2018 HYUNDAI KONA (1.6L TURBO) ELITE

THE KONACLES OF AN INTREPID
Another crossover SUV! (Because Kiwi's can't seem to get enough- they fit right in with our lifestyle).

Seats: 5 
Engine: 1.6L Turbo
Towing: 1,250kg braked & 600kg unbraked
You can find more technical stuff here.
Pros: Safety features without the price tag, stylish! 
Cons: Touch screen infotainment (fingerprints are a pet peeve of mine.) 
Interesting: Spacious with lots of storage space despite the "compactness".

I want to start off by saying this is a fantastic car, however there are a few features I expected the Elite model to have...like an electric boot. 

The sizing of this car is fantastic! I felt like I was driving a raised hatchback...which for me is great. I didn't feel too large on the road...it was easy to park and manoeuvre...but then you have all the storage space of an SUV. It's all wheel drive, then you can lock it into 4 wheel drive! Chuck the Stand Up Paddle board on the Thule roof racks (if you have them) and you're off to the beach with the family. 

​One of the first things I noticed on the Kona was that button on the door handle. You know​? The button to unlock and lock the car without the remote...yeah, a big black button (it'll blend in with a black Kona...but not on this Chalk White). Something more discreet might hopefully come in the future. 

The heads-up display (HUD) was difficult to get used to at first...it's a piece of tinted glass that pops up from your dash...it's quite noticeable and in your line of sight...the size of your speed and other icons on the HUD is quite small and clustered for such a large piece of glass. After a few hours of driving I managed to get used to it...at a push of a button you can make it disappear (so if it's not for you, no biggie). 

The Kona can go. That 1.6L Turbo really throws you into your seat. I must admit, I had it in Sport Mode the whole time as it was so much fun! It's powerful and efficient. The guy next to me at the lights really wasn't expecting to be dragged off by this little SUV! 

After driving around for a bit and getting used to the Kona, I decided to park up. I put the Kona into reverse to parallel park...and the wing mirrors did not tilt down. Yes, there are cameras...but I need an old fashioned mirror to see the curb. If I had more time with the car, I'm sure I will learn to trust the cameras. 

Hyundai have really nailed it. This is a car perfect for everyone. It doesn't matter who you are, this car covers it all. 

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