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2021 Hyundai Kona

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Make
Hyundai
Model
Kona
Year
2021
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Hyundai Kona OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior Standard
OEM Exterior Standard
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Used Car Price Range
$14,176 - $29,955
$14,176 $29,955
Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2021 SE 4dr Front-Wheel Drive
most popular
Price:   -  From $20,500
2021 SE 4dr Front-wheel Drive (DISC) Price:   -  From $20,500
2021 SE 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $21,900
2021 SE 4dr All-wheel Drive (DISC) Price:   -  From $21,900
2021 SEL 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $22,300
2021 SEL 4dr Front-wheel Drive (DISC) Price:   -  From $22,300
2021 SEL 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $23,700
2021 SEL 4dr All-wheel Drive (DISC) Price:   -  From $23,700
2021 SEL Plus 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $24,150
2021 SEL Plus 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $25,550
2021 NIGHT 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $26,200
2021 Limited 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $26,300
2021 NIGHT 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $27,600
2021 Limited 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $27,700
2021 Ultimate 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $28,150
2021 Ultimate 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $29,550
2021 Kona Electric SEL 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $37,390
2021 Kona Electric Limited 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $42,000
2021 Kona Electric Ultimate 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $45,600
Expert Rating
3.2 (Good)

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

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Overview

What's New

The 2021 Hyundai Kona receives a new Night Edition model, a blacked-out version of the subcompact crossover SUV. Otherwise, there’s a reduced color palette but no other changes for the Kona, which has been around since 2018.

Choosing Your Hyundai Kona

There are six trims in the Kona range: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Night Edition, Limited, and Ultimate. Prices start at $21,540 including destination for the SE and climb to $29,190 for the flagship Ultimate model.

Engine Choices

The Kona is available with a choice of two engines. The SE, SEL, and SEL Plus feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the Night Edition, Limited, and Ultimate get a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.

Engine TypeHorsepowerTorqueFuel Economy (Combined)
2.0L 4-Cylinder147 hp132 lb-ft30 mpg
1.6L Turbo 4-Cylinder175 hp195 lb-ft30 mpg

Front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, but all-wheel drive is available for $1,400. The base engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while a turbo motor gets a seven-speed dual clutch automatic.

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV with seating for five passengers. It offers 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space, or 45.8 with the rear seat folded down.

Hyundai Kona

Safety Features

There’s a reasonable spread of safety aids across the Kona range. Every model receives lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and a driver attention warning system.

SEL trims and above gain blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Only Ultimate models receive adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, automatic high beams, and pedestrian detection.

Connectivity

SE models are modestly equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen display and six-speaker audio system. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, two USB ports, and a 3.5-inch digital gauge cluster come as standard.

However, you’ll need to move up to SEL trim for HD and satellite radio or the SEL Plus for wireless charging, an eight-speaker Infinity audio system, and a 4.2-inch gauge cluster. Ultimate trims get an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a head-up display.

Hyundai Kona

SE - From $21,540

The only Kona to ride on 16-inch alloy wheels, SE models come with LED daytime running lights and body color mirrors. Keyless entry accesses a cabin with power windows and manual air conditioning, automatic headlights, and cloth upholstery.

SEL - From $23,340

SEL models distinguish themselves with larger 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators, and privacy glass. The interior is improved by a sunroof, heated front seats, push button start, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. This is also the trim where blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert become standard.

SEL Plus - From $25,190

SEL owners benefit from an eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, wireless charging, the larger gauge cluster, the Infinity audio system, front fog lights, and a shark-fin antenna. However, it loses the sunroof.

Night Edition - From $26,740

Night Edition models are all about aesthetics, sacrificing the fog lights and wireless charging found on SEL Plus trim. They’re replaced by LED lights, aluminum-alloy sports pedals, and a host of black detailing, from the 18-inch alloys and door trims to the cloth and headliner.

Limited - From $27,340

The Kona Limited is another largely visual upgrade over SEL Plus, though it doesn’t sacrifice any of the latter’s creature comforts. It reprises the Night model’s LED lights and 18-inch wheels, adding splashes of chrome to the front alongside dark gray body cladding. The cabin gains the sunroof, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and automatic climate control

Ultimate - From $29,190

The Ultimate is the only Kona trim with automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and pedestrian detection as standard. It’s also the only model to get the 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and the head-up display.

Compare Kona Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Ulimate features the full gamut of safety and technology features, while the Night Edition and Limited models struggle to justify their costs. The SEL Plus offers plenty of creature comforts for $4,000 less than the Ultimate, making it our pick of the range.

author image
Automotive Editor
Read Less

Expert Review

Pros
  • Spunky handling
  • Great safety features
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Hate-it-or-love-it styling
  • Tight back seat
  • Unrefined dual-clutch transmission
Expert Rating
3.2 (Good)

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

Great value. Hyundai made a name for itself by offering vehicles that put value first. It’s the same case with the 2021 Hyundai Kona, but it all depends on where you are in the lineup. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to check out the SEL or SEL Plus trims.

Push button start, a sunroof, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, automatic emergency braking, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all included as standard on the SEL. Going with the SEL Plus brings wireless charging, a power driver's seat, an Infinity audio system, and a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster.

Regardless of which trim you choose, every Kona comes with Hyundai’s extensive warranty. The subcompact crossover SUV comes with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. It’s one of the longest warranties on the market.

Strong safety scores and technology. Every Kona comes with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and driver attention monitoring.

Moving up to the SEL adds rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. Going with the range-topping Ultimate trim nets pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, parking sensors, and automatic high beams. It’s a strong list of equipment for the segment.

The Kona also excelled in crash test ratings. In the NHTSA's testing, the 2021 Kona was given a five-star overall safety rating. The IIHS hasn’t tested the 2021 model yet, but the 2020 Kona was named a Top Safety Pick.

So-so engines, peppy handling. Get the Kona out on a good, windy road, and its suspension, short wheelbase, and taut chassis result in a more enjoyable vehicle than one would expect. Engaging Sport mode results in a heftier steering wheel and different transmission mapping to hold gears longer. The Kona feels like the sportiest vehicle in its segment.

While the Kona impresses around corners, its engines leave a lot to be desired. The base motor is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 147 horsepower and is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. With this engine, the Kona feels sluggish.

A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder is available that produces 175 hp. While the turbo motor produces a decent amount of power, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that it’s paired with can be sluggish and jerky at low speeds.

Choosing between the two is a difficult decision. The base engine clearly doesn't have enough power, while the turbo motor's transmission is unrefined. With both getting up to 30 miles per gallon combined according to the EPA, we'd spring for the turbo engine because of its highway performance.


Hyundai Kona

Tight cabin. Even for the subcompact crossover segment, the Kona offers a tight cabin, especially in the back. With 54.5 inches of rear shoulder room and 34.6 inches of rear leg room, it offers less space in the second row than a lot of its competitors. Rear head room isn’t a massive concern thanks to its circular design.

Cargo capacity is slightly below average, too. With the rear seats in place, the Kona has 19.2 cubic feet of space. In total, the Kona can hold up to 45.8 cubic feet. That figure is dwarfed by the Kia Soul, which has a total of 62.1 cubic feet of cargo space.

Final thoughts. The 2021 Hyundai Kona may have an odd design, but it’s a well-rounded subcompact crossover. It’s the athlete of the segment with great handling capabilities. The Kona also is an excellent value option if you choose one of the lower trims, comes with an extensive warranty, has great safety features and crash test scores, and has an intuitive infotainment system.

Having a tight cabin and a small cargo area are par for the segment. So, we can understand look past those downsides. The unrefined character of the dual-clutch transmission is harder to overlook, especially since the base engine is so underpowered. The alien-like design is hard to get over, too.

When it comes to competitors, the Mazda CX-30 has a more powerful and refined powertrain, a more upscale cabin, and a more stylish exterior design. The CX-30 also has a more spacious interior.

The Soul has similar engines to the Kona, but has a more spacious cabin, a limited amount of standard safety features, and a massive cargo area. The Soul stands out thanks to its boxy design, but isn’t as radically styled as the Kona.

Check prices for the 2021 Hyundai Kona »

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L I-4 / 147 HP / 132 ft.lbs.
Transmission
6-spd SHIFTRONIC w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
27 / 33 / 30 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L I-4 / 147 HP / 132 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
27 / 33 / 30 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Semi-independent Torsion Beam Beam
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
13.2 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$50
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
45.8 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
94 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
164.0 "
Exterior Width
70.9 "
Exterior Height
61.0 "
Front Headroom
39.6 "
Rear Headroom
37.8 "
Front Legroom
41.5 "
Rear Legroom
34.6 "
Front Shoulder Room
55.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room
54.5 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
2,890 Lbs.
Wheel Base
102 "
Turning Radius
17.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
16.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote, Convex Spotter Driver
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Black
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm, Clock, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
1
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (fca) Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist (lka) Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Driver Attention Warning (daw) Driver Attention
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Major Components Months
120 Months / 100,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Corrosion Perforation
84 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months
12 Months / Unlimited Miles

Used 2021 Hyundai Kona for Sale

23 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
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Phone: (714) 633-6731
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Phone: (833) 214-6621
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Ocean Subaru of Fullerton (27 mi)

Phone: (888) 428-2419
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