HYUNDAI KONA HYBRID

We test second of three powertrains available in new second-generation crossover

- ILLYA VERPRAET

Is it possible to be excited by a new small hybrid crossover? I wouldn't have thought so, but when this Hyundai Kona test car was delivered, I must admit that I was - if only a little.

Some new cars just instantly blend in, but this one, with its strakes, pronounced wheel arches and busy detailing, plus a Starfleetfriendly Geordi La Forge headlight, is certainly impactful. Judging by the reaction online, not everyone loves the new second-generation Kona's bold new look, but at least it's not boring.

The theme continues inside. There are stripes, trays and a panoramic dashboard screen, but with those come acres of knobs and buttons, all housed in a console whose silvery finish is oddly reminiscent of an early-2000s hi-fi. Even in range-topping trims, though, most of it is hard plastic.

Of course, underneath the wild design, the mechanicals are fairly predictable. The Kona sits on a front-wheel-drive platform that accommodates a pure-petrol engine, a hybrid powertrain or a big battery pack for an EV.