2022 Hyundai Kona Review

The 2022 Hyundai Kona is a subcompact SUV that offers a lot for its accessible price. For the 2022 model year, the Kona receives its first major makeover since its 2018 debut. From the outside, it's sharper and sleeker than its predecessors, and a new N Line trim adds a distinctly sporty look. The interior changes are more subtle, with a reworked center stack (where the dashboard meets the center console) and new materials and ambient lighting.

Changes to the core lineup are all well and good — after all, those enhancements are what the majority of buyers will enjoy. But what if you want better performance to go along with the sportier look? During a short first-drive experience, we were able to get behind the wheel of the new high-performance Kona N, and it was seriously impressive. Ultra-swift changes in direction, a highly strung turbocharged engine and excellent overall handling had us wanting much, much more. In an automotive world where hot hatches are slowly disappearing, Hyundai may have a seriously hot commodity on its hands.

The base Kona trims continue to come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower. The Kona Limited trim and the new N Line use a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Power is up from 175 hp last year to 195 hp for 2022. This engine is paired to a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and helps the Kona be one of the quickest extra-small crossover SUVs.

The all-new Kona N promises performance that is even more exhilarating, courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that cranks out 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. Press the button for the N Grin Shift driving mode, and power rises to 286 hp for a short period of time. Further equipped to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an electronic limited-slip differential, the Kona N can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.5 seconds using the included launch control mode, Hyundai says.

The Kona will accommodate four adults without occupants feeling cramped. There's respectable headroom front and back. And while legroom is at a premium behind a tall driver, the generous amount of toe room underneath the front seats helps you make the most of it. There is a preponderance of hard plastics throughout the cabin, which can give the Kona a downmarket vibe.

Both the N Line and Kona N combat the plasticky feel with interior upgrades. The N Line dresses up the interior with red stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shifter and red trim on the air vents. Those accents are pastel blue in the Kona N, which also benefits from grippy sport front seats designed to keep you in place during hard cornering.