2026 Hyundai Kona Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 Kona.
Christian Wardlaw
- Pros: Thoughtful design, impressive technology, and remarkable value characterize the roomy and practical 2026 Kona.Â
- Cons: A hybrid powertrain would be nice, and the styling isn't for everyone.
- The Takeaway: There are few reasons to reject the Hyundai Kona and a long list of reasons to buy one.
If you dislike the styling, really want a small crossover SUV with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, or seek an entertaining driving experience or maximum off-roading capability, the 2026 Hyundai Kona is not right for you. Otherwise, in most respects, the 2026 Kona is a bar-setting model in its segment and is easy to recommend.
What's New for the 2026 Hyundai Kona
For the 2026 Kona, Hyundai has shuffled the trim-level lineup and revised the standard-equipment lists. The former SEL, SEL Convenience, N Line S, and N Line versions are gone, replaced by the SEL Sport and SEL Premium. The SEL Sport has the Kona's standard underpowered engine paired with black 18-inch wheels, while the SEL Premium upgrades to a more satisfying turbocharged engine and 19-inch wheels.
Additionally, all 2026 Kona models now have standard adaptive cruise control, intersection-turning assist, and oncoming-vehicle detection. A larger center console is newly standard, and every Kona except the base SE provides automatic up/down front-window operation, LED interior lighting, heated front seats, and wireless smartphone charging. The highlights of the new SEL Premium's standard equipment include 64-color ambient interior lighting, a power-adjustable driver's seat, Hyundai's H-Tex artificial-leather upholstery, and a 12.3-inch digital driver display.
Christian Wardlaw
About the 2026 Hyundai Kona Review Vehicle
The 2026 Hyundai Kona comes in SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited trim levels, and base prices range from about $27,000 to around $35,000, including the destination charge for shipping the SUV to a dealership from the Ulsan, Korea, assembly plant.
For this Kona review, I test-drove the Limited in Southern California. Optional equipment highlights included all-wheel drive (AWD), Neoteric Yellow paint, and a set of floor mats, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $36,490, including the $1,600 destination charge. Hyundai provided the vehicle for this Kona review.
Christian Wardlaw
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
While the Kona's styling may not be mainstream, the design is a masterclass in what's possible in a small crossover SUV. Granted, I test-drove the Limited, but the quality, attention to detail, and technological sophistication set the standards in this segment. Not only that, but the Kona is one of the larger and more practical vehicles in its class. You can legitimately use one as a family car, as I proved during a day trip with my wife and two teenagers along for the ride.
Four adults can ride in comfort. There are nooks and crannies everywhere for stashing your stuff. Aside from minor legibility issues caused by white markings on gray surfaces, the controls are easy to locate and use. The tech is accessible, too, from finding what you're looking for within the menus to altering settings. It operates as expected, so you're rarely confused about what the Kona is doing or why.
Thoughtfulness is evident throughout the Kona, making this affordable crossover easy to like and live with.
Christian Wardlaw
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
It is a rare Saturday that my family has an open calendar free of commitments, so when such a day arrived, we all hopped into this highlighter-yellow Hyundai for a drive up to Los Olivos, California, with stops in Santa Barbara and Solvang. I wasn't sure how happy everyone would be after spending a day on the road in the Kona. Turns out, the only complaint was about the paint color.
Getting into and out of the Kona is easy thanks to a ride height that's higher than a typical car. My Limited-trim test vehicle had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a meaty heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats. I enjoyed all-day comfort during our 200-mile round trip, and my wife was glad not to be sitting on the floor thanks to the manually height-adjustable front passenger seat.
Because the dashboard doesn't intrude much on passenger space, she was able to slide forward to better accommodate my tallest teen, who rode in the back seat with her shorter sister all day without complaint. Rear USB charging ports, air vents, and a center armrest with cupholders undoubtedly helped to keep them comfortable and occupied.
Overall, interior storage space is exceptional. From the large center console tray with deployable cupholders to the handy shelf carved into the dashboard, the Kona is full of practical places to put your stuff. Most versions of this vehicle have a wireless smartphone charger, too.
Around back, my test vehicle's power hands-free liftgate is "smart," meaning it can sense the proximity of the key fob and automatically open without forcing you to dance around on one foot while waving the other one under the bumper. When your hands are full and it's icy outside, that's the last thing you want.
Cargo space measures 25.5 cubic-feet behind the back seat and 63.7 cu-ft with the rear seat folded down. Those are generous numbers for the small crossover SUV class. Under the load floor, Hyundai equips the Kona with a spare tire, and because this SUV comes with five years of roadside assistance for unlimited miles, you can call someone to change it for you.
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Hyundai Kona Infotainment System Review
Every Kona features an impressive-looking wide-screen display panel that houses the instrumentation and infotainment screens. In SE and SEL Sport trim, the digital driver display measures 4.2 inches. Upgrade to the Kona SEL Premium or Limited and it grows to 12.3 inches. All 2026 Konas have a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Standard feature highlights include:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- SiriusXM satellite radio with a free 90-day trial subscription
- Bluelink+ Basic connected services plan
Upgrade to the Kona Limited, and you get:Â
- A Bluelink+ Advanced connected-services plan
- An eight-speaker Bose premium sound system
Bluelink+ is a significant advantage when you buy a new Kona. Generously, Hyundai provides the original owner with the Basic and Advanced plans free of charge for the life of the SUV.Â
The highlights of the Bluelink+ Basic plan are a connected voice assistant, automatic collision notification, and an SOS button on the ceiling that connects you to a live human operator who can locate the SUV and send help, remaining on the line until rescuers arrive.Â
The Bluelink+ Advanced plan in the Kona Limited adds remote engine start; remote door-lock operation; a find-my-car feature; enhanced navigation tools; and safe teen driver settings related to speed, curfew, and geographic location. It also supports the digital key feature that turns your smartphone into the vehicle's key.
During my evaluation, the connected voice assistant performed almost flawlessly, greatly contributing to the infotainment system's ease of use. Even without it, though, the touchscreen menus are simple, and Hyundai remains dedicated to the notion that old-fashioned analog knobs and buttons still have a purpose in a modern automobile. This is how it should be done, except for the low-contrast white control markings on gray surfaces. Those can be hard to read.
Christian Wardlaw
Safety Features and Ratings
Hyundai equips every 2026 Kona with SmartSense, a remarkably comprehensive collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), as standard equipment. It includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Intersection-turning assist
- Oncoming-vehicle detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear automatic braking
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keeping assist
- Lane-centering assist
- Semi-autonomous hands-on driver-assistance system
- Safe exit warning
- Automatic high-beam headlights
In addition to those features, my test car added:
- Front, side, and rear parking sensors
- Surround-view camera
- Camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Semi-autonomous parking-assist system
That represents a ton of tech on an entry-level SUV. Better yet, it all operates with a level of refinement and sophistication that can elude vehicles that cost twice or three times as much money. Aside from the Kona's lack of a touch-sensing steering wheel, which means you must occasionally add steering input to tell Highway Driving Assist that you're still paying attention, I have no complaints about how these features operate.
Not only that, but the Kona also has a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert. This system is perfect for people who like to check their phones while sitting in traffic or at intersections. When the car ahead starts moving, Leading Vehicle Departure Alert lets you know so that you don't just sit there holding up the line of people waiting behind you. Of course, if you're the lead car, it remains your responsibility to pay attention and get moving when the way ahead is clear.
Safety ratings are favorable, too, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finds the Kona provides four-star protection for the driver and passenger in a frontal impact, instead of the top five-star rating. This result drags the SUV's overall rating down to four stars instead of five.
With that said, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Kona a "Top Safety Pick+" rating for the 2026 calendar year. That's the highest possible honor from the IIHS.
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Hyundai Kona Specs and Fuel Economy
Hyundai equips the Kona SE and Kona SEL Sport with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 132 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. It drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission, and an AWD system is optional. I haven't driven a Kona with this engine, but based on the power ratings, I'd guess it's not very satisfying.
For livelier acceleration with a modest fuel-economy penalty, the Kona SEL Premium and Limited feature a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque from 1,700 rpm to 4,500 rpm. This engine uses a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission with a pair of paddle shifters, and it powers the front wheels unless you upgrade to the AWD system.
Depending on the configuration, the base engine is EPA rated to return between 27 (AWD) and 31 mpg (FWD) in combined city and highway driving. The turbocharged Konas average 26 (AWD) to 28 mpg (FWD). During my evaluation, the AWD test vehicle averaged 26.4 mpg on my fuel-economy assessment route and 26.3 mpg on my mountainous dynamic evaluation loop.
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Hyundai Kona Test Drive
I was a huge fan of the first-generation turbocharged Kona. It had a scrappy and fun driving character that reminded me of the Volkswagen GTI, and Hyundai briefly offered it as the Kona N with 276 horsepower and a full performance tune. If there was a problem with the first-gen Kona, aside from its polarizing styling, it was the crossover's tiny size.
Well, size is no longer a problem, but the Kona's personality is less entertaining.
That said, the turbocharged engine delivers zippy acceleration, especially when you switch to Sport mode. There is a slight delay after you step on the accelerator pedal, but then the engine revs into its broad torque band, and it moves quickly. The transmission is agreeable, too, and offers paddle shifters if you want more driving engagement.
Beyond that, the 2026 Kona Limited drives like a typical small crossover made for commuting and errand-running. Despite the test vehicle's 19-inch wheels and the independent multilink rear suspension that Hyundai bolts in when you choose AWD, it simply isn't as much fun to drive as I'd hoped.Â
Mainly, the culprit here is soft suspension tuning that allows too much vertical and lateral body motion. Additionally, it lacks isolation, so it can sound and feel unsophisticated when driving on anything but smooth pavement. Not only that, but the Limited's oversized wheels relentlessly transmit smaller road surface irregularities to the cabin. What the Kona delivers, then, is a soft, mushy, and busy ride.
Twice, the test vehicle's brakes heated up and began to shudder. The first time was with my family aboard during our day-long road trip, while descending a mountain grade in moderate traffic. The second time was during testing on the evaluation loop. They didn't fade, but the pedal pulsation suggests that Hyundai might want to consider upgrading the brakes.
Hyundai installs a thick-rimmed steering wheel in the Kona Limited, and it even has lower grips for people who shuffle-steer, as I do. But this excellent wheel commands electrically assisted, column-mounted steering hardware that conveys little information about what's happening at the road surface.
Now, how does this affect people who just want a roomy, safe, and affordable little SUV? It doesn't. The 2026 Kona is a perfectly agreeable daily driver with excellent outward visibility, and the turbocharged engine delivers more than enough power to get you up to speed before merging onto the freeway. With the AWD system's ability to evenly distribute power between the front and rear wheels and up to 8.3 inches of ground clearance, the Kona can even handle light off-roading duties.Â
But if your memory banks recall the spirited performance and grin-inducing handling of the first-gen Kona turbo, you may prefer to search for a used one with low miles and a clean vehicle history.
Christian Wardlaw
Alternatives to the 2026 Hyundai Kona
Buying a 2026 Hyundai Kona is smart. This thoughtfully designed and engineered small crossover SUV offers good value, helpful technology, and plenty of practicality in a surprisingly roomy, expressively styled package. A hybrid powertrain option would be nice, but unless you really want something fun to drive or capable off-road, there's no reason to cross the Kona off your list.
However, the styling is polarizing. If you don't like the way the Kona looks, you might consider alternatives like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, or Toyota Corolla Cross. You can even get a hybrid version of the Corolla Cross rated to get 42 mpg. The most capable off-roading alternatives include the Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Compass, and Subaru Crosstrek.
Christian WardlawChris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
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