Model Review: 2027 Kona in Sarasota, FL

2027 Hyundai Kona
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2027 Hyundai Kona Overview

The 2027 Hyundai Kona is a five-passenger subcompact SUV for drivers who want an easy-to-manage footprint without giving up useful passenger room, cargo flexibility, or modern connectivity. It sits below the Tucson in Hyundai’s SUV lineup and takes a more expressive approach to the small-crossover formula. For shoppers comparing SUVs for families in Sarasota or nearby communities, the Kona offers a practical middle ground: more versatility than a sedan or hatchback, but less bulk than a larger SUV.

At Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota, the Kona is available in four trims: SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited. The first two use a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson 4-cylinder, while the upper two receive a 190-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. Front-wheel drive is standard, and HTRAC all-wheel drive is available throughout the lineup. That combination lets shoppers prioritize fuel economy, added turbocharged response, appearance upgrades, or premium convenience equipment without switching models.

Interior Space

The Kona’s cabin makes its compact exterior more useful than its footprint might suggest. Five-passenger seating, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, and an adjustable dual-level cargo floor give the interior room to adapt between passenger duty and cargo runs. The layout can suit daily commuting, school or childcare transportation, grocery trips, weekend travel, and the changing needs of a small household.

Interior Dimensions

  • Passenger volume: 101.2 cubic feet; 99.0 cubic feet with the available sunroof
  • Cargo capacity: 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded
  • Front/rear headroom: 39.9/38.3 inches; front headroom is 38.3 inches with the sunroof
  • Front/rear legroom: 41.7/38.2 inches
  • Front/rear shoulder room: 56.8/55.2 inches
  • Front/rear hip room: 54.3/52.4 inches

These dimensions give rear passengers useful space for a small SUV, while the fold-flat seat and cargo floor help owners carry longer or taller items. The Kona isn’t a three-row vehicle, but it offers the passenger flexibility many households want without requiring a larger family SUV.

Interior Highlights

  • Cloth seating is standard on SE and SEL Sport; SEL Premium and Limited use H-Tex® trimmed seats.
  • Heated front seats are standard on SEL Sport, SEL Premium and Limited. Limited adds ventilated front seats.
  • SE and SEL Sport include a six-way adjustable driver’s seat. SEL Premium and Limited add an eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support.
  • Dual automatic temperature control and second-row air vents are included on SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited.
  • Four cargo tie-down anchors help keep groceries, luggage, or recreational equipment organized.
  • Rear LATCH lower anchors and upper tether anchors are included for child-seat installation.

Lower trims cover the fundamentals, while the upper trims add the comfort features that can make longer drives easier. The result is a cabin that supports both the driver’s routine and the practical details of carrying passengers, pets, or gear.

Exterior Design

The 2027 Kona is designed to stand out rather than blend in. Hyundai describes it as an adventurously small SUV, and its upright proportions, distinctive lighting, available roof rails, and trim-specific wheel designs support that identity. Its 34.8-foot turning diameter and compact overall length can also make the Kona easier to place in parking lots, neighborhood streets, and tighter urban spaces around Sarasota.

Exterior Dimensions

  • Wheelbase: 104.7 inches
  • Overall length: 171.3 inches
  • Overall width: 71.9 inches
  • Minimum ground clearance: up to 8.3 inches, depending on configuration

Those measurements keep the Kona maneuverable without reducing it to a cramped commuter. Available ground clearance and AWD can be useful for wet roads, uneven driveways, or occasional unpaved surfaces, although the Kona is better understood as an everyday crossover than a serious off-road vehicle.

Exterior Highlights

  • LED projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, and automatic headlights are standard.
  • High Beam Assist is standard across the lineup.
  • SEL Sport adds black-finished 18-inch alloy wheels, gloss-black mirror covers, and a gloss-black spoiler.
  • SEL Premium and Limited use 19-inch alloy wheels.
  • Heated exterior mirrors are included on SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited; SEL Premium and Limited add LED turn-signal indicators.
  • Limited adds a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, roof rails, and a hands-free smart liftgate with auto open.
  • AWD models add Snow mode to the available drive-mode selection; front-wheel-drive models use Normal and Sport modes.

The hands-free liftgate can simplify loading when both hands are occupied, while the lighting and mirror equipment help support visibility. Trim-level styling also gives shoppers a way to choose a more understated or more athletic presentation.

Exterior Paint Options

Hyundai lists these exterior color choices for the 2027 Kona, with availability varying by trim and configuration:

  • Abyss Black
  • Cyber Gray
  • Ecotronic Gray
  • Ultimate Red
  • Mirage Green
  • Atlas White
  • Soultronic Orange
  • Denim Blue
  • Neoteric Yellow

Shoppers should confirm the current color and equipment combination for a specific Kona with Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota, since not every paint choice is necessarily available with every trim or configuration.

Power and Performance

The Kona offers two gasoline powertrains with different priorities. The 2.0-liter engine emphasizes straightforward commuting and efficiency, while the turbocharged 1.6-liter provides more output for drivers who want stronger acceleration when merging, passing, or carrying a full cabin. Both use regular unleaded fuel, and either powertrain can be paired with available HTRAC AWD.

Engines and Powertrains

  • SE and SEL Sport: 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson 4-cylinder, 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, and 132 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm
  • SEL Premium and Limited: 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder, 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and 195 lb-ft of torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm
  • Recommended fuel: Regular unleaded

The base engine can fit routine errands and commuting, while the turbocharged option gives the Kona a larger reserve of passing and highway power. The two-engine approach lets shoppers match performance to their priorities instead of paying for capability they may not need.

Transmission and Drivetrain

  • 2.0-liter models use an Intelligent Variable Transmission with shift-by-cable SHIFTRONIC® manual shift mode.
  • Turbocharged models use an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and shift-by-wire controls.
  • Front-wheel drive is standard on every trim.
  • Drive Mode Select is standard, with Snow mode added to AWD configurations.

AWD can provide additional traction confidence in rain and on loose surfaces, but it is an available feature, not standard equipment. Buyers who want the strongest fuel-economy figures will generally find them in a front-wheel-drive configuration.

Driving Experience and EPA-Estimated Efficiency

  • SE and SEL Sport FWD: 28 city/35 highway/31 combined mpg
  • SE and SEL Sport AWD: 26 city/29 highway/27 combined mpg
  • SEL Premium and Limited FWD: 26 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg
  • SEL Premium and Limited AWD: 24 city/29 highway/26 combined mpg

The Kona’s compact dimensions support easy maneuvering, while the turbo engine and available AWD give shoppers alternatives when highway response or wet-weather traction matters more than maximum efficiency.

Technology for Connected Daily Travel

Hyundai positions the Kona around a small body with substantial digital capability. A large touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, connected services, and available digital displays give the lineup a technology focus without limiting the most useful basics to the top trim.

Displays and Infotainment

  • A 12.3-inch touchscreen display is standard on all four trims
  • SE, SEL Sport, and SEL Premium use a 4.2-inch Color Multi-Information Display; Limited adds a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are standard
  • Bluelink® connected services and over-the-air software updates are standard
  • Limited adds an eight-speaker Bose® premium audio system

The standard touchscreen gives drivers a clear place to access navigation, calls, media, and vehicle information. The Limited’s larger gauge display adds a more expansive view in front of the driver, while the standard wireless smartphone connection keeps common phone functions accessible without a cable.

Connectivity and Convenience

  • Bluetooth® hands-free phone and wireless audio streaming are standard.
  • Dual front and dual rear USB outlets are standard.
  • Wireless phone charging is standard on SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited.
  • Proximity-key entry with push-button start and remote start is standard.
  • Limited adds a surround-view monitor and ambient interior lighting.

These features help the Kona serve as a practical commuter and weekend vehicle. Multiple USB outlets support passengers, wireless charging reduces cord clutter, and connected services can make remote access more convenient during a busy day.

Safety Review

The 2027 Kona includes Hyundai SmartSense driver-assistance technology intended to help an attentive driver monitor traffic, lane position, nearby vehicles, and parking areas. These features can provide alerts or, in certain situations, apply corrective steering or braking, but they do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment, or responsibility.

Driver-Assistance Technology

  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, cyclist, junction-turning, and direct-oncoming detection is standard.
  • Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist are standard.
  • Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, and Driver Attention Warning are standard.
  • Safe Exit Warning, Rear Occupant Alert, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and High Beam Assist are standard.
  • Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is listed for SE, SEL Sport, and SEL Premium in the specification material; shoppers should confirm equipment on a specific Limited vehicle.

Together, these systems address common driving situations such as following traffic, changing lanes, backing out of a space, and keeping the vehicle centered. Their value is greatest when the driver remains engaged and treats the technology as assistance rather than automation.

Parking, Visibility, and Vehicle Safety

  • A rearview monitor with parking guidance is standard.
  • Limited adds a surround-view monitor, forward/side/reverse parking distance warning, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.
  • Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control with traction-control support, vehicle stability management, and tire-pressure monitoring are included.
  • Standard restraint equipment includes dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors, and rear child-safety locks.

The standard camera and safety equipment support everyday parking and passenger transport, while Limited’s additional camera and parking systems can make tight spaces easier to judge. Families should still check their preferred car-seat fit in the exact vehicle before purchase.

Find the 2027 Hyundai Kona at Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota

The 2027 Hyundai Kona brings together small-SUV maneuverability, useful rear-seat room, flexible cargo space, wireless connectivity, available AWD, and a choice between efficiency-focused and turbocharged power. It can suit Sarasota shoppers who want SUV utility without three-row size, as well as drivers comparing Hyundai SUVs at Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota for commuting, errands, family routines, and weekend travel.

Browse the current Kona inventory at Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota, compare the SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited trims, and contact the dealership to arrange a test drive. Experiencing the Kona in person can help you decide which powertrain, drivetrain, and equipment combination best fits your everyday driving.

* Bluetooth® word marks and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Hyundai is under license. A compatible Bluetooth®-enabled phone must first be paired. Phone performance depends on software, coverage, and carrier.

Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.

* All fuel economy mpg listings in the content above are EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary.

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