DecodedCars2026 Hyundai Kona
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV FWD, Electric 4dr SUV, N-Series 4dr SUV
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 31 combined · 29 city / 35 hwy
- Length
- 171.3–172.8 in
- Curb weight
- 3,005–3,759 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 22 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Hyundai Kona is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 171 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,203 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 31 MPG combined (29 city / 35 highway), 3% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,150 a year in fuel.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
- No all-electric version any more
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Kona →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2026 Kona configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD | 171.3 in | 71.7 in | 63.4 in | 104.7 in | 62.6 / 63 in | 3,203 lb | 59/41 |
| 4dr SUV FWD | 171.3 in | 71.7 in | 62.2 in | 104.7 in | 62.6 / 63 in | 3,005 lb | 61/39 |
| Electric 4dr SUV | 171.7 in | 71.7 in | 62.2 in | 104.7 in | 62.6 / 63 in | 3,759 lb | 52/48 |
| N-Series 4dr SUV | 172.8 in | 71.7 in | 63.4 in | 104.7 in | 62.6 / 63 in | 3,461 lb |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S1) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 35 / 31 | +3% | $2,150 | 288 |
| Kona FWD w/Stop-Start | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S1) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 34 / 31 | +3% | $2,150 | 284 |
| Kona FWD SX2 1.6T 8AT FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 31 / 28 | -7% | $2,400 | 320 |
| Kona AWD w/Stop-Start | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S1) | All-Wheel Drive | 27 / 29 / 28 | +8% | $2,400 | 319 |
| Kona AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S1) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 29 / 27 | +4% | $2,500 | 323 |
| Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 28 / 26 | 0% | $2,600 | 340 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Kona.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Kona (this car) | 31 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Bronco | 20 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross | 42 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Ford Escape | 40 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Jeep Compass | 26 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Recalls (3)
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly · Jul 14, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V452000 · 47,787 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
- Risk
- A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 306. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 15, 2026.
Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm · Feb 5, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V069000 · 4,555 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Kona vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
- Risk
- A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 5, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 295. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 7, 2026.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Jan 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
Not every 2026 Hyundai Kona is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Kona years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Kona | 31 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Kona | 31 | 171.3 in | Not rated | 1 | 29 |
| 2024 Kona | 31 | 171.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 68 |
| 2023 Kona | 32 | 165.4 in | Not rated | 2 | 75 |
| 2022 Kona | 32 | 165.4 in | Not rated | 2 | 130 |
| 2021 Kona | 30 | 164.2 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 147 |
| 2020 Kona | 30 | 164.2 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 189 |
| 2019 Kona | 30 | 164.2 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 252 |
| 2018 Kona | 30 | 164.2 in | Not rated | 0 | 75 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →