Photo: Hyundai
This fall, Hyundai’s high-performance N Brand lineup will welcome its first SUV — the fiercely sporty 2022 Kona N. Details are still coming out about its features and specs, but we’ve already learned quite a bit about this powerful, stylish little model. Here are three of the top things you should know about the Hyundai Kona N.
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Photo: Hyundai
Alber Biermann, the head of R&D for Hyundai Motor Group, explicitly compares the Kona N to a hot hatch, calling it a “true hot SUV.” Making this possible is the Kona N’s eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. It’s carefully tuned to make the most of the 2.0-liter turbo engine’s 280 horsepower. Settings like N Grin Shift, N Power Shift, and N Track Sense Shift help you upshift more effectively, precisely time shifts in racetrack situations, and trigger a short burst of up to 290 horsepower.
Delivering even more hot-hatch-style fun is another key Kona N feature: the N Corner Carving Differential. It’s calibrated to distribute torque more efficiently so the vehicle can blast around sharp curves with ease. There’s also a launch control system that sends the Kona N 0-60 mph in well under 6 seconds.
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Photo: Hyundai
Both inside and out, the 2022 Kona N will grab your attention right away. Its widened and lowered stance looks even more powerful thanks to N-branded 19-inch wheels, muscular body-colored fenders, and a red accent line around the body’s bottom edge. A double-wing roof spoiler, side skirts, front lip spoiler, and widened lower air intake improve performance while making the Kona look even more athletic. The Kona N is just as sharp-looking inside, decked out with Performance Blue accents and N-specific designs for the seats, pedals, shift knob, and steering wheel.
Photo: Hyundai
An array of gaming-inspired technologies makes the 2022 Kona N especially fun to drive. The race-style head-up display, 10-inch infotainment screen, and digital instrument cluster help you track your performance video game-style with digitized N track maps, lap time updates, and easy-to-read widgets. You’ll also find N buttons that you can toggle to turn on customizable driving modes, set the lap timer, and more. The Kona N even comes with enhanced natural voice recognition tech to help you control key features without taking your hands off the wheel.
Get the latest on the 2022 Kona N and other Hyundai models by following our coverage here at The News Wheel.
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.
