FFIRIRSSTT D DRRIVIVEESS
28 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 31
Petrol-electric version adds variety to compact SUV’s line-up
HYUNDAI KONA HYBRID
AUDI A 4 35 TFSI SPORT
S TRONIC
TESTED 22.8.19, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS ON SALE SEPTEMBER
@ t o m m o r g a n 3
f you haven’t been keeping count,
this is now the fourth powertrain
option to make its way intoHyundai’s popular compact
crossover. Petrol and electric versions
remain, with this hybrid effectively
replacing the axed diesel model.
It’s a familiar set-up, with the same
1.6 -l it r e fou r-p ot p e t r ol e n g i ne a nd
32kW electric motor as the Ioniq
hybrid. Both work in parallel to drive
the front wheels only, and the small
1.56kWh battery pack recharges
itself entirely through braking and
coasting. Hyundai’s choice of six-
speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox
should, in theory, mean less droning
than a CVT too.
That’s largely true for sedate
city driving, with the default Eco
mo de d r oppi n g ba c k t o bat t e r y
power alone whenever it can and
the engine staying fairly innocuous.
But it does blunt the accelerator,
even if calling for more power forces
the gearbox to kick down and the
r e v s t o f l a r e. A c ombi ne d out putof 1 39bhp s u gge s t s it i sn’t shor t on
power, but the engine sounds like
it’s straining to achieve it. Things
are far less intrusive at a motorway
cruise, with minimal vibrations
from engine to cabin.
Sp or t mo de sh a r p e n s up t h r ot t le
response and gives the otherwise
light steering more heft, and paddle
shifters let you take control of the
cogs yourself, but the Kona’s dynamic
appeal remains behind class leaders
in a very competitive segment.
While our test car rode on 18in
wheels, the dent they make in
emissions and economy over lesser-
equipped cars running on 16s is fairly
AUDI’S FACELIFTED A4 might not
be a car you’ll notice for its carefully
tweaked appearance. If you owned
a particularly low-end version ofthe pre-facelifted A4, mind, Audi’s
generosity with the standard
equipment of this one should get
your attention. You now get a bigger
touchscreen infotainment system and
Virtual Cockpit digital instruments
thrown in for free, even on rebranded
entry-level Technik trim.
The car’s 2.0-litre turbocharged 35
T F SI p e t r ol e n g i ne i s e x p e c t e d t o b e
the most popular and it has a refined,
flexible and fairly free-revving
character allied to an easy real-world
4 0 mp g. Ha nd l i n g i s c omp e t e nt i f
uninspiring, but ride comfort on
Sport-trim cars is impressive. MS
Price £ 2 7, 1 9 5
Engine 4 cyls, 1580cc, petrol,
plus permanent magnet
electric motor
Power 139bhp at 5700rpm
Torque 195lb ft at 4000rpm
Gearbox 6-spd dual-clutch automatic
Kerb weight 1453kg
Top speed 115mph
0-62mph 11.6sec
Economy 52.3mpg
CO 2 , tax band 99g/km, 23%
RIVALS Toyota C-HR, Kia Niro Hybrid
Price £33,975 On sale Now
What’s new? Our first taste of the facelifted A4
on UK roads is in biggest-selling engine form
HYUNDAI KONA HYBRID PREMIUM SE
Provides a welcome, if not especially
significant, middle ground between
existing petrol and EV optionsAAAAC
AAAAC
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SSANGYONG KORANDO
1.6 DIESEL ULTIMATE 4x 4
IN FULLY LOADED Ultimate
specification, this new fourth-
generation Korando, with its 134bhp,
289lb ft 1.6-litre diesel engine,
costs a reasonable £31,995. It’ll tow
2000kg, out-hauling comparatively
priced and equipped versions of the
Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.
So if you have a caravan to lug
around, that’ll be a key draw. If you
don’t, you may well be put off byits firm, at times wooden, ride and
lacklustre straight-line performance.
As such, the Korando feels as
t hou g h it h a s b e e n de si g ne d t o app e a l
to a very select audience. If you fit
t h at n ic he , y ou’ l l pr oba bl y f i nd it s
strong equipment levels and roomy
interior sweeten the deal further.
If you don’t, you’ll find yourself
better served elsewhere. SD
Price £31,995 On sale Now
What’s new? Fourth-gen Korando has a sharp
new look, useful towing ability and lots of kit
AAACC
Roomy interior is comfortable and well equipped for its price range
minor, with an indicated 55mpg on
ou r t e s t r out e. It r o de w e l l a c r o s s
Amsterdam’s largely smooth roads,coping comfortably with the few
cobbled streets we could find.
Given its platform was designed
from the start to accommodate
battery packs, the Kona remains as
roomy as ever in hybrid guise, with
an interior that largely tallies with its
price and a growing list of technology
included as standard.
It ’s u n l i k e l y t o pr ov e a s
transformative as the Kona Electric,
but now that diesel engines have been
exorcised from the line-up, the hybrid
manages to strike a sensible middle
ground for emissions and economy.
TOM MORGAN