing anything interesting, like Toyota did for many many years (thank god for the GR models)
Edit: also unpopular opinion but torque steer is fun
I love this lol.
I'd own one of these in a heartbeat if I could afford it. And I honestly want to see the Tucson get this treatment. Especially if they paired it to a hybrid system. Would easily push 300+HP. And would be great for the tuscons size
they have the N-Line, so maybe in the future. I think it will sell way more than the Kona N haha
The Tuscon n line is a waste of money just get a limited.
I’m a car enthusiast and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I really like it.
I feel like this is the replacement for the Elantra N hatchback, since the hatchback didn't sell but the Kona did they're offering you some form of practical five-door sport compact.