Limited 4dr Front-Wheel Drive
2019 Hyundai Kona

In a crowded subcompact crossover segment, the 2019 Hyundai Kona stands out. Its exterior design is perhaps polarizing, but it's guaranteed to get more attention than its more egg-shaped competitors. It offers two engines, one of which is average, but the other is a turbocharged unit that makes the Kona significantly quicker than the slow norm for this class. Both engines can be had with all-wheel drive, and every Kona is surprisingly fun to drive. Add in a user-friendly, albeit small interior, and the Kona is one of the best subcompact crossover choices. What's new for 2019? Since 2019 is only the Kona's second model year, there haven't been many changes. The most significant are more safety features included as standard equipment: automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and a driver inattention monitor. The Ultimate trim level's automatic emergency braking is also now enhanced with pedestrian detection. There are also some detail changes including two USB ports in the front, which replace a 12-volt outlet. The upgraded Infinity audio system is now available on Ultimate, Limited and the SEL trim with the Tech package. A new color called Sunset Orange is available. And finally, a limited-production Iron Man edition Kona was released with paint, decals, lighting and heads-up display all customized to reflect the Marvel superhero. It will not make you look like Robert Downey Jr. %Slideshow-887403% What's the Kona's interior and in-car technology like? Most interior plastics are unremarkable, even for this segment. Most Kona interiors are also a bit on the drab side, but there are at least some varying textures that help break up the monotony. So too can the standard houndstooth upholstery (turbo models get plain black leather) and the lime green trim and seat piping offered on upper trim levels. The low dash offers good visibility, the steering wheel sufficiently adjusts, and upper trims benefit from a power driver seat that provides more adjustability than most in the segment. The driving position is also higher than a car, but we wouldn't say you get the "commanding view" of the road like you'd get in a bigger crossover. One of the Kona's major perks is the easy-to-use infotainment system. As in other Hyundai products, it combines a touchscreen, plenty of physical shortcut buttons, and importantly, physical volume and tuning knobs. The user interface isn't the prettiest, but it's easy to read and comprehend, and it responds quickly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features on all models. Also offered is a heads-up display, an unusual feature for this segment and price point. It's a color unit that displays on a clear plastic panel that rises up on the dashboard. How big is Kona? The Hyundai Kona is on the small side of the subcompact crossover class, which ranges from fairly tight vehicles such as the Kona and the Mazda CX-3 to particularly spacious vehicles such as the Subaru Crosstrek and Honda HR-V. It's one of the shortest in overall length, and that's reflected in particularly tight …
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