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A look in and around the 2018 Hyundai Kona

Hyundai's new compact SUV, the Kona, has optional 4WD, 175hp, heads-up display, and more. Here's how it looks.

Geoffrey Morrison
Geoffrey Morrison is a writer/photographer about tech and travel for CNET, The New York Times, and other web and print publications. He's also the Editor-at-Large for The Wirecutter. He has written for Sound&Vision magazine, Home Theater magazine, and was the Editor-in-Chief of Home Entertainment magazine. He is NIST and ISF trained, and has a degree in Television/Radio from Ithaca College. His bestselling novel, Undersea, and its sequel, Undersea Atrophia, are available in paperback and digitally on Amazon. He spends most of the year as a digital nomad, living and working while traveling around the world. You can follow his travels at BaldNomad.com and on his YouTube channel.
Geoffrey Morrison
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2018 Hyundai Kona

Razor-thin LED headlights give the Kona an aggressive stare.

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Kona on the street

Engine options include a 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that runs on the Atkinson cycle and a 1.6-liter turbo with 175 hp.

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Kona 3/4

The Kona's all-wheel-drive system also comes with a more sophisticated rear suspension.

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Kona from the back

The narrow LED tailights add to the Kona's overall look as well.

Kona in the wild
Kona in the wild
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Kona in the wild

Hyundai claims the Kona is for those with "active lifestyles," which apparently means driving in the jungle. 

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Kona cobblestones

Three driving modes, Sports, Normal and Eco, will adjust the throttle, transmission shift points and torque mapping, to maximize acceleration or fuel economy. 

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Kona in the jungle

Zero to 62 mph with the turbo engine happens in a claimed 7.7 seconds, presumably on tarmac.

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LED eyes

Available advanced driver-assist systems include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning and more.

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Kona curves

Up front are McPherson struts. In the back is either a torsion beam setup (for front-wheel-drive models) or a dual-arm multi-link system for all-wheel-drive Konas.

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Kona on the prowl

Miles per gallon estimates have yet to be announced.

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Kona launch event

The world unveiling of the Kona, June 13, 2017 in Seoul. 

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Kona and Chung

Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung shows off the Kona.

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Ironman

A special one-off "Ironman" Kona, complete with Marvel badges. The fog lights look like an arc reactor.

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Just Tony?

No mention of a Hulk or Thor edition.

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In white

  At the Kona premiere, Konas in several different colors were on display.

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In blue

Several were part of lifestyle displays.

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Atkinson

The 2.0-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder. 

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147 2.0

It develops 147 horsepower.

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LEDs

The headlights are exceptionally thin.

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Augment

They're joined by additional illumination from this cluster below.

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Orange

Pictures don't quite do this color justice; it's a bold orange that really works on this car.

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Side view

The black coverings above the wheels are the "armor."

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Shark fin

Hyundai's "shark fin" design for the c-pillar.

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Door

Body-color door handles.

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Backseat

The colored seatbelts are a nice touch.

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Silver/gray

Though more sedate in color, this Kona has the more powerful engine.

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175 1.6

The 1.6-liter turbo puts out 175 hp.

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7.7

Zero to 62 in 7.7 seconds.

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Tail

Thin taillights match the thin headlights.

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Trunk

18 cubic feet of trunk space.

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Brakes

Disc brakes all around, not surprisingly.

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Cockpit

Surprisingly roomy for a small car.

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Lots of gadgets

It has all the normal bells and whistles, but also a few that you might not expect, like wireless phone charging.

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Buttons

Lots of control without moving your hands.

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Dials and screen

The 4-inch LCD offers lots of info.

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HUD

The head up display shows speed, satnav directions, and more.

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Infotainment

7- or 8-inch screens.

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AC and DC

These are the heating/air conditioning controls and USB power port.

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6 or 7

The base engine is mated to a six-speed auto. The turbo gets a seven-speed dual-clutch.

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Drive safe

Forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning system, and so on.

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Audio by...

Sadly, high-end audio company Krell only does the audio outside of the US market.

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Hyundai

The company is 50 years old this year.

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Taillights (upper)

Great design for something simple like taillights.

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Taillights (lower)

The lower rear lights.

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Evil eye

Reminds me of some kind of mean animal. 

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Logos

If you get the 4WD version, there's a little badge below this that says "4WD."

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2018 Kona

Check out the full details in our 2018 Hyundai Kona preview.

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2018 Hyundai Kona on the road

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Interior

Note the colored trim pieces. 

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Center console

Big infotainment at top, USB and 12v plugs at the bottom.

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Red from above

The roof is available in black or gray, depending on what color you chose for the rest of the car.

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Kona and the ocean road

Roadshow accepts multi-day vehicle loans from manufacturers in order to provide scored editorial reviews. All scored vehicle reviews are completed on our turf and on our terms. However, for this feature, travel costs were covered by the manufacturer. This is common in the auto industry, as it's far more economical to ship journalists to cars than to ship cars to journalists. The judgments and opinions of Roadshow's editorial team are our own and we do not accept paid content. 

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