Cool car and definitely he's completely right that's pretty dumb to call it a SUV. The US market is very strange, they want the two weird hatchbacks - Veloster and Kona, but they don't want the traditional one - the i30, which is arguably the best of the lot.
As an American, I hate the Veloster.. such an ugly car and such stupid design with the 3 doors.. I actually do really like the i30 though, it looks good. I also really like the new Focus ST (which looks a bit like the i30) but we no longer get those here in the states, thanks to whoever decides what "Americans want."
that's where they're wrong. Enthusiasts in the US 100% want the wagon/hatch version of cars. It's weird they'd probably sell more i20 N hatches than regular i20 hatches if they brought it over
I went from a Fiesta St to the Kona N. Being there's no hot hatches out the other that the VW R. The Civic R and Corolla GR are impossible to find. The ride isn't as stiff to me as everyone says. I've lowered mine and went with 235 45 18's. Rides unbelievably well. This car is a blast to drive. Torque steer improved with it beingh lower as well. My opinion, you can't touch this cars performance for the price
My 18 Somi was recently totaled and I had that at the same HP and torque this has. The new Si is dumb expensive imo and absolutely not worth it. When I drive this Kona N I was bloooown away man. It is one of the funnest cars I have ever driven. You are a driver like I am so you get it. It is so much fun. The steering is sharp
I have a Focus ST and I am really considering getting one of these too! Have you experienced any issues with the car so far? The DCT makes me nervous about issues in the future.
@@mitchellsteindler The engine is the heaviest single thing in the car, typically. Lowering the height that it's mounted probably has a massive impact on lowering the center of gravity for the whole car.
Tracked and autocrossed my Kona N - it was an absolute blast. Ran solidly in the middle of the pack and there was nothing else like it out there. Fantastic, thorough review on your part that I enjoyed watching!
@@MJT-DA Hyundai and Kia both have had major recalls for fires 🔥 for the main fuel line leaks, so yeah they do lol. I want to say it was mostly 2014-19 models. Hopefully it’s been fixed by now.
@@awdobsession717 That was just the sonata and tucson with the 2.4L engine.. Bmws also catch on fire so do VWs and Fords I can link them all if you want. But media just like anything blew it out of proportion same with Tesla fires. Like i work at Hyundai in Brampton and we literally had ONE car catch fire while selling 500 cars per week..
@@MJT-DA still caught fire, and many were recalled. For their to be a recall it was more than just a couple cars. And if your dealership was selling 500+ cars a week. I’m in the wrong the business. That’s well over 70 cars sold a day. That would be the highest volume dealer that I know of in recent years.
Good car is still running great. I just recently lowered the car and went to an 18 inch wheel and 45 side wall tire and now its pretty tamed as far as the stiffness goes.@@schconesckee9868
Just picked up a 2022 Veloster N DCT. While i was at the dealer waiting for everyting to be completed, they let me test drive a Kona N. It's a blast to drive!
@@Ezero8 I've driven a 2020 Veloster 2.0 automatic the last 3 years (lease). I loved the car and it was essentially a base bare bones one. So I decided to upgrade it and purchase an N DCT now that my lease is up. So I was already onto the Veloster for a while. I was curious about the Kona, my Dad drives a 2020. So when I saw the N I had to ask for a test drive at least!
@@Ryy_Ryy Cool, that makes total sense! I had an Elantra GT (i30) for 5 years, but since we get the Veloster N instead of the i30 N in North America, that's what I went with.
Just spent a week with one myself, Matt. Totally agree on all your points. A fun package and while a bit stiff over shitty pavement, the user interface alone would make me choose this over both the GTI or Golf R. And it's far more usable than the Veloster N.
Counter point...once upon a time I had a Veloster N and my wife a Kona, the backseat are so cramped in the back of the Kona that we use the Veloster as the ''family car''. 🤣 Time past and I traded the Velo for a GTI, while i agree the infotainment system would not win any award, i dont think its a dealbreaker.
I’ve owned several GTI’s, Mazdaspeed3, amg gla 45, mini JCW, Veloster N and a civic. The Kona N is what I drive now. It’s the most practical, fun, adjustable car out of all the bunch. It’s a badass hot hatch that checks all the boxes for me. Great video you hit all the points.
@@Fitforacting welp…I traded my Kona N for a Performance Blue Veloster N. At the end of the day I love a manual transmission so that was the main reason.
I have the Elantra N, I had it in for service, they gave me a regular Kona as a loner. I was very surprised how fun it was to drive not to mention how functional it was for daily use. The N version has to be a hoot!
Similar story. My rental agency was out of sedans so they gave me a Kona. I have CUVs with a passion but this thing is so fun to drive around the city, especially in manual mode.
The Kona N is the type of car that's unfortunately going extinct. Tons of fun, engaging to drive, relatively cheap, and a hatchback. Yeah, it might not be as "refined" or "comfy" as a GTI, Civic Si, etc. But in a decade when we're all buying EVs, this is the kind of stuff we're gonna miss. A 3300 lb, 300 hp, 300 torque, burbling, farting, and screaming little monster that is begging to be DRIVEN. So many props to Hyundai for making this and the rest of the N cars right now. They basically say "if it has N on it, we're gonna shove as many high performance parts as we can in it and keep it under $35k". In terms of making internal combustion cars, they are literally going out with pops and bangs. The ICE N cars will be remembered fondly, and Albert Biermann is a genius.
$35,000 for a fwd crossover is a lot. If it were AWD I could kinda get behind it. Hyundai has come a long way I will say but the track record isn’t pretty. Let’s not forget all the Hyundais that literally caught on fire spontaneously over the last few years. Super dangerous.
@@KC-lg8qf all gasoline cars are going away, especially those that get below 40mpg. This is happening whether we like it or not. EPA restrictions and rising gas prices are killing off the fuel injection engines. Hybrid or EV is the only way forward by 2030 sadly. Remember we did this to ourselves by voting in this current administration.
@@awdobsession717 That's how things look right now.... But I will believe it when I see it. There is still going to be a strong market for people who do not want an electric car, and they still are not very affordable nor good for the environment. With the midterm elections right around the corner and hopefully we can start to turn the tide.
This and the european Ford Puma ST (manual with 200hp) arw cars that defy the market. I mean a 35k suv-ish that has pops & bangs from factory puts a smile on any new dad that had to sell their hot hatch to get something a big bigger!
I like the fact that it has some torque steer and a bit less refinement. Gives it some character. Although I'm a "you can pry my manual transmission from my cold dead hands" kind of guy, that DCT sounds well engineered.
I like manuals as well but I think it made a lot more sense back in the day when they were both faster and more fuel efficient now they're neither. Especially in a performance oriented car like this they did a great job with their 'auto' it just does what you want. Super easy.
Pricing: Not a fan of SUV's, but wife wanted a compact type SUV. With her being an ER/ICU Nurse in the NY metro area for 39 years I felt she more than deserved to get what she wanted and, as well, something I wouldn't hate those rare days I drive her car. Contacted local Hyundai dealers with all quotes for an N well over MSRP, going as high as 10k. Yes, 10k! Also reached out to KIA dealers about a compact SUV, again all a few thousand over MSRP, though not as high 10k. Every dealer was told it's for a long time so called "Frontline Hero"; they could all give a s...t. End result, she has a new Mazda CX-5 Signature Turbo, bought at under MSRP thanks to Mazda's loyalty discount. As a result of corporate greed it is highly unlikely we will ever again consider the future purchase of a Hyundai/KIA product. Nor will our son ever again bring his 2019 KIA to the dealer for basic maintenance. Hyundai/ KIA makes some nice vehicles, unfortunately their dealers are overly greedy.
I work for Hyundai currently and I think they just call it a SUV instead of a hatchback because the veloster fills the roll of their hatchback category so they don’t really need another hatchback in their lineup
As a current Kona N owner and former tuned MK7 GTI owner, this car is bananas. I enjoyed driving my Kona N more from the first day than I ever did my GTI. The experience is far more raw and engaging. My Kona N came stock with everything I "had" to do to my GTI, so it saved me tons of money on modifying. Now I'm putting that savings towards lighter wheels (the one omission I care about from most other markets 😢) This is a real monster for those of you who throw shade. If you drove one, you'd get it. Still a huge VW fan boy, but my respect for Hyundai has gone WAY up. Thinking I may do the 2.5T Elantra N if it happens.
This guy copied and pasted this exact comment on the Savagegeese channel. I don’t mean similar. I mean word for word, same punctuation, and the same emojis. Something smells fishy. I don’t know why you’d copy and paste your comment to several channels. It’s either that or he’s a Hyundai rep.
Be sure to change the P-zero tires to Michelin PS4S as soon as you can, if you live anywhere with a chance of rain. Every Hyundai n-owner seems to do this, myself included.
Me and my wife bought one for her as a car she can get around in with our toddler. Being an enthusiast centric family, between this, the Golf R and the CTR, we went with the Kona because of the user interface and ease of kid loading. On topic of stiffness, it really is stiff. Living in a city it's damned stiff. You'll blow through sidewalls and wheels if you're ignorant to road placement with the car for sure. But, given anyone wondering how stiff it is, has driven a well set up modified touring car of some nature. It's like that, but 6 inches taller. It's a trick little car that really responds well to some proper tires. The transmission is really slick for sure. Have yet to do a track day in it, but cresting 7,500 miles and one set of tires thus far. It's been fun. A lot, of fun lol.
Over 5000 miles on mine. Havent been on track yet but has been great to camp out of and that extra height came in handy. It is very stiff and cabin isn’t very quiet but in love aside from that.
How does the Kona N compares performance wise to the Veloster N and Elantra N? For sure the Kona N has better looks specially in red, compared to the VN and EN👍
"Bolstering is really nice!" We'll see how they'll hold me in autocross. BTW, despite the "height" of this, it does qualify for SCCA autocross (wider than it is tall).
I miss the days when you could buy a hot hatch like a Focus ST for like 20k. This is nice but performance numbers are similar to said Focus ST, however mid 30s is crazy now theses days.
If the i30N existed in the US I would be buying one over my GR86 on order... Such a head scratcher why they think we want a quirky 3-door hatch that hasn't been updated with the nicer Elantra N interior over just a normal a** hatchback... *sigh*
Interesting segment of car, the only car I can think of to directly compare to sold in the US would be the nissan juke nismo rs that was sold with a 6 speed, lsd, recaros, 215hp,
Is Matt colorblind? The video of the exterior of the car show that it is clearly a white car, but Matt insists it is blue. Or was the exterior re-shot with a white car?
Love the Kona N-- would totally buy it for my daily driver. But here in LA, we need smart cruise + lane following assist (Highway Driving Assist) for traffic and long drives. Hyundai! Please bring your excellent ADAS system to the US Kona N! Thanks!
Adding AWD would make it heavier, add cost, and cause it to get worse mpg. AWD would absolutely not make this car better, especially for the trade offs. The e-dif is great and the torque stear is fun. People just say "but no AWDDD" just to be contrarians even though it doesn't actually make sense. The Veloster N has no advantages over the Kona. In fact, it has a smaller older turbo, and one less door, lol. The only thing it has is a manual option, but like Matt said, the DCT in the Kona is fantastic.
@L W FWD is perfectly fine, even cheap snow tires can make a fwd car very capable in horrible winter conditions. I made a 90s civic work in Alaska, I know this would do fine in the winter.
@@_-AJ-_ I agree with everything you said. But one thing that doesn't make sense to me is that the Kona already has an AWD option (available on N-Line) so I feel they missed out not adding it to the full N version. The Veloster and Elantra are only FWD so N ver. should stay the same.
@@_-AJ-_ disagree. In the golf r scene, the biggest benefit is being able to put power down. Makes for some insane 1/4 mile times and makes the car feel like a mini GTR. I switched from the GTI for that reason alone.
Would you say the Elantra N is also 'too stiff'? If you guys find these stiff in California, I can't imagine what they'll be like in the northeast. Roads here aren't too bad, but there are always surprise bumps and potholes.
Kind of a shame they didn’t make this awd, feels like they could be competitors in a different segment if they had. At this point all three N cars in North America are pretty much competitors between themselves.
veloster n is dead after 2022 and i think they're gonna push these more than the elantra n simply because its a "crossover" and DCT only. The elantra will be the more sportier choice for sure
Cool car, great warranty, coming from someone who owned a Veloster N ... the dealership experience is atrocious. Again, having the maintenance and warranty is nice, but going to the dealership is painful if you're used to a smooth experience. I also didn't hear you mention it, but the warranty for the Veloster N covered tracking the car, maybe that isn't true for the Kona.
I've heard the dealer system is horrible with Hyundai/Kia. Dealers in general usually suck...but Hyundai seems to consistently get horrible feedback. A warranty means nothing if you have to fight the dealership to do anything. Had that experience with my first gen BRZ....they wait until its so bad you're looking at a lemon lawsuit before they'll address it.
Not to mention they just had a massive recall on abs modules that were causing fires! An abs module! They're still that dinky knock off brand in my eyes with crap styling inside and out
Seriously thinking about trading in our beloved 6MT Juke Nismo that's the wife's daily on one of these. It's the spiritual successor and doesn't have over 100k miles on it like our Juke. lol...Juke is still running great, though! Still gets over 30mpg!
could you fit well designed 17's on there with some gravel able tire? if its already a lifted hatch might as well put the wheels to match and have some fun
I feel like all the comments are from guys my age (late 30's) who misses the tuner days somewhat. Lol...those who are still single, functional, financially responsible people who want the best all-around bang for your buck vehicle that has performance and utility. Never thought I'd want a out of the box tuner hatchback until now. Hahaha
On one hand I still wish everything weren't crossovers but on the other hand, this class of "crossover" is just a slightly tall hatchback. The market has kept crossbreeding SUVs and hatchbacks so much that we've ended up with this 'breed' that's 90% hatchback and 10% SUV. And we're actually getting close to a format of car that actually fits our road and market, without being totally depressing for enthusiasts. I wish Hyundai would do an N-tuned version of the electric Kona, something like that could easily be my next daily.
Am I the only one thinking that we used to have a word for lifted hatchbacks and wagons, before that word was completely hijacked and applied to unibody SUVs instead?
This would be way better if it was AWD, I heard all the rumors saying it was AWD and as someone that lives in NY I need it, guess ill stick to the reg Kona if I can get one at mrsp
@@coreybrainard3939 probably, but I live upstate with a huge gravel driveway. I also had a crv that even got stuck a few times, but it had all seasons at the time
@@GoPotato69 how far upstate? I'm a manager for stewarts so I had to work in every snow storm ever lol and it wasn't bad at all. Better than my elantra sport.
It kinda seems like Hyundai is trying to trick people into buying a hot hatch by calling it an suv and If that’s the case I respect it lol
Doesn't matter to me what they call it, I just like the small size. That turning radius tho.... I don't like it.
@@carloscervantes836 yeah agreed, but that’s like every fwd turbo car.
Hyundai is already 'tricking' people by producing affordable, respectable sports cars.
@@carloscervantes836 Turn radius can be a problem but you learn to work around it.
Cool car and definitely he's completely right that's pretty dumb to call it a SUV. The US market is very strange, they want the two weird hatchbacks - Veloster and Kona, but they don't want the traditional one - the i30, which is arguably the best of the lot.
As an American, I hate the Veloster.. such an ugly car and such stupid design with the 3 doors.. I actually do really like the i30 though, it looks good. I also really like the new Focus ST (which looks a bit like the i30) but we no longer get those here in the states, thanks to whoever decides what "Americans want."
the Kona is a huge SUV
Imagine an N version of the I40 wagon. Saw em on a trip to Korea and they were fascinating.
that's where they're wrong. Enthusiasts in the US 100% want the wagon/hatch version of cars. It's weird they'd probably sell more i20 N hatches than regular i20 hatches if they brought it over
SUV’s are dumb, so this fits right in.
The sponsor insertion was so rude that you can guarantee I'll never buy from the watch place
I went from a Fiesta St to the Kona N. Being there's no hot hatches out the other that the VW R. The Civic R and Corolla GR are impossible to find. The ride isn't as stiff to me as everyone says. I've lowered mine and went with 235 45 18's. Rides unbelievably well. This car is a blast to drive. Torque steer improved with it beingh lower as well. My opinion, you can't touch this cars performance for the price
My 18 Somi was recently totaled and I had that at the same HP and torque this has. The new Si is dumb expensive imo and absolutely not worth it. When I drive this Kona N I was bloooown away man. It is one of the funnest cars I have ever driven. You are a driver like I am so you get it. It is so much fun. The steering is sharp
I have a Focus ST and I am really considering getting one of these too! Have you experienced any issues with the car so far? The DCT makes me nervous about issues in the future.
Aftermarket lower engine mount will really help with traction and wheel hop. Did one on my Veloster n, and I’m happy I did.
Yes just picked up mine from Sixth Element.
@@cindysue5474 that’s the one I went with also..
Same, I did the sxth one on my Elantra N and it made all the difference. It’s how it should have come from factory.
That's interesting. Do you know why that works?
@@mitchellsteindler The engine is the heaviest single thing in the car, typically. Lowering the height that it's mounted probably has a massive impact on lowering the center of gravity for the whole car.
Tracked and autocrossed my Kona N - it was an absolute blast. Ran solidly in the middle of the pack and there was nothing else like it out there. Fantastic, thorough review on your part that I enjoyed watching!
Are the red accents painted on?
Pretty cool. Who would've thought 5-10 years ago that Hyundai would be making cars more engaging than a GTI lol
Yeah and they also spontaneously combust 😂 🔥
@@awdobsession717 yeah no they don’t lmao..
@@MJT-DA Hyundai and Kia both have had major recalls for fires 🔥 for the main fuel line leaks, so yeah they do lol. I want to say it was mostly 2014-19 models. Hopefully it’s been fixed by now.
@@awdobsession717 That was just the sonata and tucson with the 2.4L engine.. Bmws also catch on fire so do VWs and Fords I can link them all if you want. But media just like anything blew it out of proportion same with Tesla fires. Like i work at Hyundai in Brampton and we literally had ONE car catch fire while selling 500 cars per week..
@@MJT-DA still caught fire, and many were recalled. For their to be a recall it was more than just a couple cars. And if your dealership was selling 500+ cars a week. I’m in the wrong the business. That’s well over 70 cars sold a day. That would be the highest volume dealer that I know of in recent years.
You know its a fun car when Matt says "weeeeee" when driving it 😄
Easiest one of my favorite cars to date. I bought my sonic blue Kona N two weeks ago and it’s been nothing but joy on my daily commutes.
Why does the website only have 3 colors to configure?
@@ReggieSanchez23 I have no idea but all I know is that when I saw sonic blue in person I fell in love.
@@ReggieSanchez23 I noticed that too I thought that was weird
How are you feeling about it after a year?
Good car is still running great. I just recently lowered the car and went to an 18 inch wheel and 45 side wall tire and now its pretty tamed as far as the stiffness goes.@@schconesckee9868
Been lovin my Kona N! Great take on the perfect balance of fun & practical. Thanks for the video!
i'm seriously considering one
Got mine today!
@@acedrewhustle525 Awesome! How you like it so far?
@@CaliforniaKonaN it’s amazing. I still need to learn a few things. But it’s a huge upgrade from what I had lol. Traded in my Colorado ‘04.
@@acedrewhustle525 Any fuel injector problems?
Just picked up a 2022 Veloster N DCT. While i was at the dealer waiting for everyting to be completed, they let me test drive a Kona N. It's a blast to drive!
What made you choose the Veloster N DCT over the Kona N? I just got a '21 VN DCT as well since I haven't been able to try the Konan yet.
@@Ezero8 I've driven a 2020 Veloster 2.0 automatic the last 3 years (lease). I loved the car and it was essentially a base bare bones one. So I decided to upgrade it and purchase an N DCT now that my lease is up. So I was already onto the Veloster for a while.
I was curious about the Kona, my Dad drives a 2020. So when I saw the N I had to ask for a test drive at least!
@@Ryy_Ryy Cool, that makes total sense! I had an Elantra GT (i30) for 5 years, but since we get the Veloster N instead of the i30 N in North America, that's what I went with.
I’d take the Elantra N, but this is pretty cool too 💯
I picked it up 2 months ago and this car is amazingly FUN and very CAPABLE... can't stop driving it.
Just spent a week with one myself, Matt. Totally agree on all your points. A fun package and while a bit stiff over shitty pavement, the user interface alone would make me choose this over both the GTI or Golf R. And it's far more usable than the Veloster N.
Counter point...once upon a time I had a Veloster N and my wife a Kona, the backseat are so cramped in the back of the Kona that we use the Veloster as the ''family car''. 🤣 Time past and I traded the Velo for a GTI, while i agree the infotainment system would not win any award, i dont think its a dealbreaker.
@@hitmanhart6275 what about the new mk8 have u tried it 🤔 for me i can consider it a massive deal-breaker
If backseat space was an issue, why would you buy this? Or any car that doesn't have a bunch of legroom? You have eyes, right?
I’ve owned several GTI’s, Mazdaspeed3, amg gla 45, mini JCW, Veloster N and a civic. The Kona N is what I drive now. It’s the most practical, fun, adjustable car out of all the bunch. It’s a badass hot hatch that checks all the boxes for me. Great video you hit all the points.
Why did you get rid of the Veloster?
@@Fitforacting welp…I traded my Kona N for a Performance Blue Veloster N. At the end of the day I love a manual transmission so that was the main reason.
I have the Elantra N, I had it in for service, they gave me a regular Kona as a loner. I was very surprised how fun it was to drive not to mention how functional it was for daily use. The N version has to be a hoot!
What service did you need?
Similar story. My rental agency was out of sedans so they gave me a Kona. I have CUVs with a passion but this thing is so fun to drive around the city, especially in manual mode.
The Red button on the steering wheel reminds of me NOS like in fast and the furious lol
I've had mine for two weeks and I have zero regrets so far. The reactions i get from kids trying to race me are great.
Do they kick your ass or what ?
The Kona N is the type of car that's unfortunately going extinct. Tons of fun, engaging to drive, relatively cheap, and a hatchback. Yeah, it might not be as "refined" or "comfy" as a GTI, Civic Si, etc. But in a decade when we're all buying EVs, this is the kind of stuff we're gonna miss. A 3300 lb, 300 hp, 300 torque, burbling, farting, and screaming little monster that is begging to be DRIVEN.
So many props to Hyundai for making this and the rest of the N cars right now. They basically say "if it has N on it, we're gonna shove as many high performance parts as we can in it and keep it under $35k". In terms of making internal combustion cars, they are literally going out with pops and bangs. The ICE N cars will be remembered fondly, and Albert Biermann is a genius.
$35,000 for a fwd crossover is a lot. If it were AWD I could kinda get behind it. Hyundai has come a long way I will say but the track record isn’t pretty. Let’s not forget all the Hyundais that literally caught on fire spontaneously over the last few years. Super dangerous.
I dont think cars like this are going away. If anythhing this segment is growing.
@@KC-lg8qf all gasoline cars are going away, especially those that get below 40mpg. This is happening whether we like it or not. EPA restrictions and rising gas prices are killing off the fuel injection engines. Hybrid or EV is the only way forward by 2030 sadly. Remember we did this to ourselves by voting in this current administration.
@@awdobsession717 That's how things look right now.... But I will believe it when I see it. There is still going to be a strong market for people who do not want an electric car, and they still are not very affordable nor good for the environment.
With the midterm elections right around the corner and hopefully we can start to turn the tide.
I have to have range and can not afford to have charging downtime. EV doesn't cut it, at current tech levels.
This 911 Sport Classic looks different than the ones I've been seeing photos of on Instagram 🤔
Lay off the FH5 bro
This and the european Ford Puma ST (manual with 200hp) arw cars that defy the market. I mean a 35k suv-ish that has pops & bangs from factory puts a smile on any new dad that had to sell their hot hatch to get something a big bigger!
I like the fact that it has some torque steer and a bit less refinement. Gives it some character. Although I'm a "you can pry my manual transmission from my cold dead hands" kind of guy, that DCT sounds well engineered.
I like manuals as well but I think it made a lot more sense back in the day when they were both faster and more fuel efficient now they're neither. Especially in a performance oriented car like this they did a great job with their 'auto' it just does what you want. Super easy.
@@BensCoffeeRantsExactly, I don't miss my 2003 Corolla Conquest manual anymore.
Pricing: Not a fan of SUV's, but wife wanted a compact type SUV. With her being an ER/ICU Nurse in the NY metro area for 39 years I felt she more than deserved to get what she wanted and, as well, something I wouldn't hate those rare days I drive her car. Contacted local Hyundai dealers with all quotes for an N well over MSRP, going as high as 10k. Yes, 10k! Also reached out to KIA dealers about a compact SUV, again all a few thousand over MSRP, though not as high 10k. Every dealer was told it's for a long time so called "Frontline Hero"; they could all give a s...t. End result, she has a new Mazda CX-5 Signature Turbo, bought at under MSRP thanks to Mazda's loyalty discount. As a result of corporate greed it is highly unlikely we will ever again consider the future purchase of a Hyundai/KIA product. Nor will our son ever again bring his 2019 KIA to the dealer for basic maintenance. Hyundai/ KIA makes some nice vehicles, unfortunately their dealers are overly greedy.
I work for Hyundai currently and I think they just call it a SUV instead of a hatchback because the veloster fills the roll of their hatchback category so they don’t really need another hatchback in their lineup
As a current Kona N owner and former tuned MK7 GTI owner, this car is bananas.
I enjoyed driving my Kona N more from the first day than I ever did my GTI. The experience is far more raw and engaging. My Kona N came stock with everything I "had" to do to my GTI, so it saved me tons of money on modifying. Now I'm putting that savings towards lighter wheels (the one omission I care about from most other markets 😢)
This is a real monster for those of you who throw shade. If you drove one, you'd get it. Still a huge VW fan boy, but my respect for Hyundai has gone WAY up. Thinking I may do the 2.5T Elantra N if it happens.
@bigk13 agreed 💯 I had so much more fun with the Kona N than I ever did with the Mk7.5 Golf R.
This guy copied and pasted this exact comment on the Savagegeese channel. I don’t mean similar. I mean word for word, same punctuation, and the same emojis. Something smells fishy. I don’t know why you’d copy and paste your comment to several channels. It’s either that or he’s a Hyundai rep.
Be sure to change the P-zero tires to Michelin PS4S as soon as you can, if you live anywhere with a chance of rain. Every Hyundai n-owner seems to do this, myself included.
Me and my wife bought one for her as a car she can get around in with our toddler. Being an enthusiast centric family, between this, the Golf R and the CTR, we went with the Kona because of the user interface and ease of kid loading.
On topic of stiffness, it really is stiff. Living in a city it's damned stiff. You'll blow through sidewalls and wheels if you're ignorant to road placement with the car for sure. But, given anyone wondering how stiff it is, has driven a well set up modified touring car of some nature. It's like that, but 6 inches taller.
It's a trick little car that really responds well to some proper tires. The transmission is really slick for sure. Have yet to do a track day in it, but cresting 7,500 miles and one set of tires thus far. It's been fun. A lot, of fun lol.
I bought my Oris Big Crown Propilot though Bob's. Arrived next day, running with the time and date set. Classy.
I test drove one as a replacement for my manual Crosstrek and it was a blast. If I didn't need more cargo volume I would have bought one.
I love that it's got a scramble button, that's hilarious.
I've been keeping an eye on this car. I think it will be a good daily. 👍
I love mine as a daily
@@1209MArky do you find the ride comfort acceptable?
@@zzzgarage2704 it feels the same as my GTI when it was on springs. Sport it’s a tiny bit firmer. N mode is unbearable on bad roads.
Did you also test drive an elantra n? I've heard it's the superior sports car but this thing is just so cool and would also probably be a better daily
Over 5000 miles on mine. Havent been on track yet but has been great to camp out of and that extra height came in handy. It is very stiff and cabin isn’t very quiet but in love aside from that.
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How does the Kona N compares performance wise to the Veloster N and Elantra N?
For sure the Kona N has better looks specially in red, compared to the VN and EN👍
I own both. GTI is more comfortable but Kona N is wayyy more fun.
But ya really don't do ya!
@@MrNufzed oh I do. Just cause you’re broke doesn’t mean everyone else is.
Yes!
GTI isn't what it used to be
Kona N is what sport compact segment needed!
Gti is faster, more comfortable and way better built. If I want fun I will do something different.
@@genderlessyoutubefanperson GTI is not faster lmao.
How would this compare to a Mazda3 Turbo Hatch?
Mazda would be better, can't take Hyundai serious
@@JohnDoeC78 ignorant comment
Thank you for giving this road some love
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Swap in some 18s, add some meaty tires, and drop it....back to a hot hatch
"Bolstering is really nice!" We'll see how they'll hold me in autocross. BTW, despite the "height" of this, it does qualify for SCCA autocross (wider than it is tall).
BRB, getting my Hummer H1 ready for auto-x. - ZK
@@TheSmokingTire I genuinely would LOVE to see somebody AC a humvee lmao
@@TheSmokingTire one of the rainy autocrosses here an srt8 jeep got ftd. Was a shock to say the least.
I miss the days when you could buy a hot hatch like a Focus ST for like 20k. This is nice but performance numbers are similar to said Focus ST, however mid 30s is crazy now theses days.
If the i30N existed in the US I would be buying one over my GR86 on order... Such a head scratcher why they think we want a quirky 3-door hatch that hasn't been updated with the nicer Elantra N interior over just a normal a** hatchback... *sigh*
Interesting segment of car, the only car I can think of to directly compare to sold in the US would be the nissan juke nismo rs that was sold with a 6 speed, lsd, recaros, 215hp,
HI MATT. How does this car compare to the Mazda 3 hatch AWD TURBO? Fit finish and handling?
All things being equal I can still get a GTI with a manual even though I don't know if they still have ignition coil problems it's the GTI for me
Is Matt colorblind? The video of the exterior of the car show that it is clearly a white car, but Matt insists it is blue. Or was the exterior re-shot with a white car?
🤩love watching and listening to you drive Joe🤩
Love the Kona N-- would totally buy it for my daily driver. But here in LA, we need smart cruise + lane following assist (Highway Driving Assist) for traffic and long drives. Hyundai! Please bring your excellent ADAS system to the US Kona N! Thanks!
The no AWD really puts a damper on this thing. Seems fun, though. I'd take a Veloster N over it any day of the week.
Adding AWD would make it heavier, add cost, and cause it to get worse mpg. AWD would absolutely not make this car better, especially for the trade offs. The e-dif is great and the torque stear is fun. People just say "but no AWDDD" just to be contrarians even though it doesn't actually make sense.
The Veloster N has no advantages over the Kona. In fact, it has a smaller older turbo, and one less door, lol. The only thing it has is a manual option, but like Matt said, the DCT in the Kona is fantastic.
@L W FWD is perfectly fine, even cheap snow tires can make a fwd car very capable in horrible winter conditions. I made a 90s civic work in Alaska, I know this would do fine in the winter.
@@_-AJ-_ I agree with everything you said. But one thing that doesn't make sense to me is that the Kona already has an AWD option (available on N-Line) so I feel they missed out not adding it to the full N version. The Veloster and Elantra are only FWD so N ver. should stay the same.
@@_-AJ-_ disagree. In the golf r scene, the biggest benefit is being able to put power down. Makes for some insane 1/4 mile times and makes the car feel like a mini GTR. I switched from the GTI for that reason alone.
@@_-AJ-_ keep deluding yourself buddy. A golf r would make this Hyundai look slow
Can’t wait for the 911 sport classic video ;) caught that at the beginning of the ad
Lovely sounding engine for a 2.0t 4 cylinder. Wish my A5 sounded this good from the factory
Would you say the Elantra N is also 'too stiff'? If you guys find these stiff in California, I can't imagine what they'll be like in the northeast. Roads here aren't too bad, but there are always surprise bumps and potholes.
Kind of a shame they didn’t make this awd, feels like they could be competitors in a different segment if they had. At this point all three N cars in North America are pretty much competitors between themselves.
veloster n is dead after 2022 and i think they're gonna push these more than the elantra n simply because its a "crossover" and DCT only. The elantra will be the more sportier choice for sure
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That would easily push the car over 40k
Good pick. I like the Mazda 3HB turbo styling better throughout, but this seems faster. 👍
I only watched cuz The Face Lolz. Love to see content on affordable “sporty” dailies
Another great review and ride along.
Cool car, great warranty, coming from someone who owned a Veloster N ... the dealership experience is atrocious. Again, having the maintenance and warranty is nice, but going to the dealership is painful if you're used to a smooth experience. I also didn't hear you mention it, but the warranty for the Veloster N covered tracking the car, maybe that isn't true for the Kona.
hyundai "warranty" is sketchy AF. i would not trust them
Why did you get rid of the Veloster N? Coming from a current owner of one in PB.
I've heard the dealer system is horrible with Hyundai/Kia. Dealers in general usually suck...but Hyundai seems to consistently get horrible feedback. A warranty means nothing if you have to fight the dealership to do anything. Had that experience with my first gen BRZ....they wait until its so bad you're looking at a lemon lawsuit before they'll address it.
@@TheRealJohnWack we found a stock R35 GT-R and couldn’t help ourselves
Not to mention they just had a massive recall on abs modules that were causing fires! An abs module! They're still that dinky knock off brand in my eyes with crap styling inside and out
This is why we need a Subaru Crosstreck with a WRX drivetrain
Subaru would find a way to screw it up 😊
Im wondering if dropping a wheel size to get some thicker sidewall would help with the suspension a bit
Looks like a great Dad car
It's nice to have visibility and usability of a taller vehicle
Really enjoy Matt's content all these years!
Do you guys get the i20n in the USA?
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No, unfortunately. I bought the Elantra N but would have loved the i20n over it
So this is sounding like the coolest affordable “dad” car on the market right now. Is that fair to say?
lol such a big dude in sub compact, great review bro!
I love these in red
Seriously thinking about trading in our beloved 6MT Juke Nismo that's the wife's daily on one of these. It's the spiritual successor and doesn't have over 100k miles on it like our Juke. lol...Juke is still running great, though! Still gets over 30mpg!
Love a nice Square G Shock and that GW-S5600 looks badass!
could you fit well designed 17's on there with some gravel able tire? if its already a lifted hatch might as well put the wheels to match and have some fun
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@thesmokingtire did you mean to have the ad copy for Zach's 911 sport video in the beginning of this? apologies if this has been stated before.
I feel like all the comments are from guys my age (late 30's) who misses the tuner days somewhat.
Lol...those who are still single, functional, financially responsible people who want the best all-around bang for your buck vehicle that has performance and utility.
Never thought I'd want a out of the box tuner hatchback until now. Hahaha
I love the kona n. If I had not bought my mk8 gti, I'd buy one.
Sell it clown
With a set of coilovers or lowering springs, this really would be the ultimate hot hatch. Better than the Veloster N maybe.
$35k + coil overs and springs = What though? Price tag seems steep for a Kona.
HR makes the springs for this a 1.4 drop all the way around.
hey mat, this zacks 911 sport classic video is brought to you today by bobs watches
looks attractive somehow, but I just don't understand who they made this for? Its trying to be a lot of opposing things at the same time.
Ooh, do I see no sunroof? I tried sitting in a regular Kona and my head was rubbing on the roof. Guess I'll have to try this one.
On one hand I still wish everything weren't crossovers but on the other hand, this class of "crossover" is just a slightly tall hatchback. The market has kept crossbreeding SUVs and hatchbacks so much that we've ended up with this 'breed' that's 90% hatchback and 10% SUV. And we're actually getting close to a format of car that actually fits our road and market, without being totally depressing for enthusiasts. I wish Hyundai would do an N-tuned version of the electric Kona, something like that could easily be my next daily.
This or one of the 86 twins for your one car? I'm in the market but cant decide. Seems like you can't go wrong.
86 ofc
'22 86 twins very bad Highway MPG
i need to know... is the sound artificial in the cabin? or is it the actual sound of the car
It's the actual sound of the car.
And it is fantastic…
Would love to check out Sandstone Peaks some day ...only 3060 miles away from me
Is this engine related to Mitsubishi 4B11?
Matt that's a white car. How is that sonic blue what am I missing here?
This road looks like fun, where is this at?
Wish they made AWD versions of these “N” cars. It would be my next car for sure.
100%.
If you’re getting our views, I wish you would do more to call out dealers and markup.
Where is the Sport Classic video?!
Embargoed until July. Zack can't calendar.
Why wouldn't they do this with the Tucson, AWD SUV WRX from Hyundai with a better warranty🤔
Hey Matt, what road is it? Looks dope
Am I the only one thinking that we used to have a word for lifted hatchbacks and wagons, before that word was completely hijacked and applied to unibody SUVs instead?
Matt, what affordable cars have adjustable suspension that actually vary from comfy to stiff and sporty?
In Normal mode, the suspension is plenty comfy enough for me, and I suffer from chronic coccyx, sacrum, and lumbar pain.
Golf R is probably the cheapest with decent comfort mode and sport mode
Kona N or mk7gti?
4:43 Nixie tube inspired radio :D
love it just wish it was awd
Yeah.. it might technically by design, not be an SUV, but I keep my seat up high, and leave my included roof racks on mine. Makes it feel like a SUV.
Own one!!! I love it for at the Jan 22.
Thats a beautiful road. Where in CA is this?
This would be way better if it was AWD, I heard all the rumors saying it was AWD and as someone that lives in NY I need it, guess ill stick to the reg Kona if I can get one at mrsp
I live in NY and daily a veloster N. With snow tires it's fine.
@@coreybrainard3939 probably, but I live upstate with a huge gravel driveway. I also had a crv that even got stuck a few times, but it had all seasons at the time
@@GoPotato69 how far upstate? I'm a manager for stewarts so I had to work in every snow storm ever lol and it wasn't bad at all. Better than my elantra sport.
@@coreybrainard3939 not that far, u prob live around me considering I have a ton of Stewart's in my area, I live in ulster county
@@GoPotato69 yep, I live in tillson. Lol
Fun to drive.versatile performance cuv.
Apparently you can order sonic blue from the dealer.
Do the Elantra N!
Hyundai N products are what Honda should be doing with their sporty civic whatever
I love that the Kona is a thing. I would not take it over a GTI.
I found a car worthy of replacing my Fiesta ST