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SureCritic / Makes / Hyundai / Kona / 2021

2021 Hyundai Kona

Average Score

Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5
4.7
(1398 Reviews)
47%
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Reviews

Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5Overall Rating 4.7/5
4.7
(1398 Reviews)
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Reviews

SW
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SHEELO W.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
01/02/2021
Verified Review

Cheap plastic interior, poor interior lighting. Safety risk. I bought this car because of exterior styling and positive reviews.

Cheap plastics, led headlights should be standard. Need back seat power ports. This is by far the cheapest interior of every car I have ever owned. I have owner regret because of the interior. Do better Hyundai!
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NationalCA - List responded on 01/05/2021 01:27 PM
Allow us to look into your concern a little further, a specialist from our corporate office will be in touch with you to investigate further. ^cc
JW
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JASON W.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
01/07/2021
Verified Review

A decent vehicle from point a to point B If current problems were resolved

A brand new vehicle should not have an acceleration malfunction, transmission deceleration weirdness, issues with doors shutting all of the way. All of this was present upon delivery. If these problems were resolved, this vehicle would’ve gotten more stars. Attention to detail is a fail. My 2012 Elantra was a better experience.
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NationalCA - List responded on 01/07/2021 08:20 AM
Allow us to look into your concern a little further, a specialist from our corporate office will be in touch with you to investigate further. ^cc
EP
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Edward P.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
04/01/2021
Verified Review

terrible shifting

This brand new Kona does not shift gears well. It surges when accelerating slowly and surges when downshifting. The shifts are unpredictable at various speeds. I will discuss this problem with the service dept. at my next visit.
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JE
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Jeffrey E.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
05/07/2021
Verified Review

Could be a great car but ruined by Hyundai Corp. bad 2.0 engines, major recall!

Hyundai is recalling 2021 Kona’s and other models and years do to a defect with the 2.0L engine that could cause a fire or could just die and leave the operator stranded in a dangerous situation. Kia, also, uses the same 2.0L. The 2020+ Kia Forte, Seltos, Soul, and other models all use the same engine. If your Hyundai Kona with the 2.0L engine is burning/losing oil (especially 1 quart everyone 1000 miles) then, most likely the engine is toast and could result in a fire. Do not let any tech or Hyundai/Kia Corp tell you it is normal for a modern consumer vehicle to consume that much oil. A half quart between oil changes is acceptable (Note: that is between oil changes. An oil change is usually 3000+ miles, in the case of the 2.0L engine, it is 3750 - 7500). My Kona does not burn/lose any oil, but it has really low miles. Bye bye Hyundai Kona. The 2.0l Kona SE, SEL, SEL Plus is a great looking car, comfortable, handles good, but lacks quality where it counts the most and that is in the 2.0l engine. The Konas with 2.0l also, has really poor throttle response programming and a little to much road noise. I would not recommend buying any Hyundai or Kia vehicles at this time. Way! Way! Too many problems. Engine fallers and IVT transmission Failures. Hyundai and Kia could be great, but it’s obvious they lack the readership on the corporate level and may be all levels to make that happen. Really! Hyundai and Kia! Continues engine problems! Maybe rename the two companies Little Boom Boom or maybe Puff Puff. Human Torch has nothing on Hyundai and Kia: :)
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LS
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Lisa S.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
05/27/2021
Verified Review

Adorable but small & slow

I wish I would have sat in the back with the front seat fully extended. I wish I would have paid more attention to how difficult it is to get in/out. I fell in love with its adorableness and didn't pay attention to the lack of important features
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MG
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MARLENE G.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
06/01/2021
Verified Review

Great mini SUV

I really like my Kona. It's sporty and fun to drive, gets good gas mileage and is easy to maintain. Even though it's only the basic model, it still comes with the backup camera, lane keeping assist and front collision avoidance. Easy clean interior.
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SG
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Shawn G.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
06/01/2021
Verified Review

Gas mileage is good that's it

Sits way too low no truck at all and sounds like a mower. The Hyundai truck thing would have been a better bet. I should have waited, now i'm getting ready to trade this in on an old Ford F150, something you can actually use.
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KB
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KAREN B.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
06/19/2021
Verified Review

no leg room..lousy take off

do not like the car...very unhappy. my grandsons can't sit in back..no leg room. no comfort riding, feel every bump in road. no pep..when taking off or entering highway cant get going. cant go fast enough to blend in with traffic. worst car I ever got. no cd player..
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DF
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DANIEL F.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
07/17/2021
Verified Review

Brakes and gears

The brakes make noise and the car is brand new. It is always hard to get a phone paired to the blue tooth. When driving the gears will stick and then the rpms go up and the car jerks forward. Also when stopping the brakes are very sensitive
Recommended
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NB
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NICOLE B.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
08/09/2021
Verified Review

Poor choice

The engine o the 2021 SEL is just a disaster. I regret not getting the turbo model. If you live in mountains, stay away from the Kona. If you live in a city with steep hills and highways, stay away from this vehicle. No power and hard shifting/knocking occur when you are not demanding much of the vehicle. Doesn't get advertised gas mileage.
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JT
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JOEL T.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
08/31/2021
Verified Review

Bad engine piston rings with no fix available. ?

Vehicle has been recalled due to bad engine rings. Hyundai has no fix available in the foreseeable future. If they do, engine will have to be torn down for a rebuild when it fails costing me down time and loss of my only vehicle. Hyundai's were great when they were made in Korea, now in US, quality control has gotten poor.
Recommended
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DF
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Donna F.
2021 Hyundai Kona
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
09/02/2021

I really want to give this car a 5 star review but…

I can’t consciously give it 5 stars. When the car was built, the technicians failed to connect something under the headliner that controlled the gps. Since that time, I’ve had issues with the gps system and the Bluelink system. I’ve owned this car for 2 months and so far, it’s been at the dealership for 19 days of the 2 months that I’ve owned it. Hyundai still can’t figure out how to fix the Bluelink issues. If it wasn’t for these issues, I would have given it 5 stars. I really want to love this car I just can’t yet. I noticed the gps issue before I drove it off the lot but the salesperson quickly dismissed it saying “the gps will update in a few days”. It took a new management at the dealership before someone would finally help me out with getting the gps issue resolved. After having the car for 10 days, the finally fixed the gps issue but blew me off when it came to fixing the Bluelink issue. It took me submitting a complaint to Hyundai corporate before the Bluelink issue would begin to be addressed. It’s now at the dealership again (and has been there for 9 days now) as they try to figure out how to fix this issue. I have the “pleasure” of driving. 2017 Sante Fe while my brand new car sets at the dealership. Hyundai corporate has only contacted the dealership. They haven’t offered me any reimbursements or anything related to these issues. It’s obvious someone at the plant failed to complete the quality control checks in relationship to this vehicle. Their neglect has now become my headache. At the very least, Hyundai should be reimbursing me for the payments I’ve made on this vehicle since I’ve yet to have full functionality or they should buy out this car from me and provide me with a new Kona. Beyond disappointed in Hyundai corporate and the way they are working to resolve this issue and keeping a happy customer.
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GK
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Gary K.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
09/04/2021
Verified Review

Poor reliability with quality issues in recall

I have three NEW Hyundai sitting in my driveway. All three had RECALL issues. This does not speak well of Hyundai. The possible engine failure in the Kona is very troublesome. The related inspection to see if my car is affected is suspect. You can;t get a concrete answer from the dealer or the Hyundai customer car on what happens if the issue fails later in the car life. Easiest thing to do is get rid of the possible LEMON.
Recommended
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MP
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MICHAEL P.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
09/15/2021
Verified Review

Possible future problems

Car is being recalled for piston rings with only 4K miles on engine. Really don't like the idea of needing a new motor in the first year of ownership. The transmission also is 'jerky' shifting, not smooth at all and dealer say's it fine.
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SS
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Samantha S.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
11/11/2021
Verified Review

2021 Hyundai Kona

One year later and I have so many issues, blind spot detector is faulty, has been since a few months after purchase. The power plug is broken, doesn’t work regardless of the adapter used. Fan makes a weird sound when heat is on and at 1. Car idles high especially when started and sometimes will jump forward if you let off brake to push gas.
Recommended
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AD
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Austin D.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
01/06/2022
Verified Review

Can't Recommend

I wanted to like this vehicle, but it fell short in many categories. Not enough space. Poorly constructed. Too much engine noise. Too much road noise. Safety features are unreliable. Dealership delivered this new vehilce to me in "used" condition.
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TH
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Ty H.
2021 Hyundai Kona
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
01/24/2022

Unreliable tranny

I've had constant tranny grinding between gears since day one. The dealer refuses to do anything unless the problem is able to be recreated, which of course it never is. I have to use manual mode. I can't even drive friends around because the grinding and the inability of the company to address the issue is embarrassing. First and last Hyundai vehicle guaranteed.
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TR
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TRACY R.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
01/28/2022
Verified Review

Handles poorly in adverse conditions..

Would rate at 5 fun to drive and zippy in good road conditions but handles terible in adverse conditions. This would be a great car if you never needed the all wheel drive. I was would test drive in snow if you live in an area where it snows.
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MM
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Michael M.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
02/18/2022
Verified Review

Nice car but issues the dealerships are too busy to fix

For the most part we enjoy our Kona but there have been issues with the electronics, trim and engine recalls that dealerships are too busy to fix. The rear trim on the hatch fell down and blocked my view. It was 6-weeks to get an appointment despite being unable to see out the back. I took it to a local mechanic to fix. I was told the engine recalls have overwhelmed the dealers and repairs like mine need to be delayed. No loaners are available either and this is my primary vehicle.
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LP
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LINDA P.
2021 Hyundai Kona
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
03/15/2022
Verified Review

Lacks power

Have accelerating issues in less then a year. Interior is cheaply made and do not like seat fabric. Not much engine power. Cute little car. Got a nice stereo and sunroof. Dont use safety features much since constant beeping is annoying.
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NationalCA - List responded on 03/16/2022 08:12 AM
Hello, Linda. Please feel free to contact our customer care team at (800) 633-5151 to document a formal complaint. Thank you. ^cc
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