Hyundai Kona (2018-2023) review - Reliability and safety

The Kona features an intriguing mix of old and new. Its turbocharged petrol engines are relatively proven units from elsewhere in the company's line-up, but the mechanical components underneath them – the chassis, in other words – was entirely new in the Kona.

Our Driver Power satisfaction survey has seen some improvement for Hyundai; it had dropped slightly in the overall manufacturer rankings – from 13th position in 2020 to 16th in 2021, but it regained ground in 2022 by being voted into 11th spot out of 29 brands. The Kona itself was top of the class in the best cars to own survey in 2021, and still managed to achieve an impressive fourth place overall in 2022 (on a 75-car list).

All Kona models get front, front side and curtain airbags, driver attention alert, lane-keep assist and hill-start assist control. Euro NCAP safety-tested the Kona in 2017 and awarded it the maximum five-star rating. It scored 87 per cent in for Adult occupant protection, while security for child passengers was rated at 85 per cent.

Top-spec cars include a Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning and a Safe Exit Warning, which uses a radar system to detect vehicles and locks the car doors to stop passengers from stepping out into the path of an oncoming car.

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Warranty

Hyundai has one of the strongest warranty packages on the market, and the Kona gets the same level of cover as any of the South Korean brand's other offerings. That means a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage; only bettered by MG and Kia's seven-year factory guarantee, and Toyota's 'Relax' ten-year programme of cover.

Hyundai's package also includes five years of annual vehicle health checks, five years of roadside assistance, and a 12-year anti-perforation warranty.

Servicing

The Hyundai Kona needs servicing every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first, and costs remain fairly reasonable. Hyundai offers customers their Service Plan option, which helps to manage fixed maintenance costs. You can configure your service plan based on the model and age of your car, your mileage and plan duration. These details are then used to determine the cost of your plan, bearing in mind recommended service requirements and any necessary MOTs.