DecodedCarsHyundai Kona
10 model years from 2018 to 2027, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2018–2027
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Latest engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
- Best MPG
- 30–32 combined, by year
- EV range
- up to 261 mi
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2021)
- Recalls
- 15 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2019 (252)
- Fewest problems
- 2018
- Interest
- 13,580 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2026 Kona in brief
The 2026 Hyundai Kona is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 171 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,203 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 31 MPG combined (29 city / 35 highway), 3% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,150 a year in fuel.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
The Hyundai Kona has 10 model years in our data, from 2018 to 2027.
Its most efficient year was 2023 at 32 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 30 to 32 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the engine (440), electrical system (217), unknown or other (163).
Buying used? 2023 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2019 is the year to avoid.
2020 has the most recalls (5); all years together count 15 campaigns and 975 owner complaints.
How the 2018 Kona compares
The 2018 Hyundai Kona is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 164 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 102-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,256 lb (1.6t AWD 4dr SUV).
About the Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. The first-generation Kona debuted in June 2017 and the production version was revealed later that year. The current, second-generation model was revealed in December 2022 and launched in 2023. It was developed first as a battery-electric model before being adapted for petrol and hybrid variants, which are offered depending on the market. Depending on the market, the Kona is positioned above either the Venue or the Bayon and below the Tucson in Hyundai's crossover SUV line-up.
From the Wikipedia article "Hyundai Kona", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2026 Kona pros & cons
Full 2026 details →What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2023 Kona
75 owner complaints · 2 recalls · 4 crash reports
Year to avoid2019 Kona
252 owner complaints · 4 recalls · 6 fire reports · 13 crash reports
Most reported: Engine
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 7 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Compare head to head
Kona changes by model year
- 2026
- No all-electric version any more
- 2024
- New body dimensions: 5.9 in longer, wheelbase +2.3 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- Engine dropped: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- 2022
- Engine added: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG up from 30 to 32
- 2019
- New all-electric version
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 10 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 171.3 in | 3,203 lb | Not rated | 3 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 171.3 in | 3,203 lb | Not rated | 1 | 29 |
| 2024 | 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 171.3 in | 3,203 lb | Not rated | 4 | 68 |
| 2023 | 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 32 MPG | 165.4 in | 3,230 lb | Not rated | 2 | 75 |
| 2022 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 32 MPG | 165.4 in | 3,230 lb | Not rated | 2 | 130 |
| 2021 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl | 30 MPG | 164.2 in | 3,084 lb | ★★★★★ | 3 | 147 |
| 2020 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl | 30 MPG | 164.2 in | 3,084 lb | ★★★★★ | 5 | 189 |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl | 30 MPG | 164.2 in | 3,084 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 252 |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl | 30 MPG | 164.2 in | 3,256 lb | Not rated | 0 | 75 |
Alternatives to the 2026 Kona
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Bronco | 20 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross | 42 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Ford Escape | 40 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Jeep Compass | 26 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →