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So I have been most happy driving my 2011 Hyundai i20 1.6 for the past 9 years but thought time to upgrade before it starts falling apart! I really like the look of the Kona 1.6 however after driving it, found the ride and overall comfort to be disappointing. As I am approaching 59 years old comfort is top of my list. Honda HRV was ok but felt like there were no shock absorbers - still not the ride I am looking for. Have never liked Mazda - too noisy and not enough zip. At the time I bought my i20 I loved the comfort and drive of the veloster, however, too bold in appearance for my personality . I am now wondering about an i30 N. What do you think? Do you have any recommendations. (Would go European but everyone advises not - too expensive to maintain).
You’ve layed out some challenging requirements here. You’d like a small SUV with a bit of ride comfort and clearly a bit of performance too, given your question about the i30 N.
I think you’ll find the ride harsh on the i30 N, especially since you found the ride on the Kona harsh already. Keep in mind the i30 N is a hot hatch and has the suspension to match.
I find the Subaru XV has very nice ride comfort for the small SUV segment, but I also feel that you will be disappointed with the performance from its 2.0-litre engine. You may also want to consider the new Hybrid Toyota C-HR. The Hybrid drive gives it a smidge of extra kick and it’s a fuel consumption hero, too.
For a better blend of performance and ride, really only the Volkswagen T-Roc and Skoda Karoq are going to excel in the small SUV crowd. In terms of ownership both now have five year warranties, and you can (and should) pre-package five years of servicing on top at a discount.
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