2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate: The Name Says it All

Sandy B
Mar 2, 2021

2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate on city street - Vehicle History

What if you want a practical car, one that’s good with fuel economy but still fun to drive? Where do you find that? The 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate could be one of the best choices for you – especially if you want a spunky color and some fun with it.

What does the 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate offer?

A practical car, this vehicle offers a 1.6L I-4 engine as the standard option. It produces 175 horsepower and gets a combined 30 miles per gallon. With front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel-drive model, it’s destined to impress up to five people.

There’s much more to this car (even in its little package) than this. That’s what we’ll take a look at here. If you’re thinking about buying it, it’s best to take a closer look at the 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate’s Vehicle History.

Check out the Details of the Kona Ultimate

This isn’t the first year for the Ultimate, but it has gotten much better. It is the top tier option in trim for the 2020 model. The Kona offered five trims with 10 total configurations.

The base model is the SE, followed by the SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and the Ultimate, which are all pretty nice vehicles for various reasons.

Buyers can choose from the front-wheel-drive model with a new vehicle starting price point of $27,950 or upgrade to the all-wheel-drive at $29,350.

Here’s a video showcasing the specs of this new model. As the narrator says, this model is a significant upgrade from the 2018 Kona Ultimate. A lot of that has to do with its decent specs and tech.

The Kona Ultimate is made to be a small SUV, but it has a good amount of performance behind it. It doesn’t have a huge engine – just a 1.6L turbo charged I-4 engine – as the base.

However, it is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is a peppier engine than you may think. It goes from 0 to 60 in about 6.6 seconds.

The benefit here comes from the fast shifting dual-cloth automatic, which also gives you that smooth feel even on more difficult roads.

Let’s talk fuel efficiency. The 1.6L engine gives drivers the best fuel economy. It gets 28 city and 32 highway for a combined 30 miles per gallon, per EPA estimates.

The Body Upgrades on the Ultimate Stand out

Some exterior upgrades are on the Kona Ultimate for 2020 that help it have that extra flair. That starts with a premium grille along the front. The upper two trims offer LED daytime running lights, which are just one of a set of impressive, bright lights.

Another nice touch on the Ultimate is that the manufacturer mirrors the exterior color inside. There are a few stitches and colored features on the interior in the same paint you select (yes, even that lime green color!).

Another upgrade on the Kona Ultimate comes in the way of bigger wheels. This trim offers 18-inch wheels. They have a more geometric shape to them over the standard options on the lower trims.

There’s also a significant amount of cladding along the wheel wells and along the bottom of the car.

You’ll also notice the upgraded tech – the mirrors are heated, with both blind spot and turn signal indicators. It also features the Smart key system.

When it comes to safety, the 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate is a star. That is, it received a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There is one recall, as of October of 2020, and that was on improper labeling on the components of the vehicle. Consumers seem to have lots of positive things to say, too.

What about What’s Inside?

As the top tier of the Hyundai Kona lineup, the Ultimate has some key features. That includes a refined, good-looking interior. It has an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen with bright contacts and a very clean look. It includes navigation with real-time traffic updates. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are pre-loaded, of course.

It also offers a suite of safety and driver-assist features, which has become pretty standard on 2020 models. That includes standard automated emergency braking and lane-keeping warning. Automatic high-beam headlamps are an optional upgrade.

The car also offers a 4.2-inch color displayed between the analog gauges, an auto-dimming rearview mirror that features HomeLink, and a wireless charging pad to keep your phone ready to go.

Additionally, drivers are sure to love the adaptive cruise control feature – the first year the Kona has offered this feature – and it’s only available on the Ultimate trim model.

Should You Go for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate?

While you have plenty of options overall in which vehicle to choose, there’s no doubt that if you love the smaller SUV style and you want a fun car to drive, the Kona Ultimate works well. As a top-tier choice, it has the tech and the solid fuel economy to please most drivers.

To find out what really matters to you, be sure to see what other customers think. Check out the 2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate’s Vehicle History for more insights.

avatar Sandy B
Sandy B. has written for The New York Times, Cleveland Magazine, and many online publications. She long-ago ditched the minivan life for the off-roading Ford Explorer (and hoping to restore a Shelby Mustang!)
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