2019 marks a carryover year for the relatively new Hyundai Kona. Don’t think of it as Hyundai resting upon their laurels, but rather as Hyundai taking a breather. They’ve been busy as of late, with all-new versions of the Santa Fe and Veloster being released this year, alongside the new Nexo—their newest fuel cell vehicle.
So slight changes abound for 2019, with minutiae such as dual front USB outlets now being standard across the range or Sunset Orange being added to the color palette.
Pricing for a base Kona SE FWD starts at $19,990, with AWD adding about $1200 on top. You can spec a Kona up to more than $32,000 if you opt for the Tony Stark-approved Iron Man edition. Better act quick, though: The Kona Iron Man is no more for 2020.
Entry-level cars have gotten a whole lot nicer now that I'm not in the market for one.
nderwater said:
Entry-level cars have gotten a whole lot nicer now that I'm not in the market for one.
They really have--like, this didn't feel entry-level at all.
Am I in the right place? I feel like I walked into the Korean car cheerleaders' lounge.
Literally just got out of one of these (lower spec rental) in Atlanta.
Will be on the look out for one in a few years.
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
For a practical family car, the truth is that these days I'd take a Korean car over a Chevy or a Nissan or a Mitsubishi or a Dodge.
_
HalfDork
9/13/19 2:23 p.m.
Friends of mine have one. Aside from the tallness, it’s a fun, quick cuv thingy.
It's attractive but I'm getting very luddite about tall cars lately. 
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
You get a Hyundai Pony! And you get a Hyundai Pony! EVERYONE GETS A HYUNDAI PONY!
I only drove this thing once but it was clear to see why these are so popular. And for the price/warranty, why not?
I'm telling you people......... when will you start listening?
NickD
PowerDork
9/13/19 2:45 p.m.
nutherjrfan said:
It's attractive
Really? I think the styling is hideous. Weird gray plastic surfaces here and there, squinty headlights(?) up top with big lights down low , massive grille with a pointless tiny slit above it. It's an absolute mess, like a Juke's buff cousin.
In reply to NickD :
The wife likes it. She's odd though.
Duke
MegaDork
9/13/19 3:43 p.m.
NickD said:
nutherjrfan said:
It's attractive
Really? I think the styling is hideous. Weird gray plastic surfaces here and there, squinty headlights(?) up top with big lights down low , massive grille with a pointless tiny slit above it. It's an absolute mess, like a Juke's buff cousin.
This. Didn't the world learn from that stupid Cherokee a few years ago? The horn might as well have said "ME SO SOLLY" like Krusty the Klown doing his racially insensitive old shtick.
Duke said:
NickD said:
nutherjrfan said:
It's attractive
Really? I think the styling is hideous. Weird gray plastic surfaces here and there, squinty headlights(?) up top with big lights down low , massive grille with a pointless tiny slit above it. It's an absolute mess, like a Juke's buff cousin.
This. Didn't the world learn from that stupid Cherokee a few years ago? The horn might as well have said "ME SO SOLLY" like Krusty the Klown doing his racially insensitive old shtick.
I think the big difference visually vs the old juke is the use of a think slit of LED's vs a big giant 2nd headlight... thats my take.
I don't have the same retching reaction to the Konda as I did the Juke. Which honestly just grew to be mundane anyway.
nutherjrfan said:
It's attractive but I'm getting very luddite about tall cars lately.
Its 1" taller than a Fit. At least track width >= height.
I've had one as a rental and really liked it, very comfortable and worked well for my needs. But I'm hoping the next Hyundai I have to talk to a sales droid about is the Veloster N. 
_
HalfDork
9/13/19 4:32 p.m.
I’d love to lower one and autocross it. Could be really fun
I think they are pretty good looking. Enough that I stopped to give a second look in the grocery store parking lot. But... about that slit above the grille... It’s just filled with black plastic isn’t it? As a styling element it confuses me.
So do a comparo with the RAV-4. What's the Hyundai do better, other than cost less and spend more time in the shop?
1988RedT2 said:
So do a comparo with the RAV-4. What's the Hyundai do better, other than cost less and spend more time in the shop?
Odd comparison. Rav4 is much taller. This is CX-3 sized.
While in the Target parking lot today, I parked behind a bright blue Kona (Kona Blue?) It was an attractive color. I see these sized more like a Kia Soul or similar to Pontiac Vibe that I was driving.
Sample:
ProDarwin said:
1988RedT2 said:
So do a comparo with the RAV-4. What's the Hyundai do better, other than cost less and spend more time in the shop?
Odd comparison. Rav4 is much taller. This is CX-3 sized.
I see. So, for midgets? Micro-car lunatic fringe? Sorry, I thought it was targeted at mainstream buyers. I can't really get my head around a market for vehicles even smaller than so-called "cute-utes."
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
I would say a better comparison would be a Toyota chr
1988RedT2 said:
ProDarwin said:
1988RedT2 said:
So do a comparo with the RAV-4. What's the Hyundai do better, other than cost less and spend more time in the shop?
Odd comparison. Rav4 is much taller. This is CX-3 sized.
I see. So, for midgets? Micro-car lunatic fringe? Sorry, I thought it was targeted at mainstream buyers. I can't really get my head around a market for vehicles even smaller than so-called "cute-utes."
Think of it as a hatchback with ground clearance and a slightly higher seating position. Better?
BlueInGreen - Jon said:
1988RedT2 said:
ProDarwin said:
1988RedT2 said:
So do a comparo with the RAV-4. What's the Hyundai do better, other than cost less and spend more time in the shop?
Odd comparison. Rav4 is much taller. This is CX-3 sized.
I see. So, for midgets? Micro-car lunatic fringe? Sorry, I thought it was targeted at mainstream buyers. I can't really get my head around a market for vehicles even smaller than so-called "cute-utes."
Think of it as a hatchback with ground clearance and a slightly higher seating position. Better?
"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"
Ground clearance in case there's a stray pine cone in the driveway that you need to parkour over.
These work because of higher beltlines and headlight lines which are pushing things higher. SWMBO was saying she felt like if she was carrying anything it might fall out of the window of my '89 Mustang but she's never really driven anything pre-2000 before they all got so high-waisted.
