You can drive the Hyundai Kona on the highway, but you might not want to. This SUV is made for city driving, making passing difficult, accelerating off an exit troublesome, and dealing with wind on the highway problematic for you. While it sounds like the Kona isn’t going to be an SUV you want to drive for long highway commutes, if you live and drive near the city where you work, this Hyundai might just be an excellent choice for you.

Maybe the 2022 Hyundai Kona N is right for you

To be completely fair to the Kona, we do need to offer you the one model that could have enough juice to get you going on the highway. The Kona N is the sporty, performance-oriented version of this Hyundai that comes with 276 horsepower. That’s certainly enough power to take this little SUV out on the highway and give you the power you need to pass other vehicles. Of course, the drawbacks are the higher price of $35,000 you’ll pay and relatively low fuel mileage which is 28 mpg combined for the N model.

But the Kona N is simply a digression…

City driving in an SUV made for tight spaces

The Kona might not look like much of an SUV at first. In fact, you may see it and think that it’s simply an overgrown hatchback. According to Cars.com, this small size is a positive feature of this Hyundai. Handling turns and moving through city traffic is much easier in this subcompact SUV than if you drive a much larger vehicle.

The small size is only one factor to offer excellent handling for the Hyundai Kona. You’ll enjoy an impressive suspension and firm steering, which only improves the urban maneuverability you’re going to enjoy when you drive the Kona.

Hyundai Kona fuel economy: save money on fuel with this tiny SUV

Driving the Kona around in the city will give you 27 mpg during your time on the road. When you do venture out on the highway, 33 mpg will be the fuel mileage you find for this small and active SUV. Of course, if you want to avoid paying for gas at all, you could drive the EV version of this subcompact crossover which returns 258 miles of driving range. The fuel you save will help you pay less for the driving experience in this small and active crossover.

Hyundai gives you an easy driving experience

Changing menus and selections on your infotainment screen can be frustrating in some vehicles but not in the Hyundai Kona. You’ll see an impressive multimedia system that’s presented to you in either an 8-inch or 10.25-inch screen to present you with large icons and amazing menu options. No matter which version you choose, you’ll have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to keep you connected.

Hyundai Kona interior: just enough room for your stuff

The fact that the Kona looks like an overgrown hatchback means you’ll find a respectable cargo area in this SUV. Behind the rear seats, you can carry up to 19.2 cubic feet of stuff which expands to 45.8 cubic feet when you fold down the rear seats. This means you’ve got a versatile little SUV to drive that can carry plenty of luggage or bring a few antiques back to your apartment from the store around the corner.

You could find the right drive in the Hyundai Kona

Are you searching for a subcompact SUV that fits on the city streets, offers you an affordable price, and brings versatility to the mix? If so, the Hyundai Kona is the vehicle that’s right for you. This SUV starts at $21,150, which fits right into your budget to be the city-dwelling small vehicle that takes you where you need to go.

Next, check out the comparison of the Honda HR-V and CR-V models, or watch the video below to learn more about the cargo room in the Hyundai Kona.

This article was updated on 9/1/2022.