Review of the 2027 Hyundai KONA in Laredo, TX

2027 Hyundai KONA Review in Laredo, TX

The 2027 Hyundai KONA gives Laredo shoppers a compact SUV that is easy to maneuver without sacrificing useful passenger space, cargo flexibility, expressive design, or modern technology. The right configuration depends on whether you prioritize straightforward efficiency, sportier styling, turbocharged response, available all-wheel-drive traction, or premium comfort and parking assistance.

At Charlie Clark Hyundai of Laredo, drivers can compare four KONA trims designed around different everyday needs. Explore the lineup to find the right Hyundai for your routine, then schedule a test drive at Charlie Clark Hyundai of Laredo today.

Four Trims With Distinct Personalities

The KONA lineup progresses from practical essentials to more powerful and premium equipment:

• SE: Establishes the efficient, value-focused foundation with the naturally aspirated engine and core connectivity and safety technology.
• SEL Sport: Adds a more athletic appearance and useful comfort upgrades while retaining the standard engine.
• SEL Premium: Introduces the turbocharged powertrain, richer cabin materials, and additional convenience features.
• Limited: Combines turbocharged performance with the lineup’s most comprehensive comfort, visibility, and parking technology.

A Cabin That Makes Smart Use of Its Space

The KONA seats five within a city-friendly footprint. Its upright shape and efficiently packaged cabin create useful room in both rows, while reclining 60/40-split rear seatbacks let owners adjust the interior for passengers or cargo. A dual-level cargo floor can add storage depth or create a flatter loading surface, depending on the task.

Key passenger and cargo measurements include:

• Passenger volume: 101.2 cubic feet without the sunroof
• Front/rear legroom: 41.7/38.2 inches
• Cargo space behind the rear seats: 25.5 cubic feet
• Maximum cargo space: 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded
• Rear-seat configuration: Reclining 60/40-split seatbacks

That flexibility supports daily commuting, grocery runs, luggage, pet supplies, and larger items that benefit from a wide hatch and folded second row.

Comfort and Materials by Trim

Cabin appointments advance in several useful steps:

• SE: Includes cloth seating, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, manual air conditioning, and a three-spoke steering wheel.
• SEL Sport: Adds heated front seats, dual automatic temperature control, rear air-conditioning vents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a rear center armrest with cupholders.
• SEL Premium: Moves to H-Tex trimmed seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, two-way power lumbar support, soft-touch door panels, and paddle shifters.
• Limited: Adds ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, selectable-color ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a fixed cargo cover.

Distinctive Design in Manageable Dimensions

The 2027 KONA uses an upright profile, geometric bodywork, and slim lighting elements to look more expressive than a conventional small crossover. The lineup includes LED projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, automatic headlights, active grille shutters, and a rear spoiler.

Its compact exterior dimensions support easy maneuvering in traffic and parking areas:

• Overall length: 171.3 inches
• Overall width: 71.9 inches
• Wheelbase: 104.7 inches
• Turning diameter: 34.8 feet

Exterior Details by Trim

Wheel size and trim treatments create four recognizable appearances:

• SE: Uses 17-inch alloy wheels, body-color mirrors, and textured-black lower trim and cladding.
• SEL Sport: Adds 18-inch black alloy wheels, heated gloss-black mirrors, a gloss-black spoiler, privacy glass, and black roof rails.
• SEL Premium: Moves to 19-inch alloy wheels and pairs gloss-black mirrors and cladding with silver lower-bumper trim.
• Limited: Combines 19-inch wheels with satin-chrome accents, a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, and a hands-free Smart Liftgate with Auto Open.

Ground clearance varies with the selected wheels and drivetrain. Front-wheel-drive models provide 6.7 or 6.9 inches, while all-wheel-drive configurations provide 8.1 or 8.3 inches. The additional clearance can help on uneven surfaces, although the KONA remains a road-focused compact SUV rather than a dedicated off-road vehicle.

Exterior Paint Options

Verified 2027 KONA exterior colors include:

• Abyss Black
• Atlas White
• Cyber Gray
• Denim Blue
• Ecotronic Gray
• Mirage Green
• Neoteric Yellow
• Soultronic Orange
• Ultimate Red

Paint availability and additional cost can vary by trim.

Choose Efficient or Turbocharged Performance

The KONA offers two gasoline powertrains with different priorities. SE and SEL Sport emphasize uncomplicated daily driving and the lineup’s highest EPA-estimated fuel economy, while SEL Premium and Limited add turbocharged output and a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission.

Engine and Transmission Choices

• SE and SEL Sport: A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque.
• SEL Premium and Limited: A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine produces 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.
• Transmission pairings: The 2.0-liter engine uses an Intelligent Variable Transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual shift mode, while the turbocharged engine uses an eight-speed automatic with shift-by-wire controls and paddle shifters.

Both engines use regular unleaded fuel. The turbocharged engine reaches peak torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, providing stronger response during acceleration, merging, and passing.

Front-Wheel Drive or HTRAC All Wheel Drive

Front-wheel drive is standard on every KONA trim, and active on-demand HTRAC All Wheel Drive is available across the lineup. FWD models include Normal and Sport modes. AWD models add Snow mode, additional ground clearance, and a multi-link rear suspension in place of the torsion-beam layout used by FWD versions.

This arrangement lets shoppers choose their preferred trim without losing access to AWD. Front-wheel drive favors simplicity and efficiency, while HTRAC AWD provides added traction for rain, loose surfaces, and changing road conditions.

Fuel Economy by Powertrain

EPA-estimated fuel economy depends on engine and drivetrain:

• 2.0-liter FWD: 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined
• 2.0-liter AWD: 26 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined
• 1.6-liter turbo FWD: 26 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined
• 1.6-liter turbo AWD: 24 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined

EPA estimates are intended for comparison. Actual mileage varies with traffic, weather, driving style, vehicle condition, cargo, options, and other factors. Hyundai does not recommend the 2027 KONA for towing.

Everyday Technology on a Wide Display

Every 2027 KONA includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, giving the lineup a wide, easy-to-read infotainment interface. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ let compatible smartphone apps appear without a cable, while four USB-C outlets provide two connections up front and two charging ports for rear passengers.

Technology Progression by Trim

The most meaningful upgrades occur in three stages:

• SE: Includes the 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, a six-speaker audio system, Bluelink connected services, and over-the-air software updates.
• SEL Sport and SEL Premium: Add wireless device charging for compatible phones.
• Limited: Adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bose premium audio with eight speakers, Surround View Monitor, and Blind-Spot View Monitor.

Five Useful Technology Highlights

• Wireless Apple CarPlay: Brings compatible iPhone apps to the central display without a cable.
• Wireless Android Auto™: Connects compatible Android smartphone functions to the touchscreen.
• Bluelink Connected Car System: Supports compatible remote-access and connected-vehicle functions.
• Over-the-air software updates: Allow compatible vehicle systems to receive certain updates remotely.
• Rear View Monitor with parking guidance: Provides a camera view and guidance lines when reversing.

Hyundai SmartSense Support for Everyday Driving

The 2027 KONA includes Hyundai SmartSense features intended to support awareness in traffic, during lane changes, and while backing out of parking spaces. Its occupant-protection equipment includes front airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, rear LATCH lower anchors and upper tether anchors, front and rear seatbelt reminders, and rear child-safety locks.

Driver-assistance systems operate only under certain conditions. They cannot replace attentive driving, proper vehicle control, or awareness of surrounding traffic.

Standard Driver-Assistance Features

Every trim includes a broad set of active-safety systems:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist: Can detect certain vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists and provide braking assistance when operating conditions allow.
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Alerts the driver when it detects a vehicle in a monitored blind-spot area.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist: Can warn of certain crossing traffic while reversing and provide braking assistance.
• Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist: Help support lane positioning when markings and operating conditions permit.
• Driver Attention Warning: Monitors certain driving patterns and can suggest a break.

High Beam Assist, Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System with individual tire indicators are also included throughout the lineup.

Limited Parking and Visibility Technology

Limited adds features that can make tight parking areas easier to navigate:

• Surround View Monitor: Combines camera views to create an overhead perspective of the vehicle’s surroundings.
• Blind-Spot View Monitor: Displays a live camera image in the digital instrument cluster when you activate a turn signal.
• Remote Smart Parking Assist: Can help move the vehicle into or out of certain parking spaces while the driver operates the system from outside.
• Parking Distance Warning: Monitors the front, sides, and rear for certain nearby obstacles.
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist: Can provide warnings and braking assistance in certain low-speed parking situations.

Practical for Laredo and South Texas Driving

Laredo and South Texas driving can include crowded local streets, frequent highway travel, hot weather, sudden rain, and longer regional trips. The KONA’s compact footprint and tight turning diameter suit urban errands and parking, while its flexible cargo area leaves room for luggage, groceries, work items, or recreational gear.

Choosing the right configuration comes down to local priorities. The 2.0-liter FWD models provide the lineup’s strongest EPA-estimated efficiency, the turbocharged trims deliver additional passing and merging power, and available HTRAC AWD can add traction when roads are wet or uneven. Dual automatic climate control and rear air vents, included from SEL Sport upward, can also improve cabin comfort during warm South Texas travel.

Find the Right 2027 Hyundai KONA in Laredo, TX

The 2027 Hyundai KONA offers small-SUV maneuverability, useful cargo flexibility, distinctive styling, and technology that remains approachable in everyday use. Its four trims let shoppers decide whether efficiency, sporty appearance, turbocharged response, premium comfort, or advanced parking assistance matters most, while available HTRAC AWD broadens the choices further.

Browse available Hyundai compact SUVs, compare KONA trims, and contact Charlie Clark Hyundai of Laredo to schedule a test drive in Laredo, TX.

*Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.

* All fuel economy mpg listings in the content above are EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary.