Price:
NIS 155,000
Competitors:
Skoda Kamik, Peugeot 2008, Chevrolet Trax, Suzuki S-Cross
We liked:
price, space, comfort equipment, fuel consumption
We didn't like:
comfort in the city, safety equipment that was reduced in the base version
Score:
9/10
word The buzz in the car market of 2024 is hybrid. Tram prices have become more expensive, not everyone has the option of charging at home or at work, and range anxiety was here even before the fear of an Iranian attack. When the price of fuel jumps in a few months by almost NIS per liter, private buyers and leasing companies alike rush towards the safe compromise: also a little electric, also significantly more economical than the gasoline models.
This can be clearly seen in the sales of the new Hyundai Kona, which landed in Israel at the end of last summer, and this year it is already the best-selling crossover at its price level. Most of the sales are from the hybrid versions, with a minority of the 1,600 cc turbo gasoline version, the really powerful gasoline (198 hp). Even the stock electric buyer from the previous generation outsold the base version of the new generation, 1,000 cc turbo (120 hp).
And at least on paper, this is an interesting deal: the base version now costs 155,000 shekels after having become more expensive by 10,000 shekels since its arrival, while the hybrid starts at 173,000 shekels (11,000+). When the accessories of the reduced-volume gasoline and the basic hybrid are the same, is the green power unit worth an additional NIS 18,000 to the price? Worth checking out.
Design:
The new buyer has grown significantly: with a length of 4.35 meters (an increase of 15 cm), a width of 1.82 meters (2.5+), a height of 1.57 meters (1+) and a wheelbase of 2.66 meters (6+), it is already Almost the size of Kia Niro and Hyundai Tucson. Blackened wheelhouses that are difficult to recognize in the black test vehicle itself are intended to strengthen the Jeepney image, with the base version losing the rear nickel strip that is more equipped.
Cabin:
the abundance of gray plastic surfaces, even around the multimedia screen of the previous generation, have given way to a high-tech design in the spirit of the electric Kia EV6 and the twin Hyundai Ioniq 5, with a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one as a multimedia screen and the other as a dashboard, both with displays in Hebrew . On the other hand, the physical buttons were preserved for easy and accessible operation of the climate control and other important functions, without sending the driver's eyes away from the road to wander between screens.
The base version maintains the space, the high driving position and the utility of the equipped versions. At the back are the outlet for the air conditioner for the rear bench and also the USB sockets for charging, which with an almost flat floor can better handle 3 passengers, although this is not the car for three adults. The test car came in light interior colors that give an airy feeling, but it will take constant effort not to darken during family use of the car. pay attention.
And there is a spare wheel, which is not available in hybrids/Wala!, Hyundai system
The trunk is a little less spacious than the hybrid models: still a family volume of 406 liters instead of 466. But in return you also get a spare wheel under the floor, an addition that is still important to our taste, and the car manufacturers, with the approval of the authorities, avoid installing it in most hybrids and electrics. The loading opening is large and there are anchoring rings for the load, and compartments on the side. And there's also a dedicated storage space for the shelf above the trunk, sometimes you'll want to fill it almost to the brim. smart.
Accessories:
Although this is a basic version, it is not a naked one. Although there is no wireless charging for mobile phones, electric front seats, a sun window or an electric trunk opening that some of the hybrid versions already cost over NIS 180,000. But there are light 17-inch rims, climate control, a smart key, wireless pairing for Android and iPhone for multimedia and control of the gears from the steering wheel.
Safety:
there is autonomous emergency braking in forward travel, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, automatic high beam and a child-forget warning. A high level, and it's still a shame that they dropped from the specifications that the more expensive versions have, emergency braking even when driving backwards, warning of a vehicle in a dead zone with prevention of deviation and warning of an approaching vehicle before opening a door, and preventing it from opening.
Performance:
The base version comes with a 1,000 cc turbo gasoline engine with a capacity of 120 hp, and a 7-speed double-clutch robotic box. This is less than the hybrid (139 hp), but the basic gasoline has a lower weight of about 100 kg. Accelerations are fine, you won't have any trouble overtaking, certainly in sport mode which is milked from the more modest power unit, and if you use the paddles behind the steering wheel to raise and lower gears in order to overtake in the right gear.
The fuel consumption on the test days was 13.5 km per liter. It doesn't come close to the manufacturer's data, but it's not bad for a family crossover, Tucson and Kia Sportage 2,000 cc owners can fantasize about such numbers, and their car is not really faster than the 1,000 cc buyer. K. It is true that buying a hybrid will be closer to 20 km/l, but even those who drive 20,000 km per year, which is above average, will save about NIS 3,500 per year at current fuel prices. Even if we take into account the lower consumption of brake discs In a hybrid, even three years of maintenance will save you only about half of the price difference.
Comfort and behavior:
The basic gasoline buyer is equipped with only 16-inch wheels compared to 18-inch in the hybrid. It helps with ride comfort, but it's still not at its best on bumpy city roads, and the suspension isn't very quiet either. But overall the comfort is fine - as is the behavior. The grip is high, the inclination of the body in curves is minimal, the steering wheel is light and precise. It doesn't really make you feel like challenging driving, but it doesn't do shame either.
Bottom line: If the hybrid buyer is a good deal, the base version is the real bargain. In a time of struggle with the cost of living, it offers the same dimensions, almost the same equipment, adequate performance and reasonable fuel consumption, at a cheaper price of almost NIS 20,000. It doesn't feel like a leasing model like other base models, perhaps because the leasing companies themselves are attacking the hybrid. But with the price difference between them, if you don't drive more than 15-20 thousand km, this is one of the recommended vehicles on the market for a family.
Hyundai buys 1,000 cc premium | On the technical side
Engine:
turbo-petrol 998 cc, 120 hp, 20.4 kg
Gearbox:
dual-clutch robotic automatic, 7 gears. Front-wheel drive
Performance (manufacturer):
0-100 km/h (seconds):
11.7
speed Maximum (km/h):
180
Combined fuel consumption (km/l):
16.9
Test fuel consumption (km/l):
13.5
Dimensions:
Length (meter):
4.35
Width (meter):
1.825
Height (meter):
1.57
Wheelbase (meters):
2.66
Interior space (cm): 16
Trunk (liters):
406
Weight (kg): 1,320
Tires:
205/65R16
Safety:
European crash test score:
4 out of 5 stars
Active safety:
Braking Autonomous forward driving emergency, adaptive cruise control, lane departure correction, fatigue warning, automatic high beam, cross traffic detection at an intersection
Warranty:
3 years or 100,000 km