This is where you come when you realise how one dimensional carwow is. Great content.

I'd choose the KonaN anytime over the Audi

Those Hyundai boys really are doing great

That Hyundai crossover has better steering and pedal feel than any current Audi, Mercedes, BMW. But the brand snobs won’t want to know about that 🤷‍♂️ Btw with the N cars, it’s best to use custom and put the suspension in normal or sport, and the steering in normal or sport. The hardcore N mode with those things in Sport+ just isn’t the correct way to have it.

Bought one for my wife a couple weeks ago, always puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I’ve got a 22 Genesis G70 3.3 which I love and it’s very fast, but the Kona N is just pure fun

Love my Kona N! (But then again can't afford an Audi RS3 lol). But it's my first Hyundai and def changed my perception of the brand.

Ordered a Konan, cant wait to have it.

The Kona N is the most fun vehicle I have ever driven it’s now my daily and so happy people sleep on this car until they test me at the light or when I give them a ride lol so much fun 😩

That Hyundai looks great IMO.

Ultimately the Kona wins. The audi R models are great, but for the everyday person they're never realistic. With the laws changing with speeds too, you're never gonna truly enjoy it unless you're on private land. The kona is much more fun for its money, extremely safe and has a lot of very decent features for what it is. The kona won't depreciate nearly as much in the future since there won't be as many of them about, and a new RS really isn't much different from an old one. Essentially the new version of an astra vxr

£68,000 vs £36,000, no contest lol, both do way more than what anyone of us can do on the uk roads.

Kona N is my daily, love it! Lots of value for what you get. Great review.

The Kona costs half of what the Audi does...you get more in the Kona with it being slightly slower being the only tradeoff...The Kona will also outlast the RS3...

You could watch that video on mute and know he preferred the Kona, as it was the only one he was smiling and laughing in whilst driving them!

I picked one up last weekend, and I can attest it is just as fun as he describes!

Brand snobs buy German,you pay for what you get , getting a kona N soon ( on order )

Another good review, keeping the dross interludes to a minimum helps

such great video! thanks!

The folks shopping for a Kona N know what they are getting, and would never spend the extra cash for the RS3. 0-62 for the DCT Kona N should be closer to 5.2 seconds. But I know it varies depending on road conditions and such. Hyundai is underestimating everything about the "N" series cars. The owners are finding out that these things have more power then advertised. Also the exhaust sound, the Kona seems to not be in "N" mode which is way more crackly sounding then the video suggest. Every reviewer I have seen switch the N series cars into "N" mode, they laughs as if they just experienced something special. That is the N Shift Grin mode at it's finest. It really does what it says, make you grin. The DC blip (fart) in the Kona/Elantra/Volseter is what we want, really though. Just so much fun and somewhat practical with a touch of a button. I think that Hyundai knows what they are doing with the "N" series cars. And I am open to taking part in this hot-hatch-fun that they are putting out.

I loved the Kona N, honestly can't think of a car I've driven that's more entertaining. Not sure I could live with it as my only car given the longer journeys I have to do though. Would have been a great 2nd car if I could afford to shell out that much on a weekend car.

Although will void Hyundai's brilliant warranty, also worth a mention how much better the revised Turbo and inlet flows air on the new 2022 Kona and i30 N models.... 350bhp is basically a map! 400bhp not much more difficult to achieve and you'd still have way over 20 grand left over from not buying the Audi!

I drive the Kona 1.6 L with 195HP this goes in the direction of the Kona N, but is significantly cheaper. I am very satisfied, only a slight rattling in the back of the trunk and a rattling noise on the middle display bother me. I still look forward to every ride in the Kona and would recommend this car. Incidentally, the Krell sound system is absolutely sufficient for normal music listeners and it's fun to drive with it

Still wrapping my head around the fact that this is a Hyundai! Besides the nice performance, it does have basic essential options, most cars have. The interior does feel kind of bare bones to me though, but I guess if they were to have made a more upscale feel, we'd be talking closer to $40K USD. It's still on my short list of cars I am considering purchasing.

Cupra Formentor = Audi A3/S3 = Another bloody Golf based hatch. I'd go Hyundai. Bun being a snob, what makes more sense; 36k for everything but a coat of paint, or near 70k for a family hatchback?

Had one for 6 months now , done 4 trackdays in it , brill car its my wifes runabout does everything great , an by the way av got a megane 4 trophry R which i use on track an its not that much better !

If you'd compared the S3 to the Kona N.. I'd get it. This isn't really the same target market. Most families would consider an S3, but VERY few would consider an RS3 (at least once the sensible one of the couple has a say).

I had a WRX STI and was now searching for a new car ... test drove the new RS3 and the I30N and I know its slower bla bla but i ordered the i30 N sure also bc it cheaper but money was just one Pro in my list ... overall the i30N is the more playfull car imo.

I have the n-line and it is so zippy and fun! Realistically it is even faster than I need for my commute but it's a blast. N would have been fun but I don't go anywhere I need that level of power. Considering the kona is so light, even the n-line with 195hp can really go. edit: fun fact! the N stands for both the Namyang district of South Korea where these cars originate from and the Nurburgring race track in Germany where the N and N-line models get tested. The design of the N emblem is also designed to look like a tight serpentine turn in a road

Nearly ordered a Kona N at the start of the year. Still thinking about it ...

Madness 68k? When you doing a Volvo C40 twin motor review just ordered mine, but would like some thoughts …

A serious drum kit will fit just fine in a Kona N (and when you roll up to the gig in a red one all the ladies will figure your band has been signed), but how about a concert grand harp? Can you shove that front passenger seat forward enough, or recline it somehow, to accommodate the harp's 6' column? I used to be able to do that with my 2003 Mazda Protege5, but my drummer son in LA has commandeered that for the time being.

Now we are talking Marky lad!!!!

Personally, I do find the new A3 a bit underwhelming altogether. What made Audis for me special was the interior quality, and whilst it is easily better than a Kona (hardly a surprise, given the Interior plastics have always been the Kona's biggest weak point, rear leg room included), it feels IMO in so many places a lot cheaper than a previous A3m, something I do encounter in most new Audis. There is a lot more had plastics than one would expect, with screens replacing build quality it seems, budget wise. Also, in this video the Audi 5 cylinder sounds comparably not that exciting, more like an mid 2000s Volvo 5 cylinder sedan than a rally beast or those angry sporty 5 cylinder Ford Focuses of the past.

the RS3 is amazing fun. I have enjoyed spending my grandchildren’s inheritance…

They both have humongous grills!

Hyundai is really going from strength to strength.

Given how stupid quick modern performance cars are, do the Audi laser lights (or other matrix led, etc) make spirited night time driving possible? crappy lights are borderline terrifying, even on full whack, even on B roads I know well. Are they a worthy upgrade?

I dont believe anyone if offered one or the other that they would take the Kona over the RS3 - I think that is just nonsense. That said i do get some of the comments - the Kona would make more sense, a person would spend on that as opposed to the RS - the RS pricing is madness really. I have one on order but its a one off for me, normally no chance I would spend that money - going to do my best to get the best out of it.... but the Kona as it stands is the sort of car I would go for - I do like ones where everything is just thrown in, its so helpful not having to decide what you can justify adding and what you cant etc :) Both good cars here - just not really comparible, I just watched them as separate reviews basically. RS is a glorified VW! ha yes the obvious being its one company but that is like saying a Lamborghini is a glorified VW as well! In theory yes - but very glorified! You cant compare RS3 with a Golf R for example (another good car BTW) - price brackets and therefore the extra engineering makes one better than the other BUT again like this review 2 good cars - i like them :)

KONAN is legend….

No such thing as bigger wheels on the rs3, they're all 19's, they're the launch edition/carbon ones. Strange the calipers are blue too, ceramic are grey. Looks like a frankenstein car, ie one audi sent out where you actually can't spec one like it if you tried.

Design language feels similar

For the same money (Audi), you can get 2x KonaN 🤔

The Kona is actually a compact suv not a hatchback

The Audi should be better, it costs twice as much though it is basically a golf in drag

I could have bought any car on the market. Audi, Merc, BMW.... All overpriced and pretentious..... I bought the Kona N Premium. Why spend 3x as much for some bling

👍

I’ll leave it in the showroom at £35000.00

Audi means electronic issues poor reliability where hyundai has old Mercedes engine reliability hyundai bought rights to Merce des engine older design Also modified kona n can be better

Put it into top RS mode… the mic breaks down

Is not a just comparation!! Kona is a sub and audi is a compact hot hach!! Obviusli the audi is best car see the money and compare!!

Audi is nothing but a glorified VW

You're sitting inside a black coffin called the Audi RS3. Why ALL BLACK?????

Audi RS3 is't it a SUV. This Test makes no sins

Love the Audi, Hyundai is terrible

Kona N is my first Hyundai and I completely understand the direction they're headed now. Everyone should try driving an N at some point, ton of fun