Crisp Kona carving out a distinct identity

Hell, I have even been accused of it myself. Not so long ago someone, who should know better, inquired of me if I was a regular reader of an English motoring weekly as my columns appeared to reflect similar views to that of said august organ.

I replied that I have no allegiance to any motoring magazine and rely solely on my personal judgement and opinion with regard to anything that appears in these pages.

Similar to all such critics, when they agree with you, you’re a hero, but when they don’t, you are a calamitous idiot with a sub-zero IQ.

I mention this accusation by way of introducing one of my own in relation the car business and a thought I have harboured down the years that there have been some spectacular and not oft-called out examples of plagiarism.

Take, for example, the original Hyundai i30 and the BMW 1 Series, which were so alike, I thought the Koreans were taking the mick.

There have been many other examples down the years — mainly it has to be said, Asian companies aping European ones — but Hyundai, in particular, seems to have learned a lesson from that indiscretion and having seen sister

company Kia benefit hugely in sales and credibility terms from having its own independent-minded chief designer, they decided to hire the same man to do the same job for them.

That job is to produce unique and identifiably unique cars and now Hyundai is cranking out a bunch of cars which are immediately identifiable as their own, even when sharing most of their mechanical components with the sister company.

Take for example, the eye-catching Hyundai Kona, which is a very close relative of the Kia Niro, but essentially looks nothing like it.

The styling work of designer Peter Schreyer is recognised worldwide and his ‘tiger nose’ face for all Kia products has given them an individuality they previously lacked.

His recent work on the new Hyundai i30 and, most importantly, the massively successful Tuscon, has also given the sister company a level of uniqueness it previously lacked.

This week’s tester, the Hyundai Kona, is also a stand-out car with hugely eye-catching looks and a very distinct character.

OK, so it might be ‘just another’ B Segment SUV, but it is a looker and, clad as it is in a variety of largely vivid colour schemes — the tester was coloured Tangerine Comet, believe it or not — certainly stands out from the pack. And it doesn’t even look much like the Kia Niro sister car.

What with its unique front lighting design and a grille which is not unlike the signature Audi shape, the sloping roofline and the wheel-at-each-corner demeanour, the car looks smart and will obviously appeal to more youthful buyers than older farts like me — even though I did like the overall look.

We tried the near range-topping 1.6 litre petrol turbo T-GDI DCT 4x4 version and it is imbued with a load of specification which will add to the potential allure.

It is worth noting that while this car will cost you the bones of thirty grand, the Kona is actually available (with a one litre three-cylinder engine at the entry point; there is no diesel option as yet) from €20,995, so it does cut it as a potential bargain.

The engine is very lively and that is as it should be for a unit which outputs 177 bhp at 5,500 rpm and has respectable performance figures with a top speed of 205km/h, a 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds.

It also posts a consumption figure of 6.7 l/100km and a CO2 figure of 153 g/km for an annual tax bill of €390.

The above are decent enough indicators of what’s on offer here, but there is a down side. The engine has to be worked decidedly hard to extract the max and the seven speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox seems dull and unengaged.

In Sport mode, the engine will rev all the way to the red line, but the gear shifts seem clumsy and uncoordinated.

On the road, the car is not as happy in an urban environment as it is on the open road and in this regard, it struck me as more of a cruiser than a town bruiser, which seems curious given the segment it sits in.

That said, the 4x4 system is impressive and delivers an excellent handling prospect.

The Kona’s road manners are generally excellent — the ride is slightly firm, but that gives it the sort of handling chops that not everything in this class can demonstrate.

If anything, the power steering is a slight bit too responsive and takes a little getting used to.

On the comfort side too, it delivers as the front chairs are firm and supportive in all the right areas and not at all like some of the efforts Hyundai have bestowed upon us in times not so distant.

There’s reasonable room in the rear for adults and the level of cargo space — with or without the rears seats folded down — is impressive enough.

You can also individualise many aspects of the interior look to your own preferences if you so desire, but the general lay-out is very driver and passenger friendly and the communications and infotainment systems are easy to navigate and use.

It is not a bad car then, the Kona and one which will certainly appeal to younger individuals and families.

It may be, however, that the wiser buyers will opt for the extremely proficient one litre engine choice which might not have as much grunt but will deliver more on price and efficiency.

And, just so as you know — because I know nothing about cars — all of the above was copied from a variety of expert texts and automotive specialists. NOT.