Hyundai Kauai Hybrid facelift review

Nearly two years after I first had the chance to test the Hyundai Kauai Hybrid, “fate would have it” that I would cross paths with it again, this time after the South Korean model had undergone the traditional mid-life facelift.

Compared with the car I drove at the end of 2019, more has changed than you might initially expect. Up front, the revised nose has “freshened up” the Kauai’s look and, to my eyes, given it a more cohesive, confident and even sporty character-very welcome in an SUV/crossover that is so often praised for its dynamic behaviour.

At the rear, the updates are subtler but no less successful, with slimmer-looking light units and a redesigned bumper delivering a welcome refresh to the South Korean model’s styling.

Taken together, and judging it purely from the outside, the Kauai Hybrid has strengthened itself exactly where it made the most sense. With rivals that never let up-such as the Renault Captur or Ford Puma-the updated styling of the South Korean offering has once again helped it stand out from the crowd.

A more high-tech cabin, but largely unchanged

If the differences are obvious on the outside, inside they are (much) more restrained. It’s true there is a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster (comprehensive and easy to read at a glance) and, in the test car, an 8-inch screen running a new infotainment system that is also straightforward and intuitive to use (as an option, the display can be 10.25 inches).

Beyond that, everything else has stayed much the same. That means the ergonomics remain beyond reproach, the build still feels robust, and there is still an abundance of harder plastics rather than soft-touch materials-so it trails models such as the Captur or Puma in perceived quality (though it’s in line with what you get, for example, in the Volkswagen T-Cross).

As for the rest, the story is the same as I reported nearly two years ago: there’s enough room to carry four adults in comfort, and the 374-litre boot-while capable of meeting most of the needs of a young family-sits a little below the class average.

Efficiency and dynamics: a winning combination

Unlike the cabin and exterior, the area left untouched by this update is the powertrain. So, we still have a hybrid system combining a 1.6 GDI petrol engine producing 105 hp and 147 Nm with a 43.5 hp (32 kW) electric motor delivering 170 Nm, for a combined total of 141 hp and 265 Nm.

Just as on my first encounter with this setup, its biggest strength is how smoothly-almost imperceptibly-the hybrid system switches between the combustion engine and the electric motor. Also worthy of mention is the six-speed automatic gearbox, which avoids the usual “auditory discomfort” associated with CVT transmissions.

All of this helps the Hyundai Kauai Hybrid present itself as one of the most economical options across the South Korean SUV/crossover range. Over the course of the test, average consumption sat around 4.6 l/100 km, dropping to an impressive 3.9 l/100 km in “Eco” mode with a disciplined driving style.

Switch to “Sport” mode, however, and the Kauai Hybrid “wakes up”, feels noticeably more eager, and gains the mechanical backing to make the most of a chassis that has long been praised and which, according to Hyundai, has received tweaks as part of this facelift (the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars were revised).

The differences versus before are hard to pinpoint-though that is a good thing. After all, it remains a model whose handling is not only effective, but can actually be enjoyable, with fast, direct and accurate steering and suspension that does a good job of keeping body movements in check.

Is this the right car for you?

Years go by, updates arrive, and the Hyundai Kauai Hybrid sees its strengths reinforced. Without trying to be the most family-focused SUV/crossover out there, the Kauai Hybrid appears to be chasing a different target: winning over buyers who, while unwilling to give up strong fuel economy, also want something more engaging than average in terms of driving and road manners.

As a conventional hybrid, the Kauai Hybrid doesn’t need plugging in. For those who rack up lots of miles in town, and for whom full-electric or plug-in hybrid options still bring charging constraints, Hyundai’s offering may be the right way to achieve low consumption.

What’s more, it also delivers convincing performance beyond the urban sprawl, managing, for instance, fuel use on open roads that can rival a diesel.

Add in a strong price-to-equipment balance and Hyundai’s (long) warranty, and the Kauai Hybrid still has the “energy” to take on the newcomers.