The interior design of the Hyundai Kona is both radical and traditional. The curved display houses dual 12.3-inch screens for the digital gauge cluster and infotainment, which are standard features. The centre console has a “brushed aluminium” finish, giving it a retro look with its chunky buttons. However, the entry-level Advance trim has a sea of black plastic with no soft-touch luxury. The practicality of the interior is impressive with ample space in the centre console, roomy door bins, and a small shelf on the passenger side.
One interesting aspect of the Kona is that the floor varies depending on the powertrain chosen. The EV and hybrid models have a higher floor due to the battery placement, resulting in more headroom and a better driving position. Rear passengers in the EV model enjoy a hump-free floor, generous head and legroom, and a reclining backrest. The Kona offers a spacious boot with 466 litres of capacity, along with 40/20/40-split folding rear seats.
The multimedia system of the Kona is well-designed and user-friendly. It features physical shortcut buttons for the climate controls, a high-quality screen with customizable menus, and good responsiveness. The navigation and voice control function excellently, and phone mirroring is integrated seamlessly. However, wireless phone mirroring is not available, and the configurable shortcut buttons have limited functions. Upgrading to the N Line S or Ultimate trims adds a Bose sound system.
Multimedia system
While other manufacturers are removing buttons and integrating controls into touchscreens, Hyundai retains physical shortcut buttons for the multimedia and a separate console for climate controls. The multimedia system boasts a stylish and intuitive interface, extensive configurability, and good responsiveness. The navigation and voice control are excellent, and phone mirroring is well-integrated. However, the lack of wireless phone mirroring and limited functions for configurable shortcut buttons are minor drawbacks. Opting for higher trims adds a Bose sound system for improved audio quality.