2018 HYUNDAI KONA

The all-new Hyundai Kona shined in the Automotive Science Group’s (ASG) 2018 Automotive Performance Index™ (API), demonstrating the advanced capabilities of Hyundai’s new crossover platform. With an EPA estimated 33 MPG highway (27 city/33 hwy/30 combined), the Kona outshines competitors in class by an average 3 MPG highway, revealing new possibilities for fuel economy gains and reduced fuel costs in crossover segment, earning ASG’s 2018 BEST 5 ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE Award.

ASG’s all-around performance analysis is a comprehensive data-driven assessment, analyzing economic, environmental and social performance indicators across a vehicle’s life-cycle, and in relative comparison to all 374 crossovers assessed.

The Kona also earned a class leading economic performance rating in ASG’s Study, outperforming all vehicles in its segment, and earning ASG’s 2018 BEST ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AWARD in class. ASG found the Kona to cost 27% less to purchase and operate in the first 6.5 years of its life-cycle, when compared to the average vehicle in the mini-crossover class. The Kona lead notable competitors including the Ford Ecosport with a 4% advantage, the Chevrolet Trax by 7% and the Fiat 500X and Toyota C-HR by 8% and 10% respectively.

ASG found the 2018 Kona to offer the best value in class, and across its life-cycle.

The Hyundai Kona leverages an efficient 2.0 Liter inline 4 cylinder engine to deliver fuel efficient transport in the mini-crossover segment, without hybrid powertrain components. In fact, the Kona’s lighweighting strategy gives it an average 13% weight advantage across the segment, coming in at 402 pounds lighter than the average curb weight in class. Less resources translates to reduced environmental footprint, increased operational efficiency and reduced life-cycle operating costs.



Related Items


RELATIVE RATING METHOD

The Automotive Performance Index (API) applies statistical methods to demonstrate each vehicle rating in relative comparison. For example, the vehicle that performs highest in environment performance in a given class obtains a rating score of 100. Each vehicle in its class is then compared relative to the top-performing vehicle with a rating score reflecting the statistical difference in performance outcomes. A score of 91 translates to a 9% environmental performance deficit as compared to the top-performing vehicle.  

Due to the API’s relative vehicle rating method, vehicle class divisions were identified as a critical input - these class divisions are detailed here.

While the Automotive Performance Index is indeed an exhaustive list of vehicles to trim level detail, with each vehicle assessment reporting over 200 unique data outputs (the culmination of thousands of data inputs), ASG has taken additional measures to ease the burden of sorting through all data points and all vehicle assessments. We have developed key performance categories and sorted all vehicles in each class according to Environmental Performance, Social Performance, Economic Performance and All-Around Performance. The vehicle in each class with the best score in each unique category is named the performance award winner (i.e. Best Environmental Performance Award winner). The vehicle in each class that scores highest combined scores in Environmental Performance, Social Performance and Economic Performance is named the ASG Best All-Around Performance Award winner.

One step further, we also name the Best 5 All-Around Performance Award winners in each class to provide consumers with a concise product comparison guide.