 The 2022 Hyundai Kona N exists for those with a penchant for performance cars and who love the thrill of fast driving. Technically a subcompact crossover SUV, the Hyundai Kona N behaves more like a dedicated track car than the stylish and practically proportioned everyday crossover that underpins this hot hatch-slaying Hyundai Kona N model.
Closely resembling in shape its lesser siblings available in the regular Kona lineup, the 2022 Hyundai Kona N has seen Hyundai's N division fettling with the Kona crossover and adding the unique N line exterior accents, engineering and interior appointments plus, of course, a tarmac shredding engine that is shared with other cars from the Hyundai N division.
Read on as we take a look at what makes this little fire-breathing crossover so special.
What's New for 2022?
Based on the first generation Kona introduced in 2017, the 2022 Hyundai Kona N is Hyundai's very first performance SUV, which debuted in April 2021 as a 2022 model year.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Being built on the architecture of the regular Kona, the now familiar all-black interior does, however, get jazzed up with the N line treatment, which extends to contrast stitching, mode buttons, and a shifter knob, all finished in the N brand's signature Performance Blue color accents.
The Kona N's leather-and-suede-covered sports seats feature more bolstering than those found in the regular Kona. Some key features are the metal shift paddles, aluminum sport pedals, leather trimming for the shift boot and perforated leather for the steering wheel, plus N logos splashed around, all adding to the sporting persona that the N badges bring to this little crossover.
Around the 5 o'clock position on the steering wheel, Hyundai has fitted a big red button for the N Grin Shift function, which offers drivers an overboost mode.
The Kona N has a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster with configurable performance pages. Instrumentation includes a trip computer, compass, external temperature display, tachometer, and clock.
Other standout key interior features include:
- Single zone front climate control
- Rear ventilation ducts
- Interior air filtration
- 8-way power driver seat
- Height-adjustable driver seat
- Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
- Passenger seat with power adjustable lumbar support
- Multi-level heated driver and passenger seat
- Front one-touch power windows
- Hands-free entry
- Keyless ignition
- A tilt and telescopic steering wheel
- Steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls
- Rearview camera
- Wireless charging
- Cruise control
- Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
In-car storage spots include handy front and rear cupholders, front and rear door pockets and front seatback storage.
The Kona N accommodates the same amount of luggage behind its rear seats as the regular Kona, which means up to 19.2 cubic feet of loading space behind the rear seats and 45.8 cubic feet once the rear seats are folded down. The Kona N offers a maximum payload of 1,091 pounds.
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2022 Hyundai Kona N Exterior Design
First, the Kona N is instantly recognizable if finished in Hyundai's Performance Blue paint color, which is exclusive to N cars. It is also available in three other exterior paint colors. The exterior shows off all the typical sporty elements that make the Kona N special, including black upper and lower grilles, large air intakes, and sleek LED lighting.
N badges abound along with the black painted 19 x 8.0-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero 235/40R19 high-performance low-profile tires.
A dual exhaust outlet, side skirt, spoiler, and rear diffuser, all finished with red pinstripes along the bottom edges, signal this sporty crossover's true intentions.
Other key exterior features are:
- LED headlights with auto delay off function
- LED daytime running lights
- Turn signal mirrors
Performance and Powertrain
The 2022 Hyundai Kona N is kitted out with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine featuring 16 valves, a double overhead cam with variable timing and direct injection that also does duty in other N cars.
This power unit produces 276 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 289 pound-feet of torque @ 2,100 rpm. Hitting the red button mentioned above for the N Grin Shift function will release 10 more horsepower for a 20-second burst.
Power is sent to the front wheels through Hyundai's eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a limited-slip differential. Descent control is available, and this drive train is the sole option for the Kona N.
2022 Hyundai Kona N 0-60
Endowed with the high output of the Hyundai N Division engine coupled with its relatively light curb weight for a crossover of 3,340 pounds, the Kona N offers drivers some exhilarating performance.
The 0-60 mph benchmark acceleration test takes just 5.1 seconds. This incredibly quick time is made possible by the standard launch control and the electronic limited-slip differential, which distributes torque between the front wheels to put all that power down onto the road.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
With all the power on hand for drivers to exploit, Hyundai's engineers have taken the safety of occupants of the Kona N seriously, and the 2022 Hyundai Kona N boasts a comprehensive arsenal of safety and driver assistance features.
Both active and passive safety equipment include:
- 4-wheel Anti-Skid-Braking with emergency braking assist
- Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
- Stability control
- Traction control
- Pre-collision safety system
- Post-collision safety system
- Dual front side-mounted airbags
- Front and rear head airbags
- Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
- Front height adjustable headrests
- 3 Rear headrest with height adjustment
- Rear center 3-point seat belt
- Child seat anchors
- Rear door child safety locks
- Tire pressure monitoring
- Dusk sensing headlamps
The Kona N is equipped with a remote anti-theft alarm system and engine immobilizer to ensure your vehicle remains parked where you last left it.
Helping the driver to keep safe and avoid any possible accidents, the Kona N offers driver-assistance aids, including:
- Blind spot warning
- Lane keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver attention alert
Onboard telematics that are standard on the Kona N are:
- Emergency Service
- Airbag Deployment Notification
- Vehicle Alarm notification
- Stolen Vehicle Tracking/Assistant
- Roadside Assistance
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 2022 Hyundai Kona N is loaded with up-to-date technology for both onboard audio enjoyment and staying connected with the world while road-tripping. Even the most demanding technophile won't feel short changed when purchasing this high-performance crossover.
A digital gauge cluster measuring 10.3 inches and a dash-mounted head-up display are fitted to show drivers their speed.
In line with the Kona N's sporting intentions, the 10.3-inch infotainment screen offers those racy drivers track maps and their lap-monitoring information.
Standard infotainment features include:
- AM/FM stereo
- Harman Kardon premium speakers
- 8 Total speakers
- 1 Subwoofer
- Surround audio surround audio
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- USB connection
- USB with external media control
- Satellite radio with real-time traffic
- Destination guidance, inclusive of turn-by-turn navigation
Fuel Economy and MPG
The EPA offers fuel economy estimates of 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway driving and an EPA-estimated combined 23 mpg.
With a 13.2-gallon fuel tank capacity, these economy figures will give the Kona N a theoretical range of 264.0 miles for city driving and 356.4 miles when driving on the highways.
2022 Hyundai Kona N Trim Spotlight
The 2022 Hyundai Kona N, with a starting MSRP of $34,200, is only available in a single trim; however, buyers can add some useful extra-cost packages and options, such as the winter weather package at $335 or a lifestyle hitch at $300 for towing.
For prospective buyers not quite looking or feeling that need for speed of the Kona N rocket for the road, some more trim level choices are available in the 2022 Hyundai Kona lineup:
SE
The base SE starts at $21,300 MSRP and is fitted with a 2.0-liter engine coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD).
The all-wheel drive version of the SE trim starts at $22,800 MSRP.
SEL
Offering further standard equipment than the base SE models, the SEL trim starts at $23,100 MSRP for the FWD model and $24,600 MSRP for the SEL kitted out with the handy AWD system.
N-Line
Not to be confused with the full-fat high-performance Kona N, the N-line trim offered on the regular Kona includes unique N-Line front and rear bumpers, black side mirror caps, an optional black roof, 19-inch N Line wheels, a N Line-specific steering wheel, front sports seats with red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and either cloth or leather/Alcantara combination upholstery.
Powering the N-Line is a 1.6-liter turbo engine coupled with a seven-speed automated manual transmission with FWD, which will cost buyers a starting MSRP of $25,850. The AWD version of the Kona N-Line starts at $27,350 MSRP.
Limited
The range-topping Limited trims feature the same 1.6 turbo engine as the N-Line, but at $28,600 MSRP for the FWD and $30,100 MSRP for the AWD version, they add plentiful luxury features and standard equipment to the specs of the SEL trim.
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Get Your 2022 Hyundai Kona N at Granite Hyundai
The team at the Granite Hyundai Dealership is ready to share more about the exhilarating 2022 Hyundai Kona N and invite you to book a test drive and experience for yourself all that the Hyundai N Division stands for.
We will gladly assist you in purchasing a new or pre-owned Hyundai vehicle that matches your needs and budget.
