Hyundai Kona Premium 2023 review: snapshot

As the name implies, the Premium is the flagship grade in Hyundai’s new second-generation  Kona line-up. At just over 4.3m long, 1.8m wide and close to 1.6m tall, the technically 'small' SUV is appreciably bigger on the outside and prices range from $39,500, before on-road costs, for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol model, through $42,500 for an N Line version of the same car and finally $46,500 for the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol AWD (N Line-only) flagship.

Standard equipment highlights include dual-zone climate control air, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument display, eight-speaker Bose audio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, partial leather trim, a leather-appointed steering wheel, keyless entry and start as well LED headlights, DRLs and tail-lights. 

There’s also ambient lighting, heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats (with two memories for the driver) and heated outboard rear seats, sat nav (with live traffic updates), a 3D surround view monitor, six-sensor parking distance warning, 18-inch alloys, ‘Remote Smart Parking Assist’ and voice control. 

Explore the 2023 Hyundai Kona range

• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: Active snapshot
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: Elite snapshot
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: Highlander snapshot
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: N Line snapshot
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: N Line Premium snapshot
• Hyundai Kona N 2022 review
• Hyundai Kona Premium 2023 review: snapshot
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: Active
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: N Line
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: Elite
• Hyundai Kona electric car 2021 review: Electric Highlander
• Hyundai Kona 2021 review: Highlander
• Hyundai Kona 2023 review
• Hyundai Kona 2024 review: Electric
• Hyundai Kona 2024 review: Long-term | Part 2

The N Line pack brings body-coloured cladding and other specific exterior elements including the front bumper (with gloss black insert), side skirts, spoiler, rear bumper and gloss black mirror caps. 

Also included are unique 19-inch alloy rims, a sports exhaust, dual projector beam headlights and interior upgrades including, dark brushed alloy-effect elements around the cabin as well as gloss red inserts, red highlights and contrast stitching on the Alcantara and leather-trimmed seats, plus alloy pedal covers and perforated leather grips on the steering wheel.

The Kona Premium is offered with a naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine sending 110kW/180Nm to the front wheels through a CVT auto. Then, a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine pushing 142kW/264Nm to all four wheels via an eight-speed (torque converter) auto is in the N Line-only flagship.

Hyundai’s official combined cycle fuel economy number for the 2.0-litre CVT FWD powertrain is 6.6L/100km, with the 1.6-litre turbo AWD raising that to 7.6L/100km.

The new Kona is yet to be assessed by ANCAP but Hyundai’s comprehensive ‘SmartSense’ safety suite is present and accounted for including active tech like radar and camera-controlled AEB (with car, ‘powered two-wheeler’, pedestrian and cyclist detection), blind-spot view and collision avoidance, ‘Lane-Following Assist’ and ‘Lane Keeping Assist’.

There’s also rear cross-traffic alert and rear AEB, active cruise control, ‘Safe Exit Warning’, ‘Surround View Monitor’ (a 360-degree camera view, front view, rear view, front/rear side view), ‘Driver Attention Warning’ and tyre pressure monitoring. 

There are seven airbags on-board, including a front centre bag.