Yahoo Autos Engine and Transmission
Engine and Transmission Rating:
Two powertrains are available with the Kona: SE and SEL trims come with a 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission, but Limited and Ultimate models are powered by the considerably peppier 175-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, but both engines can be had with optional all-wheel drive.
We’ve not yet had a chance to test a lower-level Kona with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but our experience with that engine in the larger Hyundai Tucson tells us it will provide sufficient, if not exactly thrilling, acceleration. With the turbo four, our Kona Ultimate test vehicle scampered from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, just 0.1 second behind the rapid Kia Soul Exclaim equipped with a more powerful 201-hp version of the same 1.6-liter engine. In the real world, the Kona often doesn’t feel as fleet as the numbers suggest. The turbocharger needs time to come online at lower engine speeds, where its gusto is merely adequate. You’ll encounter that situation often in normal traffic. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic shifts quickly and smoothly once you’re rolling, but it stumbles at low speed in parking lots and in bumper-to-bumper traffic, engaging and disengaging first gear hesitantly until the driver offers more throttle input.
Test Results: Acceleration
Manual Shifting Capability
Shifting for yourself is an option via the automatic’s shift lever, but when running the engine to high revs the transmission will automatically upshift whether you like it or not.
Automatic Stop/Start
Tow Ratings Compared
Towing capacity is a rarity in this segment, and none of the Kona’s rivals in this comparison offer such a convenience. For those who do need to tow, the Jeep Renegade offers a 2000-pound rating.
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