The current Kona enters its second year on sale.

Front end styling is interesting. A slim light bar sits above a massive lower air intake, which is flanked by boomerang-shaped bright elements that are met by the front wheel well extensions that house the headlamps. The side silhouette echoes the styling of the first Kona with the addition of the impressed “Z” motif first seen on the Ioniq 5 BEV, and is visually incoherent. Both the boomerang frontal styling themes and the odd inset section of the tailgate are also featured on the Kia Sportage, which is about the first time the two brands have shared styling elements.

Hyundai and Kia are masters at straightforward minor controls, with simple knobs and buttons to manipulate climate and audio functions. Like the Ioniq 5, the dashboard of the new Kona reflects angular, 1980s design conventions.

Two conventional engines, a 147 horsepower 2L four and a turbocharged 1.6L four with 190 horsepower, are available. The 2L sends power to the wheels via a CVT, with the turbo hooked up to a conventional eight-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive optional on entry-level models and standard on fancier ones. The electric Kona, offered only with front-wheel drive, is powered by a 64.8 kWh battery pack and rated at 201 horsepower. Range is quoted at 420 kilometers. Using a Level 3 charger, Hyundai claims the Kona BEV can go from a 10 percent to an 80 percent charge in 43 minutes. Level 2 charging takes 6.5 hours.

Performance with the 1.6L turbo four is brisk, linear and flexible but there are some unwelcome engine rumbles when leaving from a stop that are not evident in the related Kia Seltos. Steering is quick and precise, and the ride and handling balance of the car is very well judged for a family car.

The base Essential trim includes blind spot, rear cross traffic and driver awareness warnings, a lane-keeping system, alloy wheels, heated front seats, wireless cellphone hookup and deep tint glass. The Preferred trim upgrade adds a forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control with stop and go, rain-sense wipers, a heated leather trimmed steering wheel and is good value. All-wheel drive is a $2000 option on the Essential and Preferred models but standard on the Trend package of the Preferred trim and the 1.6L turbo four models. The Trend package on the Preferred trim includes a sunroof, wireless cellphone charging, digital key access and dual zone climate control but looks expensive for the content. The N-Line trim is powered but the turbo 1.6L, adds larger wheels and tires but loses the wireless cellphone charger and dual-zone climate controls and adds $3000 to the pricetag. The N Line adds added body cladding, wireless cellphone charging, leather and suede upholstery, allow pedals, dual-zone climate controls and ambient lighting with 64 colours possible, and is good value. The N-Ultimate features navigation, rain-sense wipers, ventilated front seats, power driver’s seat, garage door opener, a 360 degree camera system, parking sonar front and rear and reverse auto braking, at a bargain price. The BEV version of the Kona and the conventional model overlap in a single model, the N Line Ultra. When you compensate for the fact that the BEV lacks all-wheel drive, the price bump to go BEV is over $15,000. This is a significant price gap considering that Quebec suspended its rebate programme until April 2025 and the federal government also suspended its rebate programme.