I’m looking at pre-owned certified compact crossovers: Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda CX-3, and Hyundai Kona.
The Kona has a great warranty, but I want to know your thoughts on how it handles, gas mileage, reliability, etc. Have you had any issues when using the warranty?
I have a 2024 SEL with about 1000 miles on it, and I’m just as obsessed as when I first got it. The screen is my kid’s favorite part. I have the light grey interior, and I think it’s beautiful. As others have said, it’s a bit sluggish on the gas pedal, but the gas mileage is great, and it handles beautifully. It’s also very quiet; road noise is never a problem.
@smart
I did notice it struggled a little when I went up a hill. I thought maybe it was just me.
@smart
It handles poorly 
. I traded mine back in.
MYLES said:
@smart
It handles poorly
It depends on what you compare it to. It’s not a Miata.
For a family SUV, it handles well.
MYLES said:
@smart
It handles poorly
It depends on what you compare it to. It’s not a Miata.
For a family SUV, it handles well.
I had one and didn’t like the handling at all, but that’s probably because I’m used to cars.
@MYLES
For sure. SUVs drive very differently from sedans and coupes.
FAITH said:
@MYLES
For sure. SUVs drive very differently from sedans and coupes.
Yes, the lower center of gravity definitely helps. I will say though, the BMW X3 M40i I’ve driven has amazing handling and cornering since it’s AWD and has LSD. It has minimal body roll for a crossover.
@MYLES
You didn’t quite get the Kona. It feels more unstable than it is; it’s just a bit temperamental but won’t crash on you. The Kona is like a big go-cart; it can feel a bit lively but is actually very stable once you get used to it. I’ve had moments thinking, ‘here we go,’ but it pulled through every time. I figured that’s just its vibe. It feels chaotic but is predictable and stable.
The X3 M40i is a better comparison to the Kona N in terms of price, construction, and performance. Even then, BMW is pricier than the N; it’s almost double the price. If it weren’t better, that would be kind of silly, right?
@BlueCarEnthusiast
Yeah, the Kona N is a much better comparison since it has an LSD too. I haven’t driven a Kona N yet, but it seems like a great deal for the money, especially since many competitors cost twice as much.
@MYLES
Exactly. For the price, it’s hard to find a better sports SUV than the Kona N.
Of course, there are better options overall, but they’ll cost significantly more.
BlueCarEnthusiast said:
@MYLES
Exactly. For the price, it’s hard to find a better sports SUV than the Kona N.
Of course, there are better options overall, but they’ll cost significantly more.
Facts. I’ve really wanted to test drive an Elantra N or Kona N to see how the handling is. Every time I’ve seen an Elantra N in person, it’s been sold out. Some random guy let me sit in his Elantra N last month though.
My Elantra N-Line handles really well, especially compared to the regular Elantras and hybrids I tested. So the LSD with the N must really enhance the handling.
I have a 2024 SEL with just under 6k miles. I love it more than my 2022 Kona SEL since it’s bigger. It feels like I’m driving a spaceship with all the tech in front of me. My only complaint is that it’s slow to get up to speed. At cruising speeds, it’s great, but merging from a dead stop on the interstate makes me a bit nervous.
Nice car, but it’s incredibly small. You don’t realize how small until you need to use it.
It was supposed to be my wife’s ‘mommy mobile,’ as she puts it.
There’s no way you’re fitting groceries, a stroller, a diaper bag, and a car seat in this without a huge hassle.
Otherwise, it’s a really nice, reliable car. Ours is a '21.
@Victor0
The current generation is bigger. It has a little over 6 cubic feet more of rear cargo space and 18 cubic feet more with the seats down.
Nolan said:
@Victor0
The current generation is bigger. It has a little over 6 cubic feet more of rear cargo space and 18 cubic feet more with the seats down.
No way, that’s awesome! That might be enough space to make it more manageable.
@Victor0
I had the 2024 Kona, and our stroller still took up the entire trunk space. I have an Elantra now, and it only takes up half the trunk space.
MYLES said:
@Victor0
I had the 2024 Kona, and our stroller still took up the entire trunk space. I have an Elantra now, and it only takes up half the trunk space.
It’s basically a raised i30.
While it is a small car, its shape and height make it feel bigger. But when you look at the dimensions, you realize it’s really compact but surprisingly roomy for what it is. The Elantra is 4.6m long, while the Kona is 4.1m long—that’s half a meter!
@Victor0
That was my impression of the previous generation. The new one is a bit larger, though still compact.
To be fair, I’ve only put 1k miles on mine, but it’s been a great ride. I have the 2024, limited. It has plenty of get-up-and-go for its size (but I can see that a lower trim might feel sluggish), and the infotainment is better than even the Ioniq 5, aside from the 2025 model.
It’s a very good car. I like it a lot. I get about 28-30 MPG on the FWD version.