Refreshed 2022 Hyundai Kona Adds Length, Power, N Line

Another day, another Zoom presentation to learn about some new hotness.

Today it’s the 2022 Hyundai Kona, which we teased last year, with a side of Santa Fe.

As we noted, the Kona now gets an N Line trim so that the brand can argue that its subcompact crossover can be considered truly “sporty” (we’ll be the judge of the merits of said argument once we drive it), and there are new duds.

Other changes include what Hyundai classifies as improvements in performance, efficiency, handling, and connectivity.

Styling-wise, the Kona gets a new grille without changing the look of the headlights, and the crossover also gains 1.6 inches in length. There are new air inlets that are meant to improve airflow integrated into the corners of the front bumper. New taillights and a new rear fascia adorn the Kona’s backside, and there are new wheel designs.

Electric Konas get a new front fascia, new headlight and DRL design, and sculpted fender vents along with a new rear fascia and new wheel designs that are meant to increase airflow. The Kona EV gets new taillamps, as well.

Interior updates include USB ports for the rear seat, improved cargo room, more second-row legroom, and a console that is no longer connected to the instrument panel. The gauge cluster is now digital. For EV models, the center-stack and center-cluster display screens are now both 10.25 inches and a new center-console design allows for wireless charging of phones.

Then there’s the N Line. N Line models will be distinguished from their counterparts by different front- and rear-end designs, body-color cladding, dual-exhaust tips, and a unique to N Line 18-inch wheel design. Inside, N Lines will be known by their black seats with red stitching, black headliner, metal pedals, and N logos.

Engine choices remain a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The latter gains 20 horsepower, up to 195, and still puts out 195 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter now gets the “intelligent variable” transmission, with 1.6 remains paired with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic that Hyundai says is retuned. The 1.6 will be the mill for Limited and N Line trims.

Meanwhile, Kona EVs are powered by a 150 kW/201-horsepower permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that gets its juice from a 64 kWh lithium-ion battery that’s liquid-cooled and runs at 356 volts. Torque output is 291 lb-ft and the estimated MPGe is 132 city, 108 highway, and 120 combined.

Standard is an onboard level II charging system, with up to a 7.2 kW rate of charge. Range is estimated at 258 miles. If the driver locates a level III fast charger, the Kona EV can get from 10 to 80 percent charge in about 47 minutes. It can also go from 10 percent to 100 percent on level II in nine hours and 15 minutes, and upper trims will offer a battery warmer.

Just like the EV, the gas-powered Kona gets 10.25-inch screens for the digital gauge cluster and infotainment system. A whole slew of features can be controlled via voice recognition and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, as is the use of one’s phone as a key.

The by-now-familiar driver-assist systems are available, with new or notable ones including a highway-driving assist system that helps with lane centering and vehicle spacing, along with adjusting the speed based on the limit. A system that helps avoid collisions with bicyclists and rear-cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist are new, as well.

Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system remains available, as well, with some new features. It can help monitor the status of EV models.

As for the Santa Fe, our last writeup lacked some specs that Hyundai has since unveiled, the most important being new engines – either a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four or a 2.5-liter turbo-four. Both mate to eight-speed automatics, though the latter pairs with a dual-clutch. There will also be a hybrid powertrain pairing a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor. That one will use a six-speed automatic and have all-wheel drive standard.

A plug-in hybrid is planned.

[Images: Hyundai]