Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Hyundai Kona.
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With 104,906 currently licensed in the UK, the Hyundai Kona is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Kona 4 stars in 2023, with 80% adult occupant and 83% child protection scores.
It has a 83.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include brakes, lighting, tyres.
Annual running costs are estimated at £1,531 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £128/month or 21p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2023
MOT Pass Rate
83.5%
55,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£128
est. annual total
New From
£26,755
Euro NCAP tested the Kona in 2023 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
80%
Child Occupant
83%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
60%
There are 16 known DVSA recalls affecting the Hyundai Kona. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/128
Some vehicles fitted with a high voltage battery may have internal cell voltage deviation. If this occurs it may result in the risk of an electrical short circuit inside the battery. Until the high voltage battery software has been updated we recommend the vehicle to be parked in a well ventilated area. The vehicle can be used as normal.
Build dates: 2018-01-24 to 2023-07-15
R/2026/146
Some vehicles may face a concern where the instrument cluster panel may reboot during vehicle operation potentially resulting in a blank instrument cluster display screen.
Build dates: 2025-07-03 to 2025-11-03
R/2024/172
On affected vehicles they may experience a transmission malfunction resulting in a loss of drive
Build dates: 2023-04-17 to 2023-12-23
R/2024/154
On affected vehicles a risk of an electrical short circuit within the engine compartment during a collision
Build dates: 2023-04-17 to 2023-12-30
R/2024/154
On affected vehicles a risk of an electrical short circuit within the engine compartment during a collision
Build dates: 2023-03-21 to 2024-01-05
+ 11 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 55,000 MOT tests, the Kona has a first-time pass rate of 83.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Kona is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Hyundai Kona are estimated at around £1,531 per year, or £128 per month.
Fuel
£0
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,081
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Battery
65 kWh
Range (WLTP)
305 mi
Motor
150 kW
201 bhp
Drive
FWD
Rapid charge: 41 min (10-80%) | Home charge: 7.5h (0-100%)
Starting from £26,755 new, a Hyundai Kona typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £20,050 | −£6,705 |
| 2 years | 64% | £17,050 | −£9,705 |
| 3 years | 56% | £15,000 | −£11,755 |
| 4 years | 50% | £13,500 | −£13,255 |
| 5 years | 46% | £12,450 | −£14,305 |
| 6 years | 43% | £11,550 | −£15,205 |
| 7 years | 41% | £10,850 | −£15,905 |
| 8 years | 39% | £10,300 | −£16,455 |
| 9 years | 37% | £9,800 | −£16,955 |
| 10 years | 35% | £9,300 | −£17,455 |
There are currently 104,906 licensed and 508 SORN Konas in the UK (105,414 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Kona has a 83.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 55,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Kona 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2023. It scored 80% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 60% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Kona are estimated at around £1,531 per year (£128/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 16 known safety recalls affecting the Kona. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Kona starts from around £26,755. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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