Excellent choice. I drove one at an autocross and was absolutely floored how good it was around a course. For reference I was driving a S2000 CR, so my benchmark was objectively good before getting into the Kona.

We just purchased a 2022 Kona N Premium. My only complaint so far is that there isn't ventilating seats and the outer trim bezel around the instrument cluster. To me it looks like a cheap afterthought of a plastic molding styling part you would find at a car stereo and aftermarket parts accessories store from a weekend flea market.

@@MrHiboost95 must not be a premium, because I've got heated and cooled seats with heated steering wheel.

How is this Kona N on daily drives and backroads ? I have wanted a fwd DCT car with performance for years

​@@Highlander1432its an amazing all around car. I love mine

any rubbing issues with the wider rubber?

I rebadged mine as a Ford Escort, just to embarrass Macans.

​@robertyoung3111 shouldn't be I have 20 x10 on 245s so it would be no issue for a kona

type r make 295 to the wheels according to some

It’s been a year. How do you like your Kona N? I’m thinking of buying a pre owned 23. Let me know.

tons of those videos around its saturated lol nice he changed it up

@@DriverJ-N true but idc about those biased ass opinions lmao

Elantra N can’t beat the CTR it’s better in every way. The CTR engine ain’t blowing up!

@@leonbaptiste2272 well the EN engine isnt blowing up and if it is its the owners fault for abusing the car. Also honda fanboy youre a blind believer

@@kuseiii_3845 well you need to do your research before you reply and some of them ain’t even hit 10k miles Kia Hyundai & genesis vehicle are beautiful but what’s underneath the hood worries me their engines are still “Garbage”

I owned both I liked the Kona n more than the r

Agreed.

CTR doesn't offer utility that Kona N does right ?

Have never experienced a gear grind in my 2018 either.

Steering feedback is great. Torque steer, debatable. Definitely keeps me on my toes but can be distracting if I'm trying to attack corners quickly and confidently.

@@Zygrene Got ya. I could see your hands witching a bit around corners so I thought I'd ask. Funny, you'd think an eLSD would help eliminate torque steer better than that. I checked and the Civic R's Dif is helical so maybe that's the Honda mojo. For what it's worth, although the Elantra N has the same eLSD, chassis stiffening and integrated drive shafts seems to have cleaned that twitch factor up. Looking forward to you review on it soon.

@@Datsun510zen nah the torque steer is just as horrible in the EN. Everytime i floor it on a road that has a slight incline in any direction the car hops from side to side n spins till third in most occasions

@@kuseiii_3845 Bumber. I was so hoping the Ns were going to feed Honda some humble pie, but not to be I guess. Who knows, if Hyundai coaxed another 50hp out of the Theta II T-GDi and switched to a helical LSD, it might quiet the Honda pie holes. During my time tracking RWD B Sedan 510s, FWD "performance" was always seen as an oxymoron. I find it particularly difficult to accept that the Type R shattered that old preconception, and all their indecent peacocking is well justified. That said, ICE performance is on it's last legs. The $60K Model 3 Performance crushes the $45K Civic R and the $80K BMW M3. I can't say I'm all together happy about that either, but I have to accept it as the new reality.

You're 100% right about the N mode vs Custom_1 and Custom_2 modes. I'm at sea level and I don't think I hit 20psi unless I'm really on the throttle (which obviously I never do for legal reasons). The NGS in my experience opens the exhaust bypass fully, shifts at the highest safe RPM, and puts everything into "race" mode within a second or two of hitting the button. It doesn't do much if you are already in a custom N setting but you can hit NGS from "Snow" mode and it will throw you off the road.

Coming very soon!

@@Zygrene pls do the manual review 🙏

@@Zygrene still waiting

I've never really enjoyed 200hp+ FWD cars with open diffs, to be honest. My first car was a manual Audi A3 2.0T (basically a reskinned MK6 GTI) with a stage 1 tune and it couldn't put power down to save its life.

The performance pack mk7’s like my ‘21 se has LSD. Mines making about the same power as OP but has little to no tq steer.

Get LSD and 200 tw tires until then enjoy your rolling pulls

Then the Kona N is not for you... It actually has less rear legroom then the Elantra N. It's just as compact as the VN, just sits a little higher. No way would I even consider this even a subcompact crossover or SUV... But more of a taller hot hatch.

How so

@@caffeinefix2751 its just physics FWD its traction limited so you can't shove massive torque early in the powerband you want a more gradual build up

@@fkhothatchi I can't say I agree that laggy turbo engines would have a more gradual torque build up. By definition something like a naturally aspirated K24 (a worked over one) is going to have a more gradual build up in power as the revs rise, whereas turbocharged engines by definition make peak torque earlier (depending on how the turbo is sized) and then lose torque up to the redline (again, depending on how the turbo is sized). The peak torque will tend to be a lot higher on the turbo engine of the same power output too, which stresses the tyres more. If it is an older style big single scroll turbo then the sudden rate of change of power as the boost finally comes in after the lag would tend to stress the tyres more, wouldn't it? Although a lot of turbo engines are tuned with an artificial limit on the boost to have an artificially flat torque on the OEM map, but that's not how turbos really behave, especially if a car is remapped for maximum power.

It is if you’re super into tracking your car and having the latest and greatest. If you currently have the FK8 then I don’t think it’s worth it unless you want the new tech and look

With used ones going for damn near $50k seems like a good option

@@FATmenDRIVEtrucks I am in the market for one, you can find decent ones in the low $40k range. I called a few dealers for the new one and they all said $15-20k mark up and an increase price from the last one... yikes.

@@CesarMartinez-gl9ko new one is $43k you gotta be butt buddies with someone with clout or higher up get MSRP unfortunately

No. Price is ridiculous

Same bro same.. I have it parked outside and here I am watching videos about it 😂

When I'm not driving it I'm watching KZfaq videos of her 😂

I might. I need a new car for work and the extra ride height is a big plus, especially since I travel a lot for jobs. I already have an S2000 CR and several motorcycles for track use, so a lifted hot hatch for backroad antics and travel is tempting. I'm also considering the CTR because of the cavernous interior space and the fact it's a masterpiece of a car.

I did but then again I don't even like the look of the type R and the car market kind of sucks. I would have preferred a new Golf R if they still had the shape of 7th gen. No AWD kind of ruins the US model as it's already missing lots of features they get in the EU, including forged wheels. I'm leaning towards returning it.

@@thepassionofthegoose5472 I wonder how much more desirable you would find the Kona N if it offered AWD in your case?

@@carloscervantes836 I'm not in a region that AWD is needed, so I'm much happier with the reduced weight of FWD.

I had 2018 civic type r and just bought Kona n and I'm surprised that I liked my Kona n nit more than the r.

I'm reviewing a manual Elantra N very soon!

@@Zygrene when ? I wanna put a timer for it. Cant wait. Thanks so much.

@@shrijanaryal4923 I should be getting it tomorrow. Follow me on IG for updates!

CH...G...H...RHC?

GRCHR. Rolls off the tongue

Honda has history of 6speed having synchro problems. Goes back to itr, 6th gen si and 6speed accord. Some s2k had it. If you been following Honda for few decades you would know. Just search KZfaq for videos. I found savagegeese because he was on news talking about Honda 6speed problems

Not best car but I would say still useful to have this video.

Too each their own. Personally test drove both for 48 hours and loved the Kona so much more! It’s more exhilarating to drive, it doesn’t feel that boring Grandmom car because yes even with the bar in the middle it feels like a Grandmom car eventually. I mean all they did was change the front seats and add a spoiler, then it’ll feel like an old person trying to be cool car.

@@CH3FSN1P3Z weird response. The Elantra n is quicker , handles better and sounds better , no idea why you think it's boring... You sure you didn't test drive a base trim? The Kona is smaller inside and doesn't handle anywhere as well on track, there's still body roll. Hate to break it to you but more old people buy SUVs now.

@@mharro88 well, it doesn’t handle better, just differently. The short wheelbase on the Kona is actually a lot of fun on liftoff. The exhaust sounds the same. Maybe a little less pronounced.

@@oraclemiata845 I find it handles better, there's less body roll. Can push it harder.. The pops and bangs are more pronounced on the Elantra

The Kona N is more of a hot hatch than an SUV in reality. Basically just a slightly taller hot hatch with a bit more generous of a ride height. Both FWD, turbocharged 2.0t sport hatches when it comes down to it. Good comparison. Especially as he claims the Kona N gives up very little to the Type R, which is the best performance hatch of all time. That's saying something.

It's def not an SUV - they say that for marketing, but it's barely bigger than an i20 or i30. It's a 5-door hatchback that sits maybe an inch higher than it should. I saw mine & two others next to an I20 WRC in gravel trim, and the stock KN sits lower and has about the same footprint.

If you have driven one you would know it drives a lot more like a hot hatch than literally any SUV ever made. It’s not a Type R but it is closer to other hot hatches than you would think. It weighs 100lbs less than a Golf R or Focus RS. It is 3.5-4” taller than a “hot hatch” that’s really the only difference.

u are clueless of the kona N its a hot hatch more than a suv .. and would run circles around any suv lol i have one its far from a suv

Agreed… it’s a hot hatch, pseudo rally car if you will. This is a good comparison. The Kona N is the real deal. I was shocked the first time I drove it.

PS ist nicht HP. USA 276 HP = EU 280PS

@@turbored4969 You get'em Turbo!