We’ve seen the all-new BMW 2 Series revealed, but what about the 2023 BMW M2 performance coupe? Here it is wearing heavy camouflage on the Nurburgring.
Many petrolheads would say the BMW M2 is one of the M division’s finest products, exceeding expectations and selling in huge numbers. The BMW M2 CS was the crowning glory, taking every element of the M2 experience and turning it up to 11.
Now that the all-new next-generation BMW 2 Series has been revealed with bold and fresh styling, attention has turned to the all-new 2023 BMW M2. These spy photographs show the new model undergoing dynamic testing where else but the Nurburgring. The new BMW 2 Series in M240i xDrive guise looks aggressive and purposeful, so the new M2 will be even bolder in terms of looks.
Expect the trademark big wheels and quad exhaust setup, as well as flared wheel arches that hide big wheels wrapped in performance rubber. What’s under the bonnet though? The BMW M2 CS featured the straight-6 turbocharged petrol engine lifted straight from the previous-generation BMW M3/M4. It was tuned to deliver 331 kW / 550 Nm, and in comparison, the all-new M240i xDrive packs 285 kW and 500 Nm. Given where the new BMW M3 and M4 are positioned with their 375 kW and 650 Nm powerplants, we reckon it’s not unreasonable to expect this new engine to power the M2. Now we can’t have the baby M standing on the toes of its siblings, so the S58 engine could be detuned to around 340 kW and 550 Nm.
As the BMW M2 is seen as a purist’s driving tool, rear-wheel drive and the option of a manual gearbox are highly likely.
We’re very early in the production stage and the standard BMW 2 Series range will be coming to SA in early 2022. Production of the all-new 2023 BMW M2 is likely to start in December 2022.
Porsche 718 Spyder Review – Is this the best bang-for-buck Porsche right now?
The Porsche 718 Spyder merges Cayman looks with a fabric roof and a naturally aspirated engine. Let’s not forget it also has the best bits of a GT3 underneath. Could this be the best bang-for-buck Porsche right now? We made a video on SA’s most beautiful road.
Looking for a used Porsche for sale in South Africa? We have nearly 300 to choose from!
Are you looking for a particularly difficult way to drop the roof on your convertible? Well, do we have a car for you! Porsche have created the special Boxster Spyder for those who want to really faff with their cars.
But, there is an upside to all this: less weight, and a purer driving experience. With no heavy motors or hydraulics to lift that roof over your head, the overall weight of the car is reduced, and the centre of gravity is lowered, which is exactly what you want in a sports car.
Throw in the roaring 4.0-litre naturally aspirated engine from the Cayman GT4, a lightning-quick PDK ‘box and bits and pieces from the GT3… do you have a recipe approaching perfection?
The driver you want in a sports car is Ashley Oldfield, our in-house race-ace, who we sent on a mission to find some of South Africa’s s best roads and give us his take on the 718.
Having plied his trade in the finance industry for 20 years (during which time he worked for Accenture, Discovery, FNB and Wesbank), Alan Quinn has an intimate understanding of vehicle finance. In this instalment, he walks us through the process of trading in your car for a new one and, specifically, how to avoid falling into the debt trap of borrowing extra money just to get out of (settle) the finance agreement through which you purchased your current vehicle!
So you have decided that you want a new car, well, that’s what Cars.co.za is here for… to help you find the perfect car – for you. We’re also here to help you with your car finance too.
It’s great to dream about getting behind the ‘wheel of a new car, but there are a few things to keep in mind as you progress along your car-buying journey. At Cars.co.za, we are all about connecting sellers with buyers, but we also want to help consumers make wiser financial decisions. This article may help you to consider your next car purchase carefully and, if things fall in place, secure a smart deal.
Most people who buy cars already have ones that they purchased by virtue of securing vehicle finance agreements (usually with banks) a few years ago. While they’re shopping for their “new wheels”, they are most probably still paying off the sums of money that they owe the banks (for those cars) by way of making monthly payments.
Since most vehicle finance agreements last for 6 years, I am guessing that you still have a few years left to go in terms of the payments you need to make. This makes things a little more complicated when you are car-shopping, because you need to think about how you will terminate the existing finance agreement (as well as trading in your car) to get that new or used car that you have your eye on.
Let me give you a shortlist of things to consider and check as you go through this process.
When trading in your car, check your trade-in value
There is a famous saying in the tech industry: “In God we trust; everyone else must bring data”. Right now, if you have not done your homework and looked up data on the value of the trade-in that you can reasonably expect a dealership or trader to offer for your current car, then you are placing WAY too much trust in your friendly vehicle vendor!
It does not matter what price the dealer offers you when trading in your car, you should ALWAYS check. Nowadays, this does not mean that you need to spend a day driving around 10 different dealers to ask them how much they would offer you for your car. Cars.co.za has a service called Match! – it is a free tool to sell your car into South Africa’s largest dealer network. Load your car onto Match! and within 48 hrs you are likely to receive offers from multiple dealers. The data you get will allow you to make sure you are getting the best possible trade-in value for your car in the used-car market.
Know your Settlement Value
Secondly, you need to find out how much you will need to pay to “settle” the existing finance agreement for your current car. Go to your existing finance provider’s website and look for a “settlement quote”. However, don’t just look for the “outstanding balance” on the account as there are often charges applicable to the settlement of the loan, which will be incorporated into said settlement quote.
The charge you need to be most mindful of is “penalty interest”. The National Credit Act allows finance providers to charge penalty interest on “large agreements” if the loan is settled early. What’s a large agreement? Well, it’s where the ORIGINAL finance amount is larger than R250k.
Think back to when you bought your current car. Was the loan larger than R250k? If it was, you WILL be charged “penalty interest”. The only way around this is if you give the bank (or applicable financial institution) 90 days notice that you intend to settle your account. The “penalty” is the interest you would have paid over the next 3 months and this can be as much as R10k for an average agreement.
All of this means that making a phone call to your existing finance provider and waiting for 90 days before you “settle up” could save you a lot of money.
Often the amount owed to the bank, as in the “settlement quote”, is larger than the trade-in valuation of the vehicle. This is VERY COMMON if you have:
You did not put down a deposit as part of your existing agreement
If this happens to you, this is often a major sticking point to being able to buy a replacement vehicle. When trading in your car, you will need to find extra cash to settle your existing vehicle loan.
The best thing to do here is to be patient and wait. If you keep making payments on your current car, eventually you will have paid up enough of the loan that the trade-in value is higher than the settlement quote. I know this is not great news, but raising a large sum of hard-earned cash just to SELL your car is not the best decision. It’s better to use whatever cash you have left as a deposit to BUY a new car.
This is the most obvious tip. Benchmark the asking price of the particular vehicle that you want to buy against similar examples on the market. Can you justifiably ask the dealership to reduce the vehicle’s price to sweeten the deal, or is the price they’re asking quite fair? More than 70 000 vehicles are listed for sale on Cars.co.za, which means you have a wide choice and the ability to compare like for like.
Happy with the trade-in and the final price of the new car? When finalising the deal, you will receive a written/printed quote from the sales staff, but be very mindful to check every line of the document.
Don’t be shocked – the dealer WILL charge “on-the-road” fees. To an extent, these are justified. When you buy the car, the dealer needs to transfer the vehicle licence to you via the traffic department and licence it for 12 months. They should also give you a tank of fuel in the car. As a car owner, you already know what these things cost. If he/she is charging for more than that, there is room for negotiation.
Watch out for anything else you are paying for over and above the car. There are many things that you may wish to purchase and add to your finance deal, for example, a warranty or service plan. There are many products such as dent-and-scratch cover, tyre insurance, tracking devices, shortfall protection… the list is endless. Think carefully and consider all of these before you buy.
Dealers sell these items because they get commissions from them. That does not mean that they are bad products, it just means that you should only buy them if you think they are worth YOUR while.
One final piece of advice: I know of no bank that will insist that you add a “credit life” policy, warranty or any other product to your car purchase. If you want to finance the vehicle’s purchase, the banks will only insist that your car is comprehensively insured. Banks don’t care which insurer you choose, which allows you the chance to shop around for the best policy beforehand, which is what you should do.
Buy with confidence
We want you to be happy with your new car and hope that the tips listed above will make sure you don’t have heart palpitations when the first debit order for the new-car purchase comes off your account. This is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make and those debit orders will make sure you feel it for a number of years! Do your homework at every step. It can save you thousands of rands.
Hyundai has unwrapped its performance focussed Elantra N sedan. It looks sharp, but you don’t expect to see it in SA.
Last year Hyundai showed its sporty Elantra N Line to the world, exhibiting the firm’s new ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language. Now, Hyundai has revealed the fully-fledged performance Elantra N boasting 206 kW and 392 Nm of torque from its 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
The Elantra N, also known as the i30N sedan in some markets such as Australia, will be offered with either a 6-speed manual transmission or with an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. Power is directed to the front wheels and Hyundai claims a zero to 100 kph sprint time of 5.3 seconds. An electronic limited-slip differential ensures optimal power delivery. Grip is also improved with an integrated drive axle which is common in rally cars.
But that’s not all, a feature that Hyundai calls N Grin Shift mode (NGS) boosts power to 212 kW for short periods, increasing performance. Other driving modes include N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift. The Elantra N features electronically adjustable suspension to ensure sharp dynamic handling ability and the chassis has been strengthened with bracings and rear bars. A Variable Exhaust Valve System is also fitted and provides the obligatory aural pleasure that you would expect from a performance model.
As for the interior, it’s decisively sporty and key features include an updated infotainment system with new info displays as well as sports seats with additional bolstering.
Will the Hyundai Elantra N come to South Africa?
As for South African availability, don’t get your hopes up. The Elantra sedan is no longer available in South Africa due to lack of demand and the Elantra N is, therefore, unlikely to reach our shores.
Pricing for the BMW M3 and M4 M xDrive has turned up on BMW SA’s online pricelist. Here’s how much you can expect to pay, plus the performance benefits of going all-wheel drive.
If you thought the new BMW performance duo needed more, then this is your answer. The new BMW M3 and M4 M xDrive are due to land in SA before the end of the year. Essentially, this is the same vehicle as the one currently offered, but with the addition of all-wheel drive.
How does BMW’s xDrive change things? BMW claims its M-specific all-wheel-drive system divides the power and torque between the front and rear wheels as required to enhance agility, directional stability, traction and track-focused dynamics at all times. This means plenty of grip and even quicker acceleration times, as there’s no wheelspin from the tyres.
For the BMW M aficionados, the M xDrive system has a rear bias, so it should still feel like a classic performance BMW. For those who are brave enough to let the tail out, the vehicle also comes with drift mode, where the front axle is disabled.
The 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-6 engine delivers 375 kW and 650 Nm in Competition spec. The vehicle also features an 8-speed gearbox. The standard cars are good for a 0-100 kph time of just 3.9 seconds, but the BMW M3 and M4 M xDrive cuts this down to 3.5 seconds.
The downside of the M xDrive system is a fractionally thirstier powertrain. The standard cars are said to consume a claimed 9.6 L/100 km, with the BMW M3 and M4 xDrive returning 10.2 L/100 km.
Could this be the breakthrough Chinese electric crossover?
Xpeng is one of the few Chinese car companies to have ventured into Europe.
With a design office in California and publicly traded on the New York stock exchange, Xpeng is unusual amongst Chinese car companies. And its G3 is a very convincing battery-powered crossover.
Originally launched in 2018, the G3 has now been updated and it looks unlike anything else – which is refreshing, and symbolic of Chinese car design moving beyond imitation.
With its narrow leading-edge bonnet and bumper integration, and slim headlamps, the 2021 G3 has a sleek profile and radical front glass profile. Its windscreen extends all the way back to the B-pillar, delivering an abundance of ambient light into the cabin.
Inside there is a huge vertical infotainment touchscreen and you can have seats with blue and white trim.
The G3’s infotainment system also benefits from enhanced processors, enabling it to recognize and execute driver voice commands with greater speed and accuracy. Powering the G3’s digital assistance features is a Snapdragon 820A auto-grade chip.
Xpeng has also proved that software is the great enabler for electric vehicle ownership, with the company releasing 15 overt-the-air updates to G3 customers, since 2018. These have unlocked no less than 55 additional infotainment and digital car features.
Two battery packs are offered for the updated G3. There is a 55 kWh pack that delivers 460 km of range, whilst the more potent 66 kWh G3 is claimed to achieve 520 km on a single charge.
Performance should be entirely adequate too, with the G3’s electric motor rated at 145 kW and 300 Nm of torque.
How good is this Chinese electric car platform? Well, good enough for Xpeng to get Norwegian government approval, a not insignificant achievement, in one of the world’s most demanding electric vehicle markets.
The 2023 Ford Everest was recently spotted on the roads around Ford’s facility in Dearborn, Michigan. Like the all-new Ford Ranger (which will also underpin the all-new Volkswagen Amarok) and be sold as a global model, the Ford Everest is expected to follow a similar strategy.
Despite the heavy camouflage, there are distinct Ford F-Series styling cues at the front and rear. We suspect it will still be underpinned by a body-on-frame setup and it will be powered by the new generation of big V6 turbodiesel engines. It should retain its 7-seat functionality and arguably class-leading digitally connected cabin. We’re hopeful the flagship model’s safety and assistance tech will be made available across the range.
2023 Ford Everest ETA
We’re expecting Ford to take the covers off of its all-new Ranger in early 2022, and it would be fair to assume that the Everest will follow not too long after its bakkie sibling.
Hardcore Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA (2021) Specs & Price in SA
The order book is open for South African customers wanting to purchase the Giulia GTA and the hardcore Giulia GTAm as Alfa Romeo has announced that the performance 4-door sports sedan variants will be made available in South Africa in very limited numbers.
Total worldwide production is limited to just 500 units and Alfa Romeo SA is offering less than 10 units to local buyers on a first-come-first-serve basis.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is a lighter and faster version of the already quick Giulia Quadrifoglio. Built to celebrate 110 years of Alfa Romeo, the new Giulia GTA boasts some upgrades to give it a hardcore track focus.
The 2.9-litre biturbo V6 sourced from Ferrari has been given some tweaks and can reach a maximum power output of 390 kW, from 375 kW and 600 Nm. There’s a new Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, identified by the large central exhausts. Performance figures are decent, with a 0-100 kph of 3.6 seconds – a marked improvement over the standard car’s 0-100 kph in a claimed 3.9 seconds.
The entire car has gone on a diet, losing around 100 kg thanks to the extensive use of even more carbon fibre, bringing the total weight to about 1 580kg. The car boasts carbon fibre in the bonnet, wings, boot, bumpers and bucket seats. For those wanting even more, there’s the crazier version called the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm, which removes the rear bench seats and replaces them with a roll cage. There’s a carbon rear wing as well as an extended front splitter for more aerodynamic effects and inside are full racing harnesses. It’s essentially a stripped-out but street-legal racecar.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia’s suspension has been uprated too, with engineers widening the track by 50 mm and there are new springs, shocks and bushes. The cabin gets a new-look steering wheel design made from, you guessed it, carbon fibre and there’s plenty of Alcantara splashed across the interior. Customers are in for a treat as the purchase process looks incredibly personalised. They’ll get a Bell helmet in special GTA livery, a tailor-made Goodwool car cover and you’ll also get a full Alpinestars race suit, gloves and shoes.
If you have been eyeing out the Alfa Romeo Giulia from afar, now is your opportunity to put your money on the table. See pricing below! Head to your nearest Alfa Romeo dealership to begin the pre-booking process.
How much does the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA cost in South Africa?
Although premium hatchbacks aren’t popular in South Africa anymore – unless they’re performance derivatives – the unveiling of the new, 6th-generation Opel Astra (the first new Astra launched under PSA custodianship and in the Stellantis era) is still noteworthy.
The 6th-generation Astra (also known as the Astra L) is based on the EMP2 platform that underpins the newcomer’s Stellantis cousin, the recently unveiled Peugeot 308, which means that it will also be offered in plug-in petrol-electric hybrid guise for the first time.
There will be a pair of plug-in hybrids (with combined outputs of 132 kW and 165 kW), which pair either a 110-kW or 132-kW 1.6-litre 4-cylider turbopetrol engine (mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission) with an 81-kW electric motor and 12.4-kWh lithium-ion battery. Their claimed electric-only range is about 50 km.
Although the new Astra is mechanically similar to the 308, it is, predictably, more conservatively styled than its French cousin. Having said that, the understated Opel does have a few standout features, such as the brand’s “Vizor” front fascia (a gloss black panel that stretches the width of the front end), Matrix LED headlamps (that contain 84 light-emitting diodes per headlight cluster), a contrasting (black) roof finish, alloy wheels up to 18 inches in size, plus the eagle-eyed will spot that the newcomer sports tiny ribbed black triangles on its C-pillars – it’s a subtle nod to the Opel Kadetts of the 80s!
The new model is 4 374-mm long, 1 860-mm wide, 1 470-mm tall and has a 2 675-mm wheelbase; compared with its predecessor, it is 4 mm longer, 51 mm wider, 15 mm lower and has gained 13 mm between the front and rear wheels. In terms of luggage capacity, the Astra has an adjustable boot floor and its load bay is said to have grown (by 52 litres) to 422 litres.
The 6th-generation Astra’s exterior design might not be particularly ground-breaking, but the newcomer’s minimalist and tech-laden interior is certainly a revelation…
Opel’s “Pure Panel” dashboard design combines a 10-inch digital instrument cluster with a similarly sized (Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto compatible) touchscreen infotainment system, which is complemented by a redesigned ‘wheel, a shift-by-wire transmission selector, an electric parking brake, (ostensibly) a wireless charging pad (under the central vent) and optional driver’s head-up display.
Rows of gloss black buttons, trimmed with tasteful metallic inserts, features below the expansive central touchscreen and while Opel didn’t specify all the features that will be offered on the new Astra, the line-up will include adaptive cruise control (with stop and go function), as well as a 360-degree camera system.
The range’s internal combustion engine-only line-up will include a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol producing 81 kW or 96 kW, and a 96-kW 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel. These motors will be mated with either 6-speed manual- or 8-speed automatic transmission.
An OPC version coming?
Meanwhile, there are persistent rumblings that a high-performance derivative of the new Astra – powered by an all-wheel-drive 220-kW hybrid powertrain – is in the works. According to reports, it will also be produced at the brand’s Russelsheim plant and wear either an OPC or GSe badge.
The new Opel Astra won’t be offered in the European market until early 2022; however, feedback from the local Opel arm suggest that due to the decline in sales of the C segment hatch (buyers are choosing SUVs instead), the new Astra will not be coming to SA.
The facelifted Kona has arrived in South Africa, replete with enhanced styling and additional features. Will the facelift of this (often overlooked) model in Hyundai’s local line-up be enough to help the Kona garner more sales in the competitive crossover segment? We drove the newcomer in Cape Town to see how it stacks up.
What’s new?
In terms of classification, the Hyundai Kona slots into the crossover segment, which is also occupied by offerings such as the Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen T-Roc, Audi Q2 and the Mini Countryman. It’s been 3 years since the Kona was launched in Mzansi and the model has performed reasonably well, considering that Hyundai ranks fourth in the domestic new-vehicle market – in terms of passenger car sales. For this facelift, the Kona has been adorned with a redesigned front end that features a 2-tier front bumper, of which the slit just above the grille has been removed (here’s the old car for reference).
The bumper is split into 2 separate sections on the facelifted Kona.
The rear bumper has also been revised to tie in with the front of the vehicle and update the Korean offering’s overall design. A new 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine replaces the pre-facelift model’s 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol motor and there’s an N-Line flagship derivative that gives the Kona a notably sportier appearance, as well as a suite of extra safety systems.
Those with a tape measure will notice the facelifted Kona is 40 mm longer than the previous model with the N-Line version being 50 mm longer than before. The model’s width and height remain the same, although the aforementioned N Line stands 8 mm higher off the ground than its siblings.
Much of the Kona’s update encompasses an improvement of the interior specification; Hyundai endeavoured to bring the Kona’s tech, safety systems and connectivity up to ever-moving standards.
What’s it like inside?
Modern Hyundais (or, at the very least, the ones built in Korea or Europe) are renowned for their admirable build quality. Problems are rare (according to multiple surveys) and the models are perceived to offer good spec levels for your money. The updated Kona gains climate control, a wireless charging pad, 2 USB ports up front and multiple drive modes to suit whichever type of “driving mood” you’re in.
Those features are standard on both trim levels (Executive and N Line). The Executive’s 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is expanded to a 10.25-inch version in the N Line, but both are Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatible. The N Line also has a fully digital instrument cluster, whereas the Executive makes do with standard analogue dials and a trip computer neatly nestled between the 2 dials.
The Executive spec models get analogue dial where the N-Line gets digital dials.
Overall, the interior is a mix of soft- and hard-touch plastics with a few rubberised areas, but it lacks the pizzazz of the outlandish exterior design. Still, it’s well equipped and if you opt for the N Line you get access to an expanded safety suite that includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring. It also sports racy red stitching on the seats and ‘wheel.
In terms of occupant space, the Kona’s cabin feels more like that of a large hatchback than a crossover, in that you sit a bit lower and the roofline is lower than in the majority of compact family cars. That doesn’t mean that headroom is tight, however – occupants of up to 1.85 metres in height can be comfortably seated at the front or in the back. The facelifted model’s increased length has benefitted its load-carrying ability too; Hyundai claims the Kona’s load bay capacity has grown from 361- to 544 litres. Having eyed it up myself I would say it’s similar in size to that of an Audi Q2 or Mini Countryman.
Engine lineup
In a bid to move the Kona upmarket from its Creta sibling (and do its utmost to avoid model cannibalisation), Hyundai has upsized the powerplant in its crossover to a 1.6-litre turbopetrol motor, which produces peak outputs of 146 kW and 265 Nm torque and is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. As a result, the Kona is notably peppier than its predecessor (Hyundai claims a 0-to-100 kph time of 7.7 sec and a top speed of 210 kph), although, after we drive the newcomer around the Cape for a day, the 1.6T TGDI’s performance never really excited us, even under hard acceleration.
The Kona has a choice of 1.6 turbopetrol power or 2.0-litre natural aspiration. All models are automatic.
The other engine option is the entry-level 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor with 110 kW and 180 Nm of torque. It gets a new gearbox for the facelift in the form of the IVT (intelligent variable transmission), which is basically a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the same mould as the one we first saw in the brand’s new Creta compact family car in 2020.
Fuel consumption figures are comparatively better for the 2.0-litre variant, with a claimed average return of 6.5 L/100 km (the stated figure for the 1.6-litre turbopetrol derivatives is 7.5 L/100 km). Those with a lighter foot will likely beat that 7.5 L/100 km figure, however – after a day of driving the turbocharged Kona enthusiastically, we saw an indicated average consumption figure of 8.0 L/100 km.
What’s the Kona like to drive?
From behind the ‘wheel, the Kona’s on-road demeanour matches that of a hatchback; its driving experience is not typically crossover-like. The seating position is lower than in a typical crossover, which instils a sportier feel than a practically-minded perched position does. The ride quality is good across tar and gravel surfaces, something that Hyundai has really refined in its latest generation of vehicles.
Unfortunately, Hyundai’s newcomer’s steering feel is vague and overly assisted, at least considering that the revised model is supposed to lean towards the sportier end of the segment. It doesn’t really instil a sense of excitement when you get behind the ‘wheel or provide sufficient cornering confidence at higher speeds.
The Kona’s driving experience is perfectly fair, for the most part, but for a model that is meant to turn heads and exude sportiness, Hyundai may have missed a trick by not giving it a little more handling enthusiasm. There is a Kona N coming though and, by all accounts, that will be something special.
Pricing and after-sales support
For a full list of the specs and pricing of the facelifted Kona check out this article. Pricing starts from R449 900 and goes up to R579 900 for the N-Line flagship derivative. Hyundai’s long warranty is standard (it is valid for 7 years or 200 000 km in the case of mechanical components), as is a 5-year/75 000 km service plan.
Summary
The Kona facelift proceeds the upcoming performance-oriented Kona N.
Hyundai has successfully repositioned the facelifted Kona to sit above the Creta in its local lineup. The revised crossover comes with more a generous specification level and a bigger load bay than before, but while the new 1.6-litre turbopetrol powerplant gives the newcomer sporty pretensions, there is little in the way of driving thrill over and above the engine’s improved performance (compared with that of the outgoing model’s 1.0-litre turbopetrol motor). Eye-catching styling remains the Kona’s major drawcard and, to be fair, it sits in a segment in which that makes a big difference to prospective buyers.
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