Hyundai Kona Hybrid beats Toyota in German test

Hyundai Motor Co. announced on Friday that its crossover SUV, the Kona Hybrid, received higher scores than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid in a vehicle comparison evaluation conducted by the reputable German automotive magazine Auto Bild.

Auto Bild gave the Kona Hybrid a total score of 564 points in four evaluation categories (body, convenience, powertrain and driving performance). This allowed the Kona Hybrid to outscore the Corolla Cross Hybrid, which had been a strong contender in the global hybrid car market, by a margin of 21 points (543 points for the Corolla Cross Hybrid).

The Kona Hybrid received praise for its spacious interior and various convenience features. It scored 12 points higher in the body category and 8 points higher in the convenience category compared to the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

However, the Corolla Cross Hybrid received slightly higher ratings than the Kona Hybrid in the connectivity, eco-friendliness and economic efficiency categories, with differences ranging from 1 to 3 points.

Auto Bild described the Kona as a vehicle that possesses essential attributes for evaluating a car's marketability, labeling it as a "sophisticated and versatile SUV" in every aspect.

The Kona Hybrid achieves high fuel efficiency through its combination of a Smartstream 1.6 hybrid engine with a maximum output of 105 horsepower and a maximum torque of 14.7 kgf·m, along with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Additionally, the Kona was named in July "Car of the Year" in the "New Car Awards 2023" announced by the British automotive magazine "Auto Express." It also received accolades such as "Small Company Car of the Year" and "Small SUV of the Year."

Write to Sungsu Bae at baebae@hankyung.com