What's New
The 2020 Hyundai Kona carries over with few changes. The biggest is the addition of adaptive cruise control, now available on the top Ultimate trim. A new trim joins the fray, but it will look familiar to fans of the model. The SEL Plus is essentially last year’s SEL plus the Tech Package.
Choosing Your Hyundai Kona
The Kona lineup includes five trims: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and Ultimate. Prices start at $21,195 including destination for the SE and run up to $28,845 for the Ultimate. There’s also an all-electric version of the Kona, but we cover it separately.
Engine Choices
The Hyundai Kona is available with two engines. The first three trims get the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the Limited and Ultimate house a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
Engine Type | Horsepower | Torque | Fuel Economy (Combined) |
2.0L 4-Cylinder | 147 hp | 132 lb-ft | 30 mpg |
1.6L Turbo 4-Cylinder | 175 hp | 195 lb-ft | 30 mpg |
The base engine uses a six-speed automatic transmission, but the turbo motor comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available for a relatively affordable $1,400.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
Safety Features
The Hyundai Kona is strong in the safety department, with a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA to show. Standard active safety features include automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist.
The SEL and higher also get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist, while the range-topping Ultimate includes adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, high beam assist, and a head-up display.
Connectivity
Base Kona models start with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, but an 8-inch LCD is standard on the Ultimate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard, along with multiple USB ports.
SE - From $21,195
The Hyundai Kona SE keeps things basic and affordable. The seats are cloth, the wheels are 16-inch alloys, and the driver’s seat is manually adjustable. But it gets the basics, including Bluetooth and keyless entry along with the standard infotainment and safety features.
SEL - From $22,995
For a relatively modest price increase, the Kona SEL adds 17-inch wheels, push-button start, satellite radio, and blind-spot monitoring. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, the front row is heated, and the rear gets privacy glass.
SEL Plus - From $24,845
The SEL Plus is mostly about technology. Over the SEL, it adds an eight-speaker Infinity audio system, Hyundai telematics, and wireless charging. There are a couple quality-of-life upgrades as well – the driver’s seat is now eight-way power adjustable, and a power sunroof is included.
Limited - From $26,995
The Kona Limited does a luxury-car impression with chrome accents, leather upholstery, LED lights, and automatic temperature control. This is the first trim to get the 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with the dual-clutch transmission, and it gets 18-inch wheels as a bonus.
Ultimate - From $28,845
Hyundai’s nicest Kona gets its best safety features, including adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and automatic high beams. The Ultimate trim also gets the nicer 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, Homelink, and a compass in the rearview mirror.
Compare Kona Trims Side-By-Side
The 2020 Hyundai Kona SEL is an excellent value in our eyes. It adds enough to turn the vehicle into a comfortable city runabout while remaining affordable.