Hyundai Kona Review (UK)

Vehicle Overview

The Hyundai Kona is a small crossover sold in the UK in three forms: petrol, hybrid and fully electric. Hyundai UK’s own model page listed the range “from £27,290” when we checked on 1 October 2026, and Auto Express’s 22 June 2026 review put the published RRP span at £26,915 to £39,390 across the Advance, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate trims. Boot space is quoted at 466 litres, rising to 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded. Euro NCAP tested the Kona in 2023 and awarded four stars.

This page covers the current car. The first-generation Kona, on sale from 2017, used a different set of engines and a different electric powertrain, so check which generation a used car belongs to before comparing any figures.

Key Specifications (UK range)

Power, acceleration and economy figures from Auto Express’s 22 June 2026 review; the electric car’s battery capacity, 160kW output and WLTP range are as listed by EV Database and retrieved on 1 October 2026. Note that the 1.0 T-GDi petrol is offered in more than one output — Hyundai UK’s own configurator names a KONA N Line 1.0T 115PS — so confirm the PS figure for the trim you are quoted on.

Exterior and trim levels

Interior, Comfort & Materials

Features & Infotainment

Safety & Ratings

Standard ADAS

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (AEB)

Lane Keeping Assist

Driver Attention Warning

Driving Performance

1.0 petrol. The entry engine, and the slowest of the four: Auto Express quotes 13.3 seconds to 62mph, which makes it a town car rather than a motorway cruiser.

1.6 petrol. 136bhp and 10.2 seconds to 62mph — the quickest of the combustion versions.

1.6 hybrid. 127bhp, 12.0 seconds to 62mph, and the best official economy in the range at 60.1mpg.

Kona Electric. 215bhp, or 160kW, and 7.8 seconds to 62mph — comfortably the quickest version in the range.

Economy and range (official UK figures)

Our EV charging cost estimator will turn that range into a cost per mile on your own electricity tariff.

Practicality & Everyday Usability

Warranty & Maintenance

Price & Value for Money

What it costs in the UK

Hyundai UK listed the Kona “from £27,290” on 1 October 2026; Auto Express’s 22 June 2026 review gave a published RRP span of £26,915 to £39,390 across the Advance, N Line, N Line S and Ultimate trims.

The electric version is where the UK incentives bite. EV Database lists the 65.4kWh Kona Electric at £34,210 RRP and £35,000 on the road, falling to £31,250 once the £3,750 Electric Car Grant is applied — GOV.UK caps that grant at a £37,000 recommended retail price, so the electric Kona sits comfortably inside it. The smaller 48.4kWh standard-range version, last listed at £34,995 on the road, is recorded by EV Database as withdrawn in October 2025, so new electric buyers get the larger battery only. Auto Express puts insurance groups at 14E for the entry petrol, rising to 31 for the electric.

Hyundai UK’s own Kona Electric trim pages, checked on 1 October 2026, list Advance from £35,000, N Line from £37,000 and both N Line S and Ultimate from £39,400.

What it competes with in the UK

The Kona sits in one of the most crowded parts of the UK market. The closest shortlist rivals are the Nissan Juke, the Ford Puma, the Renault Captur and the Volkswagen T-Roc. What sets the Kona apart on paper is that one model line covers petrol, hybrid and fully electric, so you can change your mind about the powertrain without changing showroom or body style. If you decide you want more space, the next step up in the same range is the Hyundai Tucson.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Petrol, hybrid and fully electric versions in one model range
• 319 miles WLTP from the 65.4kWh Kona Electric
• 466-litre boot, 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded
• Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, eight years or 100,000 miles on the high-voltage battery
• The electric version falls under the £37,000 Electric Car Grant cap

Cons

• Four stars at Euro NCAP, with 60% for safety assist and 64% for vulnerable road users
• The 1.0 petrol needs 13.3 seconds to reach 62mph
• Larger wheels cost the electric version range: 289 miles rather than 319
• The cheaper 48.4kWh electric version has been withdrawn, so the larger battery is the only electric choice new
• Rear headroom is limited by the sloping roofline

Overall Rating

4.2 / 5 stars

A small crossover that covers petrol, hybrid and electric in a single range and backs it with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty — held back by a four-star Euro NCAP result rather than by anything it does badly.

Final Verdict

For most UK buyers the Kona Electric is the version to shortlist: 319 miles of WLTP range, 7.8 seconds to 62mph and, with the £3,750 Electric Car Grant applied, an on-the-road price EV Database puts at £31,250. If you cannot charge at home, the 1.6 hybrid is the sensible alternative at 60.1mpg. The 1.0 petrol undercuts both but needs 13.3 seconds to reach 62mph, slow enough to notice on a motorway slip road. The real reservation is safety: four stars at Euro NCAP in 2023, with 60% for safety assist, puts the Kona behind the strongest cars in this class, so check which driver-assistance systems are standard on the trim you are quoted.

More Hyundai reviews: Hyundai Bayon Review, Hyundai i10 Review and Hyundai i20 Review.

Specifications, prices and equipment were current at publication and vary by model year, trim and market. Verify final details with a franchised dealer before ordering. Read how we review cars and our editorial policy.