Hyundai spent the first few months of 2021 teasing its newest Kona N high-performance crossover. The beans were recently spilled on the 2022 Hyundai Kona N, and it?s everything we hoped for in a small, fast, and relatively affordable SUV. Hyundai?s N Line reminds me of the early days of BMW?s M and Mercedes-Benz?s AMG divisions, except for one thing: Hyundai N models (including the new Kona N) won?t cost an arm and a leg to enjoy the fun.

?Kona N is a true hot SUV with the performance level of a hot hatch,? said Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group. Biermann happens to be the former head of BMW?s M Division (surprise, surprise!) and is responsible for the magnificent E46 M3 (2000 to 2006) and E39 M5 (1998 to 2003).
Setting The Stage

So yeah, the man knows a thing or two about making ordinary cars perform like track monsters on the street. ?Kona N can carve corners on the racetrack and bring excitement to everyday driving,? Biermann added. ?As an N model, it goes beyond the limits of an ordinary SUV, and it breaks the rule that SUVs are less fun to drive.?

As expected, the Kona N has inherited the bespoke hardware from Hyundai?s Veloster N hot hatch. It includes the raucous 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and Hyundai?s in-house developed eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

2022 Hyundai Kona N: Turbocharged Power

The Hyundai Kona N has a turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder pumping out 276 horsepo...