“The Kona smashes the notion that a small-vehicle interior will be bland or have low-quality materials,” said Christie Schweinsberg, senior editor of WardsAuto. “Thanks to its matte black plastics, great head-up display, generous advanced-safety technologies and funky lime-green accents, the inside of Hyundai’s new small CUV knocked our judges’ socks off.”
WardsAuto editors studied the vehicles in February and March, selecting the 10 winners from a field of 40 vehicles with new or significantly refreshed interiors. Editors evaluated the vehicles’ features including ergonomics, driver information, fit-and-finish, materials, value, safety, comfort and design harmony.
There was no price cap on entries. Ultimately, WardsAuto editors are looking for interiors that raise the bar not only for that particular brand but also for that vehicle’s segment.
During the selection process, editors pay close attention to fit-and-finish, checking to see if seams are straight and match up cleanly on armrests, instrument panels and throughout the interior.
Editors climb in and out of back seats and third rows in larger CUVs and SUVs to check overall comfort levels, headroom and legroom. Another increasingly important category is driver information. Smartphone integrations and voice-activation systems also are rigorously tested.
Hyundai designers also maximised Kona’s interior space for luggage storage capabilities, reflecting the requirements of customers with active lifestyles. The split-folding rear seats fold flat via a dual-level loading floor that gives three inches of additional vertical space and allows easy access for a variety of recreational equipment.
Kona has a number of unique and exclusive features compared with competitive vehicles. For example, Kona offers the largest Heads-Up Display (HUD) in the segment. The display is more than twice as bright as the competition and double the size, making it a lot easier to keep tabs on speed, audio, navigation and active safety information. Kona’s Driver Attention Warning is also a segment first, adding to Kona’s level of active safety.
