2019 Hyundai Kona

The volume SE and SEL trims of the 2019 Kona (pre-facelift first generation) use the 2.0L Nu MPI four at 147 hp. The 1.6T makes 175 hp in 2019 form, before the 2022 uprate to 195 hp, and comes only on Limited and Ultimate.

The 2.0L's 132 lb-ft peaks high in the rev range and sits near the bottom of the SUV band. The 1.6T's 195 lb-ft arrives low down.

The same first-generation 2.0L/6AT powertrain tested at 8.3 s (MotorTrend, FWD SE) and 9.2 s (Car and Driver, AWD SEL), so ~9.0 s represents the volume trim. The 1.6T is about two seconds quicker.

The 2.0L is adequate in town but gets loud and breathless when merging or passing. The 175-hp turbo is lively but has some low-speed lag through the DCT. About average for the subcompact class.

The volume trims use a conventional 6-speed automatic that shifts smoothly and avoids CVT drone, an edge over CVT rivals like the HR-V and Kicks. The turbo's 7-speed dry DCT is quick on the move but can be jerky and hesitant at crawling speeds.

Hyundai publishes no US tow rating for the first-generation Kona, and the US owner's manual does not recommend towing, so it scores zero on capability.

AWD is optional on every gas trim (SE, SEL, Limited, Ultimate), which is broad availability, and the AWD cars get a multi-link rear suspension. It is a basic on-demand, front-biased system with a lock mode and no low range or torque vectoring, and the Kona Electric is FWD only.

A pavement-oriented subcompact crossover with about 6.7 in of ground clearance, no skid plates, no locker or crawl control, and no off-road trim. The AWD lock helps only on slippery roads.

There are three distinct US powertrains for 2019: the 147-hp 2.0L, the 175-hp 1.6T, and the newly launched 201-hp Kona Electric with 258 miles of range. That is broad for a subcompact, but there is no hybrid, and the Kona N did not arrive until 2022.

The volume 2.0L FWD with the 6-speed automatic is rated 30 MPG combined, good for a gas subcompact SUV. AWD costs 3 MPG.

EPA city rating for the volume 2.0L FWD configuration.

EPA highway rating for the volume 2.0L FWD configuration.

EPA total range for the volume 2.0L FWD. The small 13.2-gallon tank limits range despite decent economy.

EPA annual fuel cost estimate at current standard assumptions for the volume 2.0L FWD on regular fuel.

Both 2019 gas engines, the 2.0L and the 1.6T, run on regular unleaded. There is no premium-fuel variant in the 2019 lineup.

NHTSA rated the 2019 Kona 5 stars overall, with 5-star frontal and side results and 4 stars for rollover. That ties the top of the subcompact class.

Every IIHS crashworthiness test came back Good, and the 2019 Kona earned a Top Safety Pick+. The award only applies with optional front crash prevention and the LED headlights from the Limited/Ultimate, so the volume SEL does not qualify as equipped.

Every trim gets Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Warning. The volume SEL adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings, which the base SE lacks. Pedestrian AEB is limited to the Ultimate (or the SEL Tech package), and the gas Kona offered no adaptive cruise, so the suite is thin even by 2019 standards.

The camera system earned IIHS's Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, avoiding collisions at both 12 and 25 mph. Pedestrian detection rated only Advanced in daytime and was offered only on upper trims, and there is no nighttime pedestrian rating.

Blind-spot collision warning, lane change assist and rear cross-traffic warning are standard from the volume SEL up, but absent on the base SE. The systems only warn and do not intervene.

Lane Keeping Assist with lane departure warning is standard on every trim, but it only nudges at the lane edge. The 2019 gas Kona offers no lane-centering (Lane Following Assist) on any trim.

The 2019 gas Kona offered only conventional cruise control on every trim; Smart Cruise Control was not available until the 2022 refresh. Rivals such as the CX-30, Corolla Cross and HR-V offered or standardized adaptive cruise.

No hands-free driving system is offered on any 2019 Kona trim, and there is no adaptive cruise or lane centering to build on.

The SE and volume SEL use halogen projector headlights that IIHS rated Poor. Only the Limited and Ultimate get Good-rated LED projectors, and high-beam assist is limited to the Ultimate.

The upright greenhouse and small footprint give decent forward sightlines. The thick C-pillars and small rear window limit the over-shoulder view, and only a rearview camera is offered, with no 360-degree view; rear parking sensors are on the Ultimate only.

IIHS rates the Kona's LATCH Marginal, with lower anchors set deep in the seat bight. The narrow subcompact rear bench makes fitting multiple car seats tight.

Every 2019 Kona is a two-row, five-seat crossover. No other seating layout is offered.

Front headroom is adequate for the class. The sunroof that comes with the SEL Tech package, Limited and Ultimate takes away about 1.6 inches.

Front legroom is on the short side for an SUV, but the driving position still fits most adults.

Rear headroom is reasonable on paper, but the sloping roofline makes it feel tighter for tall passengers.

At 34.6 inches, the pre-facelift Kona's back seat is among the tightest in the subcompact class. Adults fit for short trips only.

No third row is offered on any trim. The Kona is strictly a two-row, five-seat crossover.

Cargo space behind the rear seat is small for the class. The HR-V, Trax and Crosstrek all hold more.

Even with the 60/40 rear seat folded, total cargo space trails most subcompact rivals.

The volume SEL adds a split-level cargo floor, but cabin storage is otherwise basic: modest door pockets, a small console bin and a tray ahead of the shifter. Wireless charging is limited to the Ultimate, and there are no standout solutions.

The front seats are supportive enough for daily driving, but the volume SEL has a manual, height-only adjustable driver's seat unless you add the Tech package's 8-way power seat. The rear bench is upright and short on thigh support.

The ride is firm and gets busy over broken pavement, especially on FWD models with the torsion-beam rear axle. Body control is good, and AWD models with the multi-link rear ride somewhat better.

Road and tire noise come through clearly at highway speed, and the 2.0L gets loud under load. This is before the acoustic windshield and extra insulation the 2022 refresh added.

Heated front seats are standard from the volume SEL up, but the SE and SEL have manual air conditioning; automatic climate control arrives only on the Limited. There are no rear air vents, no ventilated seats and no heated steering wheel on the gas trims.

The 2019 Kona SE started at $19,990 plus $980 destination, among the lowest entry prices in the subcompact-SUV class.

The 2.0L SEL is the volume Kona; with AWD it lands just over $24,000 delivered for 2019. The trim is from manufacturer pricing; the AWD mix is an assumption carried from later-year sales commentary.

Kona maintenance and repair costs project well below the class norm. Unlike 2020-and-later Konas, the 2019 model had no Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance, so there is no deduction for free service.

The first-generation Kona holds value about in line with the subcompact-SUV class average. CarEdge doesn't list the 2019 model year, so its 5-year retention is interpolated from the neighbouring years.

Hyundai Assurance's 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage leads the mainstream market.

The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty tops the band, though only the original owner gets the full term.

The 2019 Kona predates Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance, which started with the 2020 model year, so no scheduled service is included. It still carries 5-year/unlimited-mile 24/7 roadside assistance and a complimentary Blue Link trial.

$24,180 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (57% retained, or about $13,783) leaves about $10,397 in depreciation. Add the projected $2,650 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $13,047 in total.

2019 is the second model year of the first-generation Kona (launched for 2018), a carry-over year. J.D. Power owner data rates its quality & reliability 82/100 ("Great"), and it ranks #3 among small SUVs. A later engine recall on the volume 2.0L, though, keeps it out of the top band.

Around 2019 Hyundai sat mid-pack in dependability: near or slightly above the industry average in J.D. Power VDS, and in the middle of Consumer Reports' brand tables, behind Lexus, Toyota and Mazda. The Theta II engine-failure saga, recalls and a class action for 2011–2019 Sonata, Santa Fe and Tucson, still weighed on its long-term record.

The gas 2019 Kona has one NHTSA recall, but a serious one: improperly heat-treated piston oil rings in the 2.0L Nu MPI can cause engine damage, stalling and possible fire. The fix is inspection and engine replacement where needed. The key-start SE/SEL trims were also among the 2018–2022 Hyundais without an engine immobilizer that the 2022–23 theft wave targeted. Hyundai handled that with a software and steering-lock service campaign, not a recall. The other 2019 campaigns cover only the Kona Electric.

The volume SE/SEL pair the 147-hp 2.0L Nu MPI (Atkinson) with a conventional 6-speed automatic. The automatic is simple and robust, but the engine family drew a piston-oil-ring recall and owner complaints about oil consumption. The 175-hp 1.6T upper trims use a 7-speed dry DCT that drew low-speed hesitation and clutch complaints. Mixed history.

The pre-facelift cabin is well laid out and sturdy, but reviewers consistently note the dash and doors are almost all hard plastic, with little soft-touch material on any trim. That is acceptable for the price, but it trails the Mazda CX-3 and CX-30.

Owners rate quality highly: J.D. Power gives 82/100 for quality & reliability, and assembly is generally tight. Scattered owner reports of rattles and trim noise keep it out of the top band.

Hyundai's roughly 800-store US franchised network gives dense national coverage. Service satisfaction is only around average for mass-market brands, so it stays mid-band.

The first-generation Kona sold in high volume, so parts are cheap and plentiful, and the aftermarket is established. RepairPal puts Kona repair costs well below average. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for original owners covers the engine-recall exposure.

The volume SE and SEL use the 7-inch display audio screen. The 8-inch navigation screen is reserved for the top Ultimate trim.

Hyundai's 7-inch display audio is simple and quick, sits high on the dash, and has physical volume and tuning knobs plus a conventional climate panel. It is small and plain by later standards, but reviewers found it easy to live with.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim, but only as wired connections. Wireless projection did not reach the Kona until the 2022 refresh.

Voice recognition arrives on the SEL, but built-in navigation is limited to the Ultimate's 8-inch unit. Volume SE/SEL buyers rely on phone projection for maps and natural voice control.

The SE and SEL's six-speaker system is adequate. An eight-speaker Infinity system with subwoofer and external amp is available on the SEL Tech package and standard on the Limited and Ultimate, a modest but real step up.

Every 2019 gas Kona uses analog gauges. The SE through Limited get a 3.5-inch monochrome info screen, and only the Ultimate upgrades to a 4.2-inch color display. A fully digital cluster did not arrive until 2022.

The 2019 Kona has no over-the-air software updates. Map updates for the Ultimate's navigation are a USB or dealer job, and the 7-inch units have no built-in maps to update.

Blue Link, with remote start/climate, lock, unlock and car finder, comes with the SEL Tech package and on the Limited and Ultimate, so the plain SE and SEL go without. Remote services are subscription-based after a free trial, and no digital key was offered.

Two front USB-A ports are standard, but there are no rear USB ports, and wireless charging is limited to the top Ultimate. There is no household outlet.

A proximity key with push-button start is standard from the volume SEL up, though the base SE uses a conventional key. Remote start comes only through Blue Link, and there is no hands-free liftgate or phone-as-key.

A rearview camera with parking guidelines is standard, but rear parking sensors are limited to the top Ultimate, and no surround-view camera or front sensors are offered.

A color head-up display, projected onto a small pop-up combiner screen rather than the windshield, is standard on the Ultimate and unusual in the 2019 subcompact class. It is not available on the volume trims.

A tight 34.6-inch rear seat, small rear door openings and a 19.2 cu ft cargo hold make rear-facing seats and strollers a squeeze. IIHS rates its LATCH hardware Marginal.

Crash credentials are strong (NHTSA 5 stars overall, IIHS Good in every crash test), and forward collision-avoidance and lane keeping are standard on every trim. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts are missing on the base SE, pedestrian detection is Ultimate-only, adaptive cruise is not offered, and the volume trims' halogen headlights rate Poor.

With four aboard, the cramped rear seat, lack of rear vents or rear USB ports and the small cargo hold limit it to short getaways.

The Kona is small, light and nimble in traffic, and the conventional six-speed automatic is smooth at low speed. The firm ride and road noise add some fatigue, and the 147-hp 2.0L is strained when merging.

30 MPG combined on regular fuel from the 2.0L FWD is about average for a 2019 gas subcompact crossover, and the small tires and simple powertrain keep consumables cheap.

A short 164-inch body and a tight 34.8-ft turning circle make it easy to thread through cities and fit into tight spaces. The thick rear pillars and lack of parking sensors below the Ultimate are the drawbacks.

There is no US tow rating, the cargo hold is small and the 147-hp 2.0L has little reserve under load. It is not meaningfully work-capable.

The Kona is built for light personal use, with hard plastics that wear well but no fleet or hard-use reputation. Owners report it holds up with ordinary care.

Beyond cargo-floor tie-down hooks and roof side rails from the SEL up, there are no work-oriented provisions: no outlets, no factory hitch and no upfit ecosystem.

A 396-mile EPA range is decent, but road noise, the firm ride and the lack of adaptive cruise on any gas trim make long highway stints more tiring than in the best rivals.

AWD with a lock mode is available on every gas trim, and the SEL's roof side rails take bike or ski racks. But 6.7 inches of ground clearance and no tow rating keep it on gravel roads at most.

A 60/40 split rear seat and the SEL's split-level cargo floor help, but at 45.8 cu ft maximum the Kona swallows less bulky gear than most rivals.

The Kona is one of the more agile subcompact crossovers: light, composed and grippy in corners, with good body control. AWD models gain a multi-link rear suspension.

The steering is quick and accurately weighted but transmits little road feel.

The brakes stop the Kona smoothly in town, with a predictable pedal and average emergency-stop performance for the class.

The conventional six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and avoids CVT rubber-banding, but the 147-hp 2.0L with its high-rpm torque peak feels strained when merging or passing.

The 2.0L gets coarse when revved hard, and engine noise adds to a cabin reviewers already call loud.

A very tight turning circle for an SUV makes U-turns and parking easy.

Controls are logically laid out with physical knobs and buttons, and the seating position is commanding enough. The volume SEL's height-only manual seat has limited adjustment, and the thick rear pillars limit over-the-shoulder view.

The chassis is playful for the class, but the 2.0L volume trims lack the punch to make it truly fun. The 175-hp turbo Limited and Ultimate are the enthusiast picks.

Even the $19,990 SE gets a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus lane-keeping assist and a rearview camera. The SEL adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, while comfort and convenience upgrades are held back for the Limited and Ultimate.

A sub-$25k delivered price for an AWD SEL, plus a 175-hp turbo option from about $26.5k, made the Kona one of the stronger content-for-money buys in the 2019 subcompact class.

The 2019 range spans four gas trims (SE, SEL, Limited, Ultimate), each with FWD or AWD, plus two engines (2.0L and 1.6T). The Kona Electric joined that year as a separate configuration.

US sales were climbing quickly in the Kona's second year, but they still trailed class leaders such as the Crosstrek, Trax and HR-V.

In 2019 Hyundai was a well-regarded mainstream brand, known for value and warranty coverage, but it lacked the loyalty halo of Toyota, Honda or Subaru.

Through 2019, Hyundai routinely offered cash rebates and low-APR financing on the Kona, and it sold below MSRP in a pre-pandemic market.

In 2019 the Kona was in its second model year of an all-new first generation that launched for 2018, with no redesign due until the 2024 second generation.

The Kona was one of the best-reviewed subcompact crossovers of its time, winning major awards including NACTOY's 2019 Utility Vehicle of the Year and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+.