Skip advert
Advertisement
Road tests

Hyundai Kona Advance 1.0 petrol review

The entry-level Hyundai Kona misses out on some tech and performance but feels none the worse for it at what is a temptingly low price

Overall Auto Express rating

4.5

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£3,742 off RRP*
Find your Hyundai Kona
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Verdict

Well equipped, decent to drive and almost reassuringly simple, the entry-level Kona petrol is a very capable all rounder which retains the qualities that earned its pricier stablemates our top award. It should be at the sharp end of your shortlist if you’re in the market for a small family SUV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The second generation of Hyundai Kona made a strong impression on us when it was revealed in the spring; indeed, its combination of improved space, big-car technology and a mix of powertrains secured it our outright Car of the Year gong back in the summer. Hyundai has been padding out the range ever since, and now’s our first chance to try the starting point: the entry-level petrol Hyundai Kona.

And this really is a baseline. The car gets a very different look in Advance trim, with its chunky grey body cladding, from that of the top-spec Kona Electric - as well as a more humble powertrain. Instead of the big battery and electric motor you get a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing 118bhp at a heady 6,000rpm and 172Nm of torque. There isn’t even mild-hybrid assistance to help it along, like there used to be on the i20 supermini (the option has been dropped on that model too, incidentally).

Hyundai claims a relatively leisurely 0-62mph time of 11.8 seconds and combined fuel consumption of 48.7mpg, with CO2 emissions of 131g/km. So this is a world away from even the more potent petrol Konas, let alone the electric flagship.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Kona

2023 Hyundai

Kona

23,748 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,490
View Kona
Kona

2023 Hyundai

Kona

21,098 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,100
View Kona
Kona

2020 Hyundai

Kona

24,722 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £14,550
View Kona
Kona

2023 Hyundai

Kona

31,978 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,649
View Kona

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t feel like the poor relation when you’re driving it. In fact the Kona 1.0 is rather sweet, helped by 17-inch wheels wrapped in chunky 215/60-profile tyres. If anything, there’s more compliance in this car than in higher-end editions, helped further, no doubt, by the fact that it weighs a few hundred kilos less than those carrying hefty EV batteries. There’s some body roll in corners, but actually throw the thing towards an apex and you’ll feel a very progressive transition between leaning on those tall sidewalls and actually breaking traction to push wide. It’s not exactly fun, but it is safe and predictable.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The 1.0 feels quicker than its raw numbers suggest, too – never anything approaching properly fast, but equally, always pretty comfortable with its own size and weight. There’s a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and it has a pleasingly accurate and relatively short throw; we wish it had the old i20 mild hybrid’s trick of turning off its engine while you’re cruising along, just for a slight increase in efficiency, but the engine’s still barely hitting 2,000rpm when you’re at a fast motorway pace. And at that point a bit of wind rush is probably the worst intrusion you’re going to experience.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The mature driving experience is completed by a cabin that is, of course, every bit as spacious as in other Konas – a proper smally family SUV, in a way that the first-gen model could never manage. There’s space for four grown-ups on board and the boot capacity is 466 litres, or 1,300 litres if you fold down the back seats. Those numbers look competitive against all but the most capacious family hatchbacks.

The interior finish itself is a little less flash in the entry spec but, hard door armrests aside, there’s padding in most of the key areas, and everywhere you might prod or press feels reassuringly well made. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Advance trim has an alarming number of blanked-off buttons at either side of the gear stick, but it still manages to tick almost all of the right boxes on spec. You get front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, dual-zone air conditioning, a pair of 12.3-inch displays (one for the instruments, one for the infotainment and standard navigation one), four USB-C ports, LED headlights and tail-lights, and cruise control. The onboard interfaces are easy to use and quick to respond, and Hyundai has wisely seen fit to include conventional heating and ventilation controls on the metallic panel beneath the widescreen infotainment panel. 

You’ll have to opt for N Line if you fancy heated seats, though; they’re not even available as an option on Advance, which has only a single possible add-on: metallic paint, beyond the standard Mirage Green of the car pictured here.

Even so, and perhaps even more than the Kona Electric, this feels like a load of sophisticated small SUV for less than £26k. Hyundai has already slung a £1,000 deposit contribution behind its finance offers too, so putting down £4,400 brings monthly payments in at just over £300 (three-year deal, 10,000 miles per year). It’s not as affordable as some – notably Peugeot’s revamped 2008 – but it’s certainly in the same ballpark as the likes of the Ford Puma.

Model:Hyundai Kona Advance 1.0T 120PS manual
Price:£25,725
Engine:1.0-litre 3cyl turbo petrol
Power/torque:118bhp/172Nm
Transmission:Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
0-62mph:11.8 seconds
Top speed:112mph
Economy:48.7mpg
CO2 emissions:131g/km
Dimensions (l/w/h):4,350/1,825/1,575mm
On sale:Now
Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

New & used car deals

Hyundai Kona

Hyundai Kona

RRP £26,735Avg. savings £3,742 off RRP*Used from £21,085
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £10,195
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,818 off RRP*Used from £15,480
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,107 off RRP*Used from £15,692
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Used Toyota Yaris Cross (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: small SUV is a smash hit
Used Toyota Yaris Cross - front

Used Toyota Yaris Cross (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: small SUV is a smash hit

Used car tests
11 Aug 2025
Alfa Romeo Junior review
Alfa Romeo Junior - main image

Alfa Romeo Junior review

In-depth reviews
30 Jun 2025

Most Popular

Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription
Volkswagen ID.3 - front cornering

Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription

Owners can now subscribe to boost the power of their car… for a fee
News
14 Aug 2025
Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design
Range Rover Velar EV - front (watermarked)

Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design

Mid-size SUV will end the four-year wait for a new JLR model and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
14 Aug 2025
New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price
New Jaecoo E5 - front static

New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price

Chinese newcomer’s first electric SUV is also a rival to the award-winning Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric
News
13 Aug 2025