2024 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD Review: A Bigger Small SUV for Modern Living

Looking for a compact SUV with a modern style and lots of tech? The 2024 Hyundai Kona checks those boxes and more. I spent a week getting to know the top-of-the-line Kona Limited and came away pleased with Hyundai’s updates, including its larger interior and significantly improved dashboard and center console design. For 2024, the Kona has a bold new look, most notable for the vertical light bars across its nose and tail. In its gas and electric variants, the new Kona saw its overall length stretched by 5.7 inches, while its wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer. The little SUV is also an inch wider than before. All of this results in more space for second-row passengers as well as a significant bump in cargo space.

The styling of the new Kona has dramatically faceted angles in its body panels like we saw in the Tucson last year, but they’re even more pronounced here with a sharp crease that runs diagonally across both door panels. Black overfenders and lower body cladding provide contrast and make quite the visual statement, as do the pinwheel-inspired 19-inch alloy wheels. The Atlas White and black combo of my test vehicle reminded me of a Stormtrooper’s armor on more than one occasion.

Hyundai offers four powertrain options for the Kona. The base SE and SEL grades have a 147-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the sporty N-Line and tricked-out Limited get a more potent 1.6-liter turbo-4 that outputs 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft. of torque. The Kona Electric offers 133 to 201 horsepower, depending on battery size. All of the gas-powered models offer FWD and AWD variants, while the Kona Electric is strictly FWD at this point. The turbo-4 AWD shown here provides pretty good fuel economy, clocking in at 24 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG combined.

Unlike the CVT in the less expensive models, the small turbo engine in the Kona Limited I drove is connected to a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission. In Normal drive mode, I found the engine exhibited a bit of turbo lag – with what seemed like a whole second between when I mashed my foot down and when the engine responded. In Sport mode, the throttle mapping is far more satisfying, and pedal input feels much more direct. The steering gains a little weight in Sport mode for a more engaging feel. I found the Kona’s handling to be nimble, and its suspension is tuned nicely for everyday driving on smooth streets and potholes alike. While all of the Konas have MacPherson struts and coil springs up front, it should be noted that only the AWD models get an independent multi-link suspension in the rear. I didn’t get to drive the FWD version, but I’d assume its stiffer torsion beam rear suspension isn’t quite as comfortable and compliant. Road noise and vibrations are well handled, and other than a bit of wind noise off of the A-pillars, the cabin is relatively quiet.

Inside, the new Kona really shines, borrowing some of its aesthetics from Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. It has a streamlined new dashboard topped off with a single unit that combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with a same-sized touchscreen. Despite the increased screen real estate, Hyundai was kind enough to include physical buttons and knobs for every control that you’d want to use without looking away from the road. Safety and convenience tech is plentiful and includes Smart Cruise Control, which uses navigation data to automatically adjust speed when approaching a curve. Combined with Lane Following and Lane Keeping Assist, these enable Highway Driving Assist, which does an excellent job of maintaining speed and a safe interval while keeping you centered in your lane. You still need to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, but minimal input is required. There are also front and rear collision avoidance systems, driver attention and rear occupant alerts, and more. The Limited is also the only grade to get Hyundai’s Blind-Spot View Monitor, which uses cameras in the mirrors to show what is in your blind spot on the instrument panel.

While the SE and SEL models have cloth seats, the Limited has Hyundai’s H-Tex, a smooth, faux leather with perforated seating surfaces. The seats are comfy, have good side bolstering, and include heat and ventilation. A power sunroof also comes standard with the Kona Limited. Most of the cabin and dash materials are made from plastic, but there are padded surfaces and metallic elements that class up the joint.

By moving from a floor-mounted gear shifter to a column-based control, Hyundai freed up a lot of space in the center console. This smartly designed unit includes a large storage tray with retractable cupholders. There’s enough space to carry four drinks here if you need to – I was able to place a couple of larger cups between the cupholders and the edge of the tray, and they didn’t move around much. At the front of the console, you’ll find various vehicle controls, and the Kona Limited also has a wireless charging tray. Beneath the armrest is a small storage area, but it’s oddly been left open. I suppose this provides faster access to items, but it means one less place to keep things out of sight from prying eyes.

Ultra-wide, dual-screen displays are becoming more popular these days as analog gauges go the way of the dinosaur. Hyundai’s implementation features a clean and uniform user interface across both screens. There is a sizeable gap between the displays, so it’s not as slick as the single-panel display found in the 2024 Cadillac XT4. That’s a much more expensive vehicle, so that comparison isn’t necessarily fair. The touchscreen offers standard support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though they’re not wireless, which is a bit of a bummer when you have a wireless charger.

Rear-seat legroom isn’t exactly spacious, but it’s an improvement over last year’s Kona, jumping to 38.2 inches versus 35.2 inches in 2023. The headroom back here is also slightly better, going from 37.8 inches to 38.3 inches in 2024. The space is comfortable if you’re under 6 feet tall, but any taller than that, and you’ll feel cramped. Amenities include individual HVAC vents, dual USB charging ports, and a storage tray in the back of the center console. Oddly, there’s a mesh storage pouch on the back of only the front passenger seat, not the driver’s seat.

Like most modern SUVs, the second row folds in a 60/40 split for versatility. With both seats in use, you get 25.5 cubic feet of cargo carrying capacity, with up to 63.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. Those are significant upgrades from 2023, when those numbers were just 19.2 and 45.8 cubic feet, respectively. The power liftgate is a nice touch, and it automatically opens when you approach with the keyfob in your pocket, a great feature if your hands are full.

I’ve always liked the Hyundai Kona since I first drove one in 2018. For 2024, it represents a significant upgrade in size, space, and technology. Better yet, it’s still one of the most affordable SUVs on the road, with the base SE FWD model starting at just $24,250. The well-equipped Limited AWD grade has a starting price of $33,150.