Hyundai Kona Interior

I was hoping for a dash similar to the new Elantra GT. Yes that's a hatch, a closer example is the CX-3 and a prime example of what I wanted here. Now, we know its not happening.

While it isn't the sleek and curvy dash I wanted, this does a better job of making us feel like we're in a "real" SUV.

It does look more "real" suv-ish but from like... the early 2000s perhaps ?

I can see I'll have some mods to get done as I progress through ownership to clean that interior up a bit.

Nothing to do with a previous time in the industry, its just comes down to how car makers use certain designs. You don't see CX-3 style dashes in an Escalade or Suburban, even a Toyota Land Cruiser. Its that bigger SUV segment interior we have going on here

The interior is the least favorite feature to me. It's dated and too simple. The HVAC vents look like an afterthought. At least I hope the switchgear is of decent quality. All said, I STILL WANT ONE!

I think referencing it to a previous time in the industry is a pretty easy way to visualize it. The bigger SUV segment still looks tons better than what we see here if you've looked around. That whole center stack protrudes way too much. The design itself looks poor, and stated above, dated.

mechanic80 said:

The interior is the least favorite feature to me. It's dated and too simple. The HVAC vents look like an afterthought. At least I hope the switchgear is of decent quality. All said, I STILL WANT ONE!

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The same can be said for Honda yet look how many people buy those. Typically when the rest of the vehicle is okay people won't judge the interior too much. Then there's pricing. I'm content with the interior. Just wish they took some inspriation from Mazda

So, if the aftermarket manufacturers of dash kits and chrome do-dads might be monitoring these forums, exactly what add-ons might we like to see?.. I've always been partial to woodgrain, but I can see machined aluminum or piano black highlights, grey carbon fiber (or some other color maybe that matched the paint) swooping across the dash. Lets get some ideas out there!

Piano black or carbon fiber is always a good thing. I can't imagine wood grain in the Kona.. just seems weird.

Hate those chrome stick on bits though haha, they look super tacky in my opinion.

Brushed metal would be a great look since it just flows with the whole new design. Anything not as modern looking won't flow and you can bet that their new Design Director won't approve of it.

Wood grain should be more reserved for the higher end Kia, Cadenza being one of them.

It looks a bit chunky to me, but then again everything is seen through a layer of mesh and that can distort things a bit. Perhaps with some silver plastic trim it won't look as beefy.

Crona said:

It looks a bit chunky to me, but then again everything is seen through a layer of mesh and that can distort things a bit. Perhaps with some silver plastic trim it won't look as beefy.

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Noticing these days that lighter colors and tones like silver help to achieve that in small spaces, been seeing it more with new establishments and of course cars from higher end car makers. Most of the concepts are like this.

Maybe a lighter color dash like grey or white would help make the air vent area look more streamlined, because it's just funky right now, same with the infotainment mount.

If they do that along with keeping some trim that stands out enough to take attention away from the vents then that would be a good method, low cost to them and keeps the design conscious owners happy. already car makers are including body color interior trims i would like to see that.

now that i look more into what other car makers are doing with vents I guess we don't have it that bad at all
even high end car makers like Mercedes don't make the slightest attempt to take attention away from the vents.