Used Hyundai Kona review and buying guide (2017 to 2023): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Hyundai Kona should you buy?

The 1.0 T-GDi petrol is the Kona to buy, since it's the engine singled out as impressive. The one known fault on record isn't an engine problem: it's the seven-speed dry dual-clutch automatic, as fitted to the 1.6 T-GDi 4x4 and the 1.6 CRDi 136 DCT on 2017 to 2023 cars, so that gearbox is the thing to be choosy about.

That dual-clutch fault is rated Medium. It brings shudder when moving off or creeping, a hesitation from first into second and overheating in queues, because a dry clutch struggles to shed heat from constant slipping at low speed. Left alone, the clutches wear out and the mechatronic unit can follow. A dual-clutch Kona is only worth buying if it drives cleanly from cold in traffic.

Any Kona sold from April 2017 to September 2018 was recalled because a brake fluid pipe and an air-con pipe at the front right could get damaged and leak, so don't buy one of those without proof the work's been done. Later cars up to 2023 sit outside that recall, but there's too little on record about them to call them the better buy.

The ride's poor on the larger wheels, so a Kona on smaller rims is the more comfortable car to live with. The cabin's the weak point whichever version you pick: it's short on space and the materials feel cheap, so sit in the back and make sure it's roomy enough before you commit.

Which Kona engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.0 T-GDi petrol's the safe pick, because it's the one engine in the range singled out as impressive and the Kona's one known fault is a gearbox problem rather than an engine one. There's also a decent hybrid and a fully electric Kona, but there's no owner evidence either way on how those hold up, so don't read that silence as a clean bill of health.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is the gearbox to treat with care, whether it's behind the 1.6 T-GDi 4x4 or the 1.6 CRDi. One owner's Kona 1.6 T-GDi 4x4 with it would judder as it slowed for a stop, sometimes badly, then stall and show a message telling the driver to restart manually, and the dealer couldn't make it happen in the workshop.

The 1.6 CRDi diesel has no engine complaints on record, though a 2019 car was reported with the brakes juddering under gentle braking at low speed from 8,000 miles. With the dual-clutch gearbox it carries the same transmission caveat as the petrol. There's no confirmed service interval on record for any Kona engine, belt or chain, so ask for the stamped service book and check it follows the handbook.

What should you check when viewing a used Kona?

Paperwork for the recall comes first on any Kona sold from April 2017 to September 2018. The fault was a brake fluid pipe and an air-con pipe at the front right that could be damaged and leak, so ask for proof the dealer fixed it, look under the bonnet on that side for any wet patches and check the brake fluid level's where it should be.

On a dual-clutch car, take it out before the engine has warmed up and find some queuing traffic, not a clear road, then stop and pull away over and over. Feel for shake as it moves off or creeps, a flat spot between first and second, snatchy changes in a queue or a warning after crawling, and slow to a halt several times to check it doesn't judder and stall. A clean workshop test didn't catch it on one owner's car, so the drive matters.

Find out if the gearbox has had new clutches, a new mechatronic unit or a software update, and get the invoices for any of that work. Then brake gently from low speed a few times and feel for judder through the pedal: a 2019 1.6 CRDi did exactly that, and the manufacturer approved new front discs and pads, though weeks later the dealer still hadn't managed to get the discs.

Take it over some broken tarmac on the wheels it's actually wearing, because the ride gets poor on the larger sizes. Then sit in every seat and try the boot with whatever you'll carry: the cabin's short on space and doesn't feel well made, and it's better to find that out on the forecourt than after you've paid.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Hyundai Kona cost to run?