Bought one for my wife a couple weeks ago, always puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I’ve got a 22 Genesis G70 3.3 which I love and it’s very fast, but the Kona N is just pure fun
That Hyundai crossover has better steering and pedal feel than any current Audi, Mercedes, BMW. But the brand snobs won’t want to know about that 🤷♂️ Btw with the N cars, it’s best to use custom and put the suspension in normal or sport, and the steering in normal or sport. The hardcore N mode with those things in Sport+ just isn’t the correct way to have it.
The Kona N is the most fun vehicle I have ever driven it’s now my daily and so happy people sleep on this car until they test me at the light or when I give them a ride lol so much fun 😩
@@vr6glsI've driven an RS3 and own a Kona N and yes, I can't afford an RS3. However, the RS3 is too fast for me (I'm 57 and definitely notice my spatial awareness isn't quite what it was ) so I'd probably kill myself or someone else in one. I'm very happy with the Kona.
Ultimately the Kona wins. The audi R models are great, but for the everyday person they're never realistic. With the laws changing with speeds too, you're never gonna truly enjoy it unless you're on private land. The kona is much more fun for its money, extremely safe and has a lot of very decent features for what it is. The kona won't depreciate nearly as much in the future since there won't be as many of them about, and a new RS really isn't much different from an old one. Essentially the new version of an astra vxr
@David Hayes top bants that. But a 5 year old RS model is worth half of what it was when it was new. Its not like the RS are rare cars. Every landlords son has one on finance, same with all the dodgy builders and crypto lads who live with their mum.
You're talking nonsense. A second hand 3 year old 8v Rs3 is 45k, they were only about that new. They've pretty much lost nothing in the last few years. Due to the delays on builds the 8y rs3 are worth about 10k over list currently and that's for a used one. RS cars are rare, you sound really bitter, "landlords sons and crypto lads who live with their mum". Is a crypto "lad" living with your mum and that's why you're upset?
The Kona costs half of what the Audi does...you get more in the Kona with it being slightly slower being the only tradeoff...The Kona will also outlast the RS3...
I loved the Kona N, honestly can't think of a car I've driven that's more entertaining. Not sure I could live with it as my only car given the longer journeys I have to do though. Would have been a great 2nd car if I could afford to shell out that much on a weekend car.
Get the kona N as the 2nd car. Get the sonata n-line or limited (or a sante fe or tuscon) as main. All for the price of 1 rs3 - and with a much better warranty.
I drive the Kona 1.6 L with 195HP this goes in the direction of the Kona N, but is significantly cheaper. I am very satisfied, only a slight rattling in the back of the trunk and a rattling noise on the middle display bother me. I still look forward to every ride in the Kona and would recommend this car. Incidentally, the Krell sound system is absolutely sufficient for normal music listeners and it's fun to drive with it
The folks shopping for a Kona N know what they are getting, and would never spend the extra cash for the RS3. 0-62 for the DCT Kona N should be closer to 5.2 seconds. But I know it varies depending on road conditions and such. Hyundai is underestimating everything about the "N" series cars. The owners are finding out that these things have more power then advertised. Also the exhaust sound, the Kona seems to not be in "N" mode which is way more crackly sounding then the video suggest. Every reviewer I have seen switch the N series cars into "N" mode, they laughs as if they just experienced something special. That is the N Shift Grin mode at it's finest. It really does what it says, make you grin. The DC blip (fart) in the Kona/Elantra/Volseter is what we want, really though. Just so much fun and somewhat practical with a touch of a button. I think that Hyundai knows what they are doing with the "N" series cars. And I am open to taking part in this hot-hatch-fun that they are putting out.
Although will void Hyundai's brilliant warranty, also worth a mention how much better the revised Turbo and inlet flows air on the new 2022 Kona and i30 N models.... 350bhp is basically a map! 400bhp not much more difficult to achieve and you'd still have way over 20 grand left over from not buying the Audi!
If you'd compared the S3 to the Kona N.. I'd get it. This isn't really the same target market. Most families would consider an S3, but VERY few would consider an RS3 (at least once the sensible one of the couple has a say).
I have the n-line and it is so zippy and fun! Realistically it is even faster than I need for my commute but it's a blast. N would have been fun but I don't go anywhere I need that level of power. Considering the kona is so light, even the n-line with 195hp can really go. edit: fun fact! the N stands for both the Namyang district of South Korea where these cars originate from and the Nurburgring race track in Germany where the N and N-line models get tested. The design of the N emblem is also designed to look like a tight serpentine turn in a road
Still wrapping my head around the fact that this is a Hyundai! Besides the nice performance, it does have basic essential options, most cars have. The interior does feel kind of bare bones to me though, but I guess if they were to have made a more upscale feel, we'd be talking closer to $40K USD. It's still on my short list of cars I am considering purchasing.
I had a WRX STI and was now searching for a new car ... test drove the new RS3 and the I30N and I know its slower bla bla but i ordered the i30 N sure also bc it cheaper but money was just one Pro in my list ... overall the i30N is the more playfull car imo.
@@colbysavoie7953 hey cool you are also thinking about buying an N Product,. so the Topspeed is 240 km/h off the kona N so it is 10km/h(6mph) slower an from not to 100km/h (62mph) it need 5.5 i think so 0.1 s slower ... I wouldn't call it slower in my opinion ...🙂.
@@gustavogo2915 I wouldn't say a downgrade ... it is different that's for sure but probably much more fun as a daily IMO... the main reason I chanced from a 2017 STI was like u mentioned my left leg 😂 was just tired of the traffic jams ... so I would recommend you talking one out for a test drive ... I promise u will love it
Personally, I do find the new A3 a bit underwhelming altogether. What made Audis for me special was the interior quality, and whilst it is easily better than a Kona (hardly a surprise, given the Interior plastics have always been the Kona's biggest weak point, rear leg room included), it feels IMO in so many places a lot cheaper than a previous A3m, something I do encounter in most new Audis. There is a lot more had plastics than one would expect, with screens replacing build quality it seems, budget wise. Also, in this video the Audi 5 cylinder sounds comparably not that exciting, more like an mid 2000s Volvo 5 cylinder sedan than a rally beast or those angry sporty 5 cylinder Ford Focuses of the past.
A serious drum kit will fit just fine in a Kona N (and when you roll up to the gig in a red one all the ladies will figure your band has been signed), but how about a concert grand harp? Can you shove that front passenger seat forward enough, or recline it somehow, to accommodate the harp's 6' column? I used to be able to do that with my 2003 Mazda Protege5, but my drummer son in LA has commandeered that for the time being.
Cupra Formentor = Audi A3/S3 = Another bloody Golf based hatch. I'd go Hyundai. Bun being a snob, what makes more sense; 36k for everything but a coat of paint, or near 70k for a family hatchback?
Given how stupid quick modern performance cars are, do the Audi laser lights (or other matrix led, etc) make spirited night time driving possible? crappy lights are borderline terrifying, even on full whack, even on B roads I know well. Are they a worthy upgrade?
I saw a post on just how bad car headlights are and for most cars, even new ones, they are downright horrid. My Kona N has LED reflector headlights and I can't understand why they went reflector based vs projector but I suppose they wanted to save money?
No such thing as bigger wheels on the rs3, they're all 19's, they're the launch edition/carbon ones. Strange the calipers are blue too, ceramic are grey. Looks like a frankenstein car, ie one audi sent out where you actually can't spec one like it if you tried.
Had one for 6 months now , done 4 trackdays in it , brill car its my wifes runabout does everything great , an by the way av got a megane 4 trophry R which i use on track an its not that much better !
I could have bought any car on the market. Audi, Merc, BMW.... All overpriced and pretentious..... I bought the Kona N Premium. Why spend 3x as much for some bling
I dont believe anyone if offered one or the other that they would take the Kona over the RS3 - I think that is just nonsense. That said i do get some of the comments - the Kona would make more sense, a person would spend on that as opposed to the RS - the RS pricing is madness really. I have one on order but its a one off for me, normally no chance I would spend that money - going to do my best to get the best out of it.... but the Kona as it stands is the sort of car I would go for - I do like ones where everything is just thrown in, its so helpful not having to decide what you can justify adding and what you cant etc :) Both good cars here - just not really comparible, I just watched them as separate reviews basically. RS is a glorified VW! ha yes the obvious being its one company but that is like saying a Lamborghini is a glorified VW as well! In theory yes - but very glorified! You cant compare RS3 with a Golf R for example (another good car BTW) - price brackets and therefore the extra engineering makes one better than the other BUT again like this review 2 good cars - i like them :)
Agree with you Philip Barclay. I have just picked up my RS3 in basic spec, for which I have paid £51K. I have already been offered £5K more than I paid for it …. which suggests that it is worth buying. My previous car was a Golf GTI performance and was given on trade in almost what I paid for it three years ago, suggesting that I had not overpaid for that either. It has become a bit fashionable to knock stuff like Audi and VW, which is a bit silly really.
@@davidhayes4814 nice one you have been offered more already! Not surprising though considering how long it is to get hold of them! Mine is a November order so I have my fingers crosed for July - but I wont be taking an offer for it, I actually want it... but then when you see them selling at 65-70K which is complete madness you just never know..... :)
If I'm not allowed to profit monetarily from the choice then I go for the best drivers car, not the just the fastest, and in that context plenty would choose the Kona or an i30 N Imo.
The only issue I have with the rs3 is it looks like a council estate drug dealers car. That’s my only problem 😂as with all Audi rs3 and a45s and golf r😂
@@marknichol8167 if you did your research you wouldn’t feel embarrassed, Kona competes with Honda HRV , Toyota cHR , the Audi in your video is a hatchback which competes with the like of the type R and GTI etc.
Audi means electronic issues poor reliability where hyundai has old Mercedes engine reliability hyundai bought rights to Merce des engine older design Also modified kona n can be better
@@Kyumilli yeah no more Kona N after just two years. I'm hoping that helps it retain its value a bit more. A good clean example in a decade will prob be worth a bit of money I'd say
@@Grimesitty I think it will hold up in value. I test drove one a few weeks ago just for fun...Unfortunetaly I had traded in my 2018 Elantra GT sport hatch for a Subaru Forester XT just several months ago. I will definetly look into this KonaN in a few years if I can find on under $30k CDN.
