Hyundai Kona 1.0 vs MG ZS 1.0 vs Seat Arona 1.0

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  1 / 24 One-Derful Crossovers

  Turbocharging enables small engines to produce as much power as bigger naturally aspirated units. It’s a win-win for carmakers who must meet more stringent emission standards, and for motorists in Singapore who want a bigger car without paying more road tax.

  Applying this formula to crossovers, which are the most popular type of car today, should make for a winning combination.

  Tempting buyers with its sharp lines and well-equipped cabin is the Seat Arona. The Spanish brand, which is owned by Volkswagen, will undoubtedly want to capitalise on the fact that its parent company has no equivalent model available here.

  Offering buyers an even more unique driving experience is the rugged-looking Hyundai Kona. Unlike its more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre sibling, which has a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, this entry-level variant is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

  The newest newcomer in this story is the MG ZS. Formerly a British brand, MG is now owned by Chinese manufacturer SAIC Motor. The ZS has a surprisingly nice design, with its front end resembling a Mazda CX-5 and a rear end resembling the Hyundai Tucson. But as we shall soon discover, the ZS actually has more to offer than just lookalike styling.

  Which of these cheap and good 1-litre crossovers will buyers find the most “one-derful”? Keep reading and find out!

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  2 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Engine

  Hyundai’s turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder with 118hp and 172Nm is the most eager, and it enjoys being redlined repeatedly.

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  3 / 24 MG ZS – Engine

  MG’s 1-litre 3-cylinder with 109hp and 160Nm has the most relaxed power delivery, but its century sprint time is similar to the Kona’s, at least according to the specifications.

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  4 / 24 Seat Arona – Engine

  Seat’s turbocharged 1-litre 3-pot with 118hp and 200Nm is the punchiest and most efficient motor of the group.

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  5 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Gearbox

  Kona’s 6-speed manual gearbox will be welcomed by enthusiasts for its effortless action. However, the gearlever’s throws are longer than expected.

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  6 / 24 MG ZS – Gearbox

  ZS’s 6-speed automatic feels the least urgent, even in Sport mode, but the good news is that it delivers the smoothest gearchanges overall.

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  7 / 24 Seat Arona – Gearbox

  Arona’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission provides the fastest gearchanges, and its manual override function is naturally the most fun to use.

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  8 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Ride & Handling

  Kona’s firm ride caters to keen drivers who want to chuck this crossover around. But it could use more pliancy to deal with our roads, which are becoming increasingly woollier.

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  9 / 24 MG ZS – Ride & Handling

  ZS is ideal for road trips as it has the cushiest ride quality in this company. Drivers can choose from three steering assistance levels, but it’s too bad that none of the settings enhances feedback from the front wheels.

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  10 / 24 Seat Arona – Ride & Handling

  Arona is the nimblest of the trio, thanks to its compact size and sharp steering. Impressively, it also strikes the best balance between ride comfort and handling capability.

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  11 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Cockpit

  The most intuitive space of the three cars has nicely labelled controls and a build quality that feels even more solid than the Arona’s. We also love the Kona’s powerful air-con, but cannot stand the woefully tiny doorbins that reduce overall practicality.

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  12 / 24 MG ZS – Cockpit

  Would have been the most comfortable, if not for the fact that the ZS lacks a footrest and keyless entry/ignition. However, the MG’s seats are the cushiest and its steering wheel is even nicer to hold than the Arona’s.

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  13 / 24 Seat Arona – Cockpit

  Sportiest of the three has a dashboard that’s angled towards the driver and more red stitching than the ZS. The huge doorbins make this space the most practical, while the Seat’s snazzy infotainment unit is the most fun to use.

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  14 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Meters

  Sharpest and easiest to read thanks to the large digits. The Kona’s user-friendly menu makes scrolling through pertinent information and tweaking the various options really simple, too.

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  15 / 24 MG ZS – Meters

  Least user-friendly cluster is also potentially confusing due to the “mph” markings, which could lead to accidental speeding tickets. Even the digital speedometer of the ZS is in miles per hour, and the fuel economy gauge is in miles per gallon.

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  16 / 24 Seat Arona – Meters

  Motorcycle-inspired dials of the Arona look the most dynamic and unlike the MG ZS, customer cars sold by Seat here will have speedometers with km/h markings only.

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  17 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Backseat

  Kona’s backseat may be the smallest of the bunch, but it’s the cushiest and also the only one with an armrest and cupholders. However, the overall practicality is the lowest, no thanks again to those tiny doorbins.

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  18 / 24 MG ZS – Backseat

  Roomiest cabin of the trio easily seats three adults, as the ZS’s bench is the widest and its floorboard is the flattest. The bench, although well-padded, is ironically the stiffest of the three benches.

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  19 / 24 Seat Arona – Backseat

  Like in the Kona, the Arona’s bench is better for two occupants instead of three. But the generously sized doorbins mean that they’ll have more space for items such as phablets and powerbanks.

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  20 / 24 Hyundai Kona – Boot

  Kona’s 361-litre boot is the most flexible of the group as it’s the only one with a cargo net and underfloor storage. However, it lacks a parcel shelf to keep items hidden from view.

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  21 / 24 MG ZS – Boot

  ZS’ 448-litre cargo capacity is ideal for bulky items, and the netted partitions are bigger and more useful than the Arona’s, too. The loading ledge is the highest here, though, so anyone shorter than 1.75m will find it tricky to stow items inside the boot.

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  22 / 24 Seat Arona – Boot

  Arona’s 400-litre cargo hold is easily accessed by all users, as it has the shortest loading height. But with the fewest tethering points and a lack of underfloor storage, it’s the least flexible in this company.

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  23 / 24 Seat Arona, Hyundai Kona and MG ZS – Keys

  (Left and right) Both the Arona and ZS have switchblade-type keys, but the latter’s ribbed finish offers better grip. The Kona’s device (middle) is the most elegant and it feels solid, too.

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  24 / 24 Last Word

  Suburbanites who want a lot of crossover for not a lot of money should consider the MG ZS, which has the roomiest cabin and largest boot. It also has the cushiest front seats and, for less enthusiastic drivers, reasonable performance.

  The ZS, however, has some shortcomings in terms of user-friendliness. Apart from the potentially confusing speedometer, there’s no footrest and the boot’s loading point is too high. But those issues aside, our impression of the ZS is that it is well-assembled (in Thailand). We didn’t find anything to worry about during our four-day test drive.

  As enthusiasts, we wish we could’ve spent four weeks with the Hyundai Kona. You’d imagine that its manual gearbox would be a turn-off to many buyers, but that hasn’t been the case. With around 100 units sold so far, we can assume that the 1-litre Kona’s design, performance and relatively affordable price (it’s also the least expensive contender here) have proved to be a compelling combination.

  Less convincing, though, are the Kona’s tight rear accommodation, firm ride and small storage points. But if you’re a keen driver who can live with these drawbacks, then the Kona will make you quite happy.

  The “one-derful” Seat Arona gives us many reasons to smile. Instead of the Kona’s manual transmission, it’s equipped with a faster dual-clutch gearbox, as well as quicker overall performance. Although the Arona is not as firmly damped as the Kona, the Seat’s small size does give it added manoeuvrability.

  We also like the Arona’s practical cabin and enjoyable infotainment system. Less wonderful are its smaller backseat, less flexible boot and significantly higher price tag. At press time, the $128,900 Arona FR costs $23k and $37.9k more than the MG ZS and Hyundai Kona respectively.

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  Check out the MG ZS

  Hyundai Kona is a feisty and funky Korean SUV

  Hyundai Kona takes on the Mazda CX-3 and Toyota CH-R

  Toyota C-HR turbo has hot looks

  Read more

One-Derful Crossovers Turbocharging enables small engines to produce as much power as bigger naturally aspirated units. It’s a win-win for carmakers who must meet more stringent emission standards, and for motorists in Singapore who want a bigger car without paying more road tax. Applying this formula to crossovers, which are the most popular type of car today, should make for a winning combination. Tempting buyers with its sharp lines and well-equipped cabin is the Seat Arona. The Spanish brand, which is owned by Volkswagen, will undoubtedly want to capitalise on the fact that its parent company has no equivalent model available here. Offering buyers an even more unique driving experience is the rugged-looking Hyundai Kona. Unlike its more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre sibling, which has a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, this entry-level variant is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The newest newcomer in this story is the MG ZS. Formerly a British brand, MG is now owned by Chinese manufacturer SAIC Motor. The ZS has a surprisingly nice design, with its front end resembling a Mazda CX-5 and a rear end resembling the Hyundai Tucson. But as we shall soon discover, the ZS actually has more to offer than just lookalike styling. Which of these cheap and good 1-litre crossovers will buyers find the most “one-derful”? Keep reading and find out! Hyundai Kona – Engine Hyundai’s turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder with 118hp and 172Nm is the most eager, and it enjoys being redlined repeatedly. MG ZS – Engine MG’s 1-litre 3-cylinder with 109hp and 160Nm has the most relaxed power delivery, but its century sprint time is similar to the Kona’s, at least according to the specifications. Seat Arona – Engine Seat’s turbocharged 1-litre 3-pot with 118hp and 200Nm is the punchiest and most efficient motor of the group. Hyundai Kona – Gearbox Kona’s 6-speed manual gearbox will be welcomed by enthusiasts for its effortless action. However, the gearlever’s throws are longer than expected. MG ZS – Gearbox ZS’s 6-speed automatic feels the least urgent, even in Sport mode, but the good news is that it delivers the smoothest gearchanges overall. Seat Arona – Gearbox Arona’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission provides the fastest gearchanges, and its manual override function is naturally the most fun to use. Hyundai Kona – Ride & Handling Kona’s firm ride caters to keen drivers who want to chuck this crossover around. But it could use more pliancy to deal with our roads, which are becoming increasingly woollier. MG ZS – Ride & Handling ZS is ideal for road trips as it has the cushiest ride quality in this company. Drivers can choose from three steering assistance levels, but it’s too bad that none of the settings enhances feedback from the front wheels. Seat Arona – Ride & Handling Arona is the nimblest of the trio, thanks to its compact size and sharp steering. Impressively, it also strikes the best balance between ride comfort and handling capability. Hyundai Kona – Cockpit The most intuitive space of the three cars has nicely labelled controls and a build quality that feels even more solid than the Arona’s. We also love the Kona’s powerful air-con, but cannot stand the woefully tiny doorbins that reduce overall practicality. MG ZS – Cockpit Would have been the most comfortable, if not for the fact that the ZS lacks a footrest and keyless entry/ignition. However, the MG’s seats are the cushiest and its steering wheel is even nicer to hold than the Arona’s. Seat Arona – Cockpit Sportiest of the three has a dashboard that’s angled towards the driver and more red stitching than the ZS. The huge doorbins make this space the most practical, while the Seat’s snazzy infotainment unit is the most fun to use. Hyundai Kona – Meters Sharpest and easiest to read thanks to the large digits. The Kona’s user-friendly menu makes scrolling through pertinent information and tweaking the various options really simple, too. MG ZS – Meters Least user-friendly cluster is also potentially confusing due to the “mph” markings, which could lead to accidental speeding tickets. Even the digital speedometer of the ZS is in miles per hour, and the fuel economy gauge is in miles per gallon. Seat Arona – Meters Motorcycle-inspired dials of the Arona look the most dynamic and unlike the MG ZS, customer cars sold by Seat here will have speedometers with km/h markings only. Hyundai Kona – Backseat Kona’s backseat may be the smallest of the bunch, but it’s the cushiest and also the only one with an armrest and cupholders. However, the overall practicality is the lowest, no thanks again to those tiny doorbins. MG ZS – Backseat Roomiest cabin of the trio easily seats three adults, as the ZS’s bench is the widest and its floorboard is the flattest. The bench, although well-padded, is ironically the stiffest of the three benches. Seat Arona – Backseat Like in the Kona, the Arona’s bench is better for two occupants instead of three. But the generously sized doorbins mean that they’ll have more space for items such as phablets and powerbanks. Hyundai Kona – Boot Kona’s 361-litre boot is the most flexible of the group as it’s the only one with a cargo net and underfloor storage. However, it lacks a parcel shelf to keep items hidden from view. MG ZS – Boot ZS’ 448-litre cargo capacity is ideal for bulky items, and the netted partitions are bigger and more useful than the Arona’s, too. The loading ledge is the highest here, though, so anyone shorter than 1.75m will find it tricky to stow items inside the boot. Seat Arona – Boot Arona’s 400-litre cargo hold is easily accessed by all users, as it has the shortest loading height. But with the fewest tethering points and a lack of underfloor storage, it’s the least flexible in this company. Seat Arona, Hyundai Kona and MG ZS – Keys (Left and right) Both the Arona and ZS have switchblade-type keys, but the latter’s ribbed finish offers better grip. The Kona’s device (middle) is the most elegant and it feels solid, too. Last Word Suburbanites who want a lot of crossover for not a lot of money should consider the MG ZS, which has the roomiest cabin and largest boot. It also has the cushiest front seats and, for less enthusiastic drivers, reasonable performance. The ZS, however, has some shortcomings in terms of user-friendliness. Apart from the potentially confusing speedometer, there’s no footrest and the boot’s loading point is too high. But those issues aside, our impression of the ZS is that it is well-assembled (in Thailand). We didn’t find anything to worry about during our four-day test drive. As enthusiasts, we wish we could’ve spent four weeks with the Hyundai Kona. You’d imagine that its manual gearbox would be a turn-off to many buyers, but that hasn’t been the case. With around 100 units sold so far, we can assume that the 1-litre Kona’s design, performance and relatively affordable price (it’s also the least expensive contender here) have proved to be a compelling combination. Less convincing, though, are the Kona’s tight rear accommodation, firm ride and small storage points. But if you’re a keen driver who can live with these drawbacks, then the Kona will make you quite happy. The “one-derful” Seat Arona gives us many reasons to smile. Instead of the Kona’s manual transmission, it’s equipped with a faster dual-clutch gearbox, as well as quicker overall performance. Although the Arona is not as firmly damped as the Kona, the Seat’s small size does give it added manoeuvrability. We also like the Arona’s practical cabin and enjoyable infotainment system. Less wonderful are its smaller backseat, less flexible boot and significantly higher price tag. At press time, the $128,900 Arona FR costs $23k and $37.9k more than the MG ZS and Hyundai Kona respectively. Check out the MG ZS Hyundai Kona is a feisty and funky Korean SUV Hyundai Kona takes on the Mazda CX-3 and Toyota CH-R Toyota C-HR turbo has hot looks