Hyundai Kona: an extraordinary design, for better or for worse

 

In 2018, Hyundai marketed the Kona , a subcompact SUV that was added to the Tucson and Santa Fe in the Korean manufacturer's lineup. Its design has changed the stylistic signature of the brand, and not just a little!

The silhouette of the gasoline Hyundai Kona, both dynamic and unique, still raises many eyebrows. Why exactly?

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A whole front

The Kona's storefront is without a doubt the most interesting part of the vehicle. Obviously, the designers of the Kona had a variety of ideas to incorporate into the SUV. So the front, although original, is very busy.

Some might not like it, since it's hard to target what to watch first. In this sense, let's start with the grid. Obviously, Hyundai has decided to follow market trends by inserting a grille with almost caricature dimensions.

The grille is surrounded by a series of aesthetic elements which considerably weigh down the design, starting with the false air intake below the hood. Although the idea is interesting, the fact remains that it is superfluous.

Then, the question of headlights: there are a lot of them. Creativity can be saluted by changing pre-established standards for their placement, but the execution could have been done otherwise. At the hood, we find a first level of headlights, reminiscent of the style of the late Nissan Juke .

Then, in an unconventional manner, we see a second level of headlights, located lower than normal lights but higher than fog lights. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the fog lights are inserted into it all.  

In short, it is all very, very busy.

A Classic side

If the front of the Kona is rather chaotic, it is different for the side. The lines are taken from the brand's other products. The black skirts encircle the wheel arches and continue their way to the ends of the vehicle.

The integration of this aesthetic element is interesting, since the line splits in two just after the wheel arches, continuing to both the bumpers and headlights and lights.

The roof rails add, for their part, the utility character to the Kona, while a spoiler amplifies the small sporty side. Lines which are, all in all, very successful.

A fluid design? 

The utility look continues at the rear with the dual tone bumper. Note, however, that with the Trend set (a novelty for 2020), the aesthetics of the bumpers and skirts are changed.

However, the silhouette of the rear, just like the front, is quite loaded. Although there are less items to look at, the design of the vehicle can give the impression that it is "run over". There are many horizontal lines, dotted here and there, giving the appearance of a rear with multiple floors.

A subtlety that could irritate some: we notice that the fires are separate. Thus, the brake lights are raised, while the indicators and reversing lights are arranged at the height of the wheel arches.

Once again, a bold concept, but unconventional.