Crossovers are so popular that they're getting smaller as well as larger.
Examples include the Honda HR-V, which was one of the very first subcompact crossovers, and the Mazda CX-3, which is one of the most stylish.
One of the latest is the Kia Kona, which came onto the market in 2018.
They're all roomier on the inside than much larger cars — which explains why large cars are a dying breed.
The Kona is also different under the hood — which probably explains why it has become the bestselling newcomer in the class.
What It Is
The Kona is a subcompact crossover — which means it's smaller in terms of length than a compact-sized sedan — but has about three times as much room for stuff because of its layout.
Like all crossovers, the cargo area isn't a separate and walled-off compartment (the trunk). It is right behind the back seats — and with the back seats folded forward, the entire interior becomes, in effect, one very large "trunk."
Other crossovers share this attribute, of course.
What sets the Kona apart from others in its class is that it's available with more than just one take-it-or-leave-it engine. And you can order its optional high-performance engine with — or without — all-wheel drive.
One size does not fit all.
Prices start at $20,300 for the base SE trim, which comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an a la carte option, bringing the price to $21,700.
Limited and Ultimate trims get the under-hood upgrade — a turbocharged, 1.6-liter engine that makes 175 horsepower, paired with a more performance-minded, seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic.
An Ultimate with front-wheel drive stickers for $27,950. With all-wheel drive, the price is $29,350.
What's New
Ultimate trims come standard with adaptive cruise control — which was previously optional.
What's Good
It takes up almost 2 feet less space in your garage than a compact sedan — while taking three times as much stuff inside.
It's available with all-wheel drive — with either engine.
It's available with more than one engine.
What's Not So Good
It's a bit less roomy inside than the HR-V.
It's a bit less sexy outside than the CX-3.
The high-performance engine is only available in the Limited and Ultimate trims.
Under the Hood
The Kona's standard 2.0-liter engine — which makes 147 horsepower — is slightly more powerful than the only engine available in the Honda HR-V (a smaller 1.8-liter four-cylinder that makes 141 horsepower) and just 1 horsepower shy of the Mazda CX-3's only engine (a same-sized 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 148 horsepower).
It's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
So equipped, the Kia matches the performance delivered by its rivals.
But if you want to exceed their performance, order the Limited or Ultimate trims, which come standard with a turbocharged, 1.6-liter engine that produces 175 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of turbo-boosted torque at 1,500 revolutions per minute. This engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Together, the combo delivers zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
The one-engine-only HR-V needs more than 9 seconds; even the sporty-looking Mazda3 is far behind the Kia, taking about 7.2 seconds to achieve the same speed.
Amazingly, the Environmental Protection Agency-rated mileage numbers of the turbocharged engine are only negligibly lower than those posted by the nonturbocharged engine: 26 mpg city, 29 mpg highway versus 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway.
Speed may cost money — but, in this case, it doesn't cost gas money.
On the Road
Performance is a Kona strong suit.
So is how it's applied — which is via either a conventional six-speed automatic transmission or (if you get the turbo) the seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Both shift through gears — as opposed to varying ranges — as the continuously variable automatic in the HR-V does.
The difference in sensation — and sound — is marked, especially when you ask for rapid acceleration. Instead of a surge, the car shifts — with a reduction in engine speed with each shift up, which reduces engine noise.
With the turbo, it's much less necessary to rev the engine because of all that low-speed torque.
At the Curb
The subcompact Kona is only 164 inches long — which is 18.7 inches shorter than a compact-sized car like the Honda Civic.
But the Kona has 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space with its back seats folded, versus 15.1 cubic feet in the Civic's trunk, which can't be expanded.
The Kona's space for cargo decreases with its back seats upright, but there's still 19.2 cubic feet behind them, and it's functionally more than that because of the taller roofline and because you can fit cargo over the seats while people are still using them.
That's something you can't do in any car — without a Sawzall.
The Rest
If you like the Kona but want to burn no gas at all, you might want to have a look at the electric Kona. It's the same thing without an engine. Instead, it has a rechargeable battery pack and electric motors. You pay more for the car — about $36,000.
But you'll never pay a cent for gas.
The Bottom Line
Small doesn't have to mean cramped — or limited.
If you drive a Kona!
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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