Hyundai Kona N vs Ford Puma ST: road and track battle | 4K
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- Опубликовано: 22 апр 2022
- Steve Sutcliffe pits two of the world’s hottest crossovers against each other - can the Hyundai Kona N beat the Ford Puma ST?
Read more at Auto Express:
Hyundai Kona N vs Ford Puma ST 2022 twin test review: aex.ae/3qYMbVK
2022 Hyundai Kona N review: aex.ae/3K37eNH
2022 Ford Puma ST review: aex.ae/3nsftrJ
The hot hatchback used to be the epitome of everyday performance motoring, but today there’s a new option for buyers in need of a family car that can still put a smile on your face - the hot SUV.
In this review, Steve Sutcliffe tests two of the hottest on road and track. First up is the Hyundai Kona N, which sources its drivetrain from the company’s first hot hatch, the i30 N. That means it packs a 276bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and the Korean manufacturer has kitted it out with plenty of clever electronics and a bespoke suspension set-up to help deliver what’s promised to be an entertaining drive.
But can it usurp one of our practical performance favourites, the Ford Puma ST? Utilising running gear from the excellent Fiesta ST, Ford has transplanted that car’s willing, playful nature into a more practical crossover body. As our man Steve Sutcliffe finds out, the package is a strong threat to the Hyundai, but can it achieve a faster lap time?
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Track battle playlist: aex.ae/2U8yvdf
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That Puma ST handle and ride like an affordable Porsche for everyday people. But the Kona N on the other hand is a mini Urus!
Porsche(Puma) more dynamic, but urus(kona) is more violent
Why don’t these journalists do their research! I have a Kona N and you can put it in ‘N Custom’ mode. Select everything in max attack mode apart from the suspension and steering put them in comfort mode and then it drives beautifully and doesn’t bump you around like in this video. Also, for an extra £5k you get bundles more specification, loads more power and torque, a proper DCT gearbox, a mechanical diff, a 5-year warranty etc etc
And free track insurance, its frankly a much better deal if you look into it. Some people never let facts get in the way of a good story..
Seriously most of the reviewers never mention the N custom mode....so dumb
I was wondering this - Steve even explained you could customise the setup as much as you like! 🙄
Can't agree more.
Both cars are for girls anyway.
Steve Sutcliffe is a great journalist but for crying out loud he needs to realise that the Hyundai N cars have a Custom mode and that’s what makes them so good. It’s so frustrating because I remember him complaining about the same stuff in the i30N.
Put the suspension and steering in normal or sport and you’re onto a winner.
Yeah right. Hate these reviews where the whole point of the adjustability of these cars are missed.
This was a little bit silly test. First you set Kona to the firmest suspension because you wanna be the fastest with it, then you name the Ford winner, because it's slower though but it has a softer suspension that you like better. You can't really decide what you want from the Kona.
Totally agreed here👍
You know the kona will allow you to adjust the suspension settings, right?
Yes but even the softest setting is stiff.
Great video. Kona N is my daily love it🔥🔥. I enjoy the torque steer, the customization, the ride quality but it’s not for ever body.
Huge difference in the warranty offered on each car tho....hyundai warranty is far superior to fords.....
Love my Kona n... Spend 36..
I genuinely feel this guy had the puma picked no matter what lol... He clearly was biased.
He was!
He didn’t even try to hide it lol
Buy the Puma and spend some of what you saved on the Mountune M260 kit, then it’ll be faster.
@@thatfocusguy Still looks like a frog though, needs a little bit more angle to the body and prob sell a lot more.
@@thatfocusguy can also tune the kona😎
I just wanna say Hyundai implement double split headlights way better than BMW.
I think Hyundai pioneered the design
@@lueqmanmasduki6028 It was either Jeep with the Cherokee back in like 2013/14 or Nissan with the gen 1 juke.
What BMW has split headlights?
@@andreiarama8745 the new 7 series & the X7
@@umah. ah I see, personally I never judge anything from the pictures ! I always wait to see everything with my own eyes in flesh before giving my opinion.
The journalist has no idea. Put the Kona N in N Custom and soften the suspension if the ride is too hard for you princess 🤦🏻♂️
Test drove both and purchased the kona. Different animal really, puma was very well balanced and had more finesse but kona felt more special, had more kit, more premium interior.
I guess you pay more for those things tho
Man spent 35k on a hyundai
@@gypsyemperor7535 you can spend 60k these days on a hatch back...
Another uneducated badge snob. Look up the n devision! My last car was an AMG Aclass. This is much more fun.
Plus my company pay for it so it doesn't cost me 😉
@@gypsyemperor7535 what car should a man get then at 35k
@@kenyaswallow5782 Used BMW M2. At least that's what I'm thinking of getting after purchasing the Kona N, not having access to the i30N, and Golf R's having large mark up...
Both nice cars but puma st for me, just ordered one in mean green colour with the machined alloys, be sept Oct before delivery because brand new ,cant wait such a nice car, even if it looks like Kermit the frog from the front ,I love the looks of it in green, an fast enough for me,that Kona proper quick though I can see why lots of people would choose that car too, good fun video to watch loved it 👌👍
Great Review!
I've had a Kona N for 2 months now and previously had an i30 N DCT and before that gen 1 i30 N. The Kona feels slightly softer I think and not as loud. 8 mph slower top speed but they've thrown every extra going on the car, the spec is unreal! The NGS button should be higher on the steering wheel though so you can boost it between the bends. Yet to drive the Puma, but if its anything like the old wide arch one I had I bet its well balanced and precise. Thanks for the vid 👍
I'm deliberating between the 130N DCT and Kona N, and I wonder for the pot holed and speed bump ridden London streets I live in, that the supposedly softer Kona N - might be better?
@@msagoo29 There's not a lot in it but another advantage with the i30, I think its slightly better on fuel and the boot felt larger. Depends if you want the extra spec... the ventilated seats in the Kona were a blessing in today's heatwave!
I've just traded my 2019 i30N fastback in for a 2022 Kona N which I pick up next week, all the standard equip is what sold it to me.
@@ArCtIcFoX666 Here in the US we get peanuts... pain. cooled seats no go.
@@carloscervantes836 esp in a place which woukd prob need more than the UK
I agree the Puma is lovely to drive . I own a Kona and have driven the Puma, which is now top of the list for my next car. Wonderful review thanks. Pete from Oz.
I prefer when Auto Express leaves out the name of the reviewer in the title. That way when you see or hear Steve you get a rush of excitement after a few seconds of anticipation!
Please do a comparison of the Ford Fiesta ST against the Hyundai i20N!
This is just the type of test and video I want, and then you see Steve Sutcliffe and aaahhh perfect ❗️😊
I'd take the Puma. There's a vid on Largus channel with performance on The Ring- it does some crazy speed trough corners
So according your lap times Kona N did almost same time as i30N DCT, Audi S3, Golf R and it was only 1 sec slower than Type R, Cupra 300 and GR yaris? And Kona N was in Wet and only FWD??? WOW the Koreans did something astonishing or your driving skills aren't that good 😅
😂😂😂 this 😂😂😂
I wonder what the Fiesta ST time would be? Has it been lapped yet?
I’ll take the Kona n. 💪🏾
For 40 odd sec per lap, that must be one tiny track. Difference be huge when it is a slightly more normal sized track.
Definitely trying harder in the Ford. Off out of the track limits twice and took way more curb through the chicane to straighten it and set up for the next corner.
Love this segment of car's, would love to see another nismo juke , a gr rav 4 or type r hrv .
To everyone commenting here who has a puma or a Kona, how often have you taken these to a track? or have just gotten into your car and gone joyriding? I just don’t see the purpose of this video, I agree with the decision he has made, the puma is awesome, I drove a puma hybrid and then an ST each for a year and ended up with a fiesta mk8.5 ST. so I think I have enough experience to comment here. So, I am a parent, I needed a "sensible" car for daily driving, I used the Hybrid Puma "fantastic car", for about a year, got the opportunity to swap it to a 21 Puma ST and drive that for a year, also fantastic car, but neither of them gave me the feeling, I want to go to SPA, Hockenheim, or the Nürburgring. they were more, life practical cars for me. kid in one arm, shopping in the other, wave foot, boot open convenience etc. and then when the 2023 Fiesta ST finally came out, I got rid of the Puma ST and picked up the fiesta, which I continue to daily drive, and try to use it as practical as i can, but then I am also frequently racing with the i30n pC, MX5s GR86s with my Fiesta on loads of tracks around Europe, or ripping through the alps over the mountain passes. this car serves two purposes for me. I just don’t see the appeal of this video talking about performance and track times, I would have more expected this to be geared to an audience looking for family convenience? correct me if I’m wrong. My best mate's wife is a proper petrol head, used to be a mechanic, moved from blue collor to white but still in the auto industry, and now is a crash evaluator. She has kids, and so she purchased and drives a Puma ST because she does rip around the mountain passes in Italy France and Switzerland in her car, and so in that regard the Puma ST makes sence. she is limited by the kids and the requirement of practicallity while wanting to also try to have a bit of fun when she can. but granted, id say she is a special case.
Awaiting delivery of an ST Performance as a daily runabout. Ticks so many boxes, from performance, handling, equipment and of course value. Cheeky looks set it apart too.
I reckon if you would have set up a custom N mode you could have knocked off at least another half second on that lap time. Once you’re comfortable with KONAN it becomes a weapon.
Kona might be £5k more to start, but will probably hold value better than the Puma, esp with that long warranty
La Puma del test ha il differenziale autobloccante???
I looked at the Focus st and the 130N And opted for the N. Based on Bang for Buck and that the ST, as great as they are, but they are every where. And for that reason, I would opt for the Nona N again, and I still might :)
Focus st everywhere idk what model your talking about but I don't see the mk4 focus STs anywhere
I have Puma ST 1 year now and it is great car.
Thanks for that review - I have been lukewarm on that Puma ST for a while and did not know if it was any good at all ;)
As an owner on the Puma ST, I can back everything he says in this review, lovely lovely car
@@willhands Thanks nice ot hear that ;)
@@HesteBremse i have one in grey matter, great car you can use everyday!
In no universe is the Puma ST a better track car than a Kona N ! No way known
Personally, i would still go for the KONA N. From the top of my head, it still has better equipment (even a sunroof which the Puma ST lacks, and all equipment is standard), it is taller, and i prefer its interior, plus i vastly prefer the automatic transmission. Being also quicker is just a bonus. The KONA N is just more of an SUV than the Puma, the Puma being just a taller Fiesta, much closer to a normal hatchback.
the st offers a pano roof which the Kona hasnt
Lucky enough to own a Puma ST Gold Edition after having my Fiesta ST order cancelled by the factory due to parts unavailability and have to agree with everything Steve says. Absolutely love the thing.
I have an ST too...love it and the right choice.
What are you talking about that's what make the Kona N amazing to drive putting it in N mode and hearing the pop's and bangs. Why would I want a boring SUV for that I would just get a Rav 4. Keep it up Hyundai I love the Kona N leave the boring to the other brands.
An interesting result suggesting that “less is more”……. Sometimes at least.
As a UK i30N owner, Hyundai need to soften their suspension settings down a notch across the board i.e. N mode gets sport suspension and normal mode is rounded off slightly to aid with the terrible road surfaces you encounter. Anything above comfort suspension is essentially unusable on the road which makes it slightly pointless.
I have the i20N. It's pretty hard over the UK crappy roads.
The Puma and the Kona are different cars that appeal to a similar crowd. The stiffness of the Kona is well judged... if u don't like yhe harshness on the N mode then put ur N custom on to the stiffness u like... I believe that car would have gone faster in normal suspension and everything else full attack... There are only a handful on tracks in the world that can handle full N suspension
@@afrikengunnerI think most people do exactly as you say and use N custom with everything on maximum with the suspension in normal and the steering set to taste. To me there is very little point in sport+ suspension when it can't even be used on most tracks. Sport should have been the maximum with the other two modes softened to match.
@@MrRedRye u need to keep in mind where the car is developed and what the track is like there... namyang and nurburg have mostly smooth areas on the circuits so it allows them to adjust suspension accordingly.
@@afrikengunner you said yourself though that there are only a handful of tracks suitable for full N mode. That to me seems like a bit of an oversight.
Very Nice
On the roads of the UK, ride comfort is everything. I doubt the Puma is silky smooth, but I know for a fact that I couldn't live with the Kona. Watching how much it was shaking and jittering around on a TRACK leaves me with no doubt that I'd be on first name terms with my local tyre fitter AND chiropractor if I drove one around the pot-holed lanes of Sussex! where I live.
I have one and it's perfectly livable, not much stiffer in normal than a stock i30. Any road you'd use N mode on you're going faster and with stiffer suspension it's more stable. That ST had a lot more understeer in the video and looked all over the show
I agree with Daniel. In "normal" suspension mode (and you can set the N2 button to custom1, don't need to select N mode at all) Kona is perfect on a highway or a track, and it's still perfectly livable on backroads, not so terrible at all. The sport+ suspension is tough indeed, don't use that in U.K.
You want a comfy suspension and a high crossover style and hot hatch performance, that combination doesn't exist.
I really like the Puma st, I hope I could get one at 18
Did u used the N mod and NGS ? Probably no
We did indeed!
@@Autoexpress very weird
I wonder if ford will ever use DCT in the 1.5 triple !
Interesting
i30N FL DCT = 47.1
i20N = 47.3
Kona N = 46.9
He probably don’t know how to drive the new N’s
@@popsandbangs8858 invalid comment, he can steer
@@Sickheadgaming but doesn’t know much about N cars ! I’ve seen much better results
Kona N for the spirited driver, Puma for the relaxed driver. Simple really
The Puma M265 from mountune would be a great comparison
I have actually purchased that very puma st 👍
He didn’t do proper research! I have a kona n and it’s fully customisable. Another western pro journalist
Steve Sutcliffe prefers cars with soft suspension.. and LOTS of body roll. I remember he preferred the Golf R over a Honda Civic Type R
I respectfully disagree. The Kona N would be my choice. Better all around car.
You're entitled to have that opinion but have you driven them both and review cars for a living?
@@dehv my answer is based on the first part of your paragraph. That's all you need to know.
@@markjwil Like the dude said: have you driven them both?
@@MultiJiggaWho not obligated to say. You don't know me or what I do, and if you don't like my comment, then say so without scrutinizing me.
@@markjwil Nobody's scrutinizing you. You would choose a certain car over another without having driven them both. And since you're avoiding to answer the questions, I'm gonna say that you haven't driven either.
I would be interested in the Puma, But Ford stands for: "Found on road dead", so I choose Hyundai, and I go really near that N mode button and the NGS button as often as I can.
While I know it's basically same engine size (IE .5 l per cylinder) I still don't like the idea of a 3 cylinder. 2.0 four bangers make me feel better.
Both cars are great.
Well said
Kona N all day for me
I think the Kona N and Puma ST are quite different.
The puma comes alive with a map
THINK THE T ROC overall , just clips all the others in this go fast small suv mkt
lol the video is called a track battle and he said the quicker car is not the best. Obv need to do a bit more research in playing with the drive modes
cmon dude u were driving that Ford much harder gtfoh those cars are not that close. People love to hate Hyuandai because of how bad they used to be. News flash they arent bad anymore. The Kona N is in a different league if u set it up right its a borderline sports car.
ford v hyundai , ford have normally a better ride and handling , but the puma dont come in auto box ?
Bravo
Not a hyundai fan then lol 😆
Don’t forget Ford’s always offer good discounts on their cars. You can pick up the puma st for around 26k if you shop around. Combine that with Ford’s 0% finance at the moment and you’ll probably be paying almost half a month compared to the Kona 👍
i definitely like the look of the Puma over the Kona the Puma is such a under rated car great video..
Need your eyes filtering bro 😭
@@justanotherguy972 Na my eyes a fine because I can see that kona
Maybe look at the definition of underrated, it's pretty well rated..
@@justanotherguy972you love a lunchbox looking car? VW is calling.
Put them both on hilly windy terrain and the extra torque and marvellous 8 speed dct plus diff will anihilate the manual thing. The dct is cleverer and quicker than you and 20 secs of NGS on such a road is fantastic...pop pop...woohoo. Higher ride height saves crunching kerbs in the front . If you want a soft ride buy a normal car or stay on the tarmac rather than cutting the corners with shocks on race setting
Ja wir nehmen den Buma.. KLASSE.
Puma is just 0.7 sec slower being 100 less hp. That says it all.
It says this guy isn’t trying. 😂
not really comparible 2.0 vs 1.5 and 75hp difference. Well driven though the puma looked so controlled.
How long have you been on Fords Payroll.
Definitely a ford fan!!
Puma is a way more beatiful car! Hyundai N is a great car but I'd go for the puma, no doubt about it.
Lab time is a critical factor in performance cars.
Every manufacturers spends a lot of money to reduce 0.1 second.
So, I don't agree with you.
You don't agree because you have no idea what driving enjoyment is. I wouldn't agree with him as well if i was 13 :) And actually, in terms of lap times Ford is extremely close despite its massive horsepower deficit and manuel transmisson disadvantage versus DCT, so these alone shows how superior its chassis is.
@@ankbrq It is not extremely close. Why?
He drove 46 seconds track. It is short track.
If he drive in normal track(2 min), the difference is almost 2 secs. It isn't extremely close.
These kind of cars won't be for everyone, but these will still be rapid and easy to use :D. For me, I'd pick the Ford 😃👍
I prefer the looks of the Kona, I cannot stand the Puma in all honesty and likewise the Fiesta too - hideous things. The Kona is a novelty car and is certainly different and sounds way better - not keen on that 3 pot thrum.
Got to agree I had the fiesta ST, very over rated.
My Kona doesn't bounce around like that? Not saying it's not stiff but it's not that bad. It is loads of fun and has loads of character and is a real everything car too (the boot is a bit small being the one downer).
That ford had way more understeer and looked a lot more unbalanced, objectively in the video, even if it's softer so you can't feel it, nowhere near the same capability
I saw other track tests of the Cona and it wasn't bouncy at all obviously it seems you had more air pressure in the tyres than recommended, perhaps ( deliberately) if so
I wonder how much you were paid !
Probably he doesn't know the Custom mode, and he didn't know how to set sport+ everything except suspension. He set the car in N mode, with sport+ suspension, then he complained about too firm suspension, jeez ... he set it the firmest !
Like both but would take the Puma 🐈⬛️ for UK roads, practibillity and affordability.
I prefer ford, they handle so much better than Hyundai
Come on, the point of track racing these cars is?
I mean i know that Hyundai designs their N cars with the track in mind. Thats one point. Another, and a stronger, point is that these cars are made with performance in mind, so the track is a way to push the cars and test them. That lets them go more in depth with their review
serious question?
I love it when all the KONA people will argue over a result that goes against them. Thete was another review a few weeks ago...sq2, Kona and Puma ST.....the ST won that too. Live with it guys and accept that the Puma is the better all round 'live with' car.
And the Kona won the top gear group test and various other group tests in Europe. The moral of the story is its subjective not fact hence the discussion. Maybe you need to look up objective and subjective meanings...
@@guest5659 its not the result, it all the Kona owners and likers disagreeing with the particular outcome. They really get over excited as you are. Lol
@@andrewdent696 not nearly as excited as your English teacher would be..
I think it depends on individual preference as to what car is better, both great cars,but for me being a ford fan lol, I would say the puma st is the better car for my needs and I think it looks great too and definitely more practical, Ive just ordered a brand new puma st in mean green colour with the magnetite machined alloys, delivery expected sept/Oct time can't wait 💚👍👌
@@johnwhite2143 enjoy. I test drove both and both exceeded my expectations of what an suv can be but kona for me. Either way they are both streets ahead of the fast German equivalent.
The Kona makes more sense to me because it's got increased practicality over the i20 that is based on and the engine of the i30n whereas the Puma shares the same engine as the Fiesta ST not the focus. Why wouldn't you just buy the focus? Better looking, better to drive, more powerful etc etc.
Kona all day for me out of these 2.
pretty simple the KONA ..IS THE BETTER PERFORMANCE CAR..no question you just proved it on your vid..faster on the track better 0 to 60 better gearbox..case closed
£5000 more and still looses....
@@andrewdent696 ya the puma looses at almost all areas
But to live with...which matters the most because we don't go around doing 0-60 and going on a race track. PUMA is the better car...case closed...lol
@@andrewdent696 ..lol well where we are....we want the better overall car and one that is fast and can do well on a track....which is the kona N....sorry case closed again...but if you like the Puma better thats your choice
God how biased towards the hyundai was the presenter must be a ford fan!!!
Silly race?? One has loads more power and a bigger engine. Pointless.
Sorry but the Kona n.is far more exciting.Driven both and want a car to feel special and the ford simply dosent do it plus it dosent have the cool N badge
The puma looks more like a ugly frog than a puma.
Puma.
Lol extra 100bhp and only 0.7sec!
Wow you just lost all credibility
The Kona is not complicated. It is in fact giving you the tech and customisations that Germans are offering being always on top of the car league.
If you find a car in today's world for the price without these tech. You can spend your money to buy an old fart Honda integra type R.
Or buy a new civic Si lol it has nothing new from the integra. And is more expensive than any car of it's league! 🤷♂️
You talking s..t!😂🤮 Kona it's much better!
Why on earth would ANYONE take these to a track?
Kona was built for it !
the kona N is litterally a track car lol
@@DriverJ-N Just because Hyundai says it is doesn’t mean it is. 😉
@@pereldh5741 okay I’ll believe you instead of Hyundai
@@pereldh5741 maybe Google N devision and get some clarification. They conceal info like that online..
A bad reviewer I'd say. Maybe do some more research or at lrast study the car before reviewing them.
Biased 👎
2 seconds in and the puma is just hideous.. so Hyundai it is.
The Puma slaughters the Kona in every respect and whilst both are bulky small suv the Kona front looks an awful mish mash so the Puma easily wins on design as well. Be silly to pay £5,000 more for the Kona that thrashes around over the more smoother accurate Puma that such a tiny fraction slower you’d never experience it on road or track.
The puma is nothing better than kona N except your taste at styling cause the puma looks worse than the very fast kona
Slaughters it, rubbish. What a moronic statement. In reality it's a much faster car in the real world, more kit, more premium interior and I've driven both and frankly the kona feels more of an event, more special. Looks are subjective also so that has no bearing..
@@popsandbangs8858 Are you blind, it’s dog meat.
Kona is a much faster car, actually it's a different category. 197 bhp vs. 276 bhp. And the DCT also much faster than manual. This guy is not the best driver in the world, he is not a master-gauge.
@@garydavis1528 it’s the best quad lights design ever made!
What a pointless review. Who takes a crossover SUV to a track...Journalists looking for a story that's who. The fastest you can drive legally in the UK is 70MPH on public roads. all cars today can go much faster than that, so much that many are electronically limited to 150-160 MPH. Only an idiot or a criminal would go significantly over the speed limit. I currently drive a Fiesta ST and await delivery of the Puma ST. Why an ST? I like the seats and styling and the cars responsiveness. If you want to push yourself on a track then get a Lambo, Ferrari Bugatti etc and stop playing with toys.
why would anyone buy a Ford car in 21st century?
If a sports car is too stiff for you, you need to quit reviewing sports cars. Boomer.