The first renewal of the Hyundai Kauai was marked by the introduction of an unprecedented N Line version, much sportier in appearance, and by the adoption of mild-hybrid 48 V systems, both for the 1.0 T-GDI with 120 hp and for the 1.6 CRDi with 136 hp.
The latter, being a Diesel, has attracted attention since it was announced and it was precisely in this configuration that we had our first contact with the Kauai N Line, which until the arrival of the much more powerful Kauai N, is honored as a sportier version of the range , at least in appearance.
And if, in terms of proportions, nothing changes for the “conventional” Kauai — it grew 40 mm (to 4205 mm in length) because of the aesthetic changes that the bumpers received — the exterior image gained “salt and pepper” and became even more interesting.
Image: what changes?
From an aesthetic point of view, the Kauai N Line stands out from the rest of the “brothers” for having sportier front and rear bumpers (with a huge air diffuser), wheel arches in the same color as the bodywork, 18-inch wheels ” exclusive and a (double) exhaust outlet with chrome finish.
Inside, there is an exclusive color combination, specific coatings, metallic pedals, red stitching and the presence of the “N” logo on the gearbox knob, steering wheel and sports seats.
To this we have to add the good notes that we had already highlighted in the other tests we carried out on Kauai post-facelift, which saw the cabin take an important qualitative leap.
Highlights — as standard in this version — are the 10.25” digital instrument panel, the 8” multimedia touchscreen (allows integration of the Apple CarPlay smartphone and Android Auto wirelessly) and the rear parking aid camera (and rear sensors).
Everything is very well integrated inside the Kauai N Line, largely due to the new redesigned center console. But this sporty little B-SUV continues to benefit from a very interesting build quality for the segment and offers enough space to meet family requirements.
The space in the rear seats and the luggage capacity (352 liters or 1156 liters with the second row seats folded down) are not a reference in the segment, but they are enough for everyday “orders”, even with children — and respective seats - "on board".
48V make a difference
But let's get to what matters most, to mechanics. The version we tested, the 1.6 CRDi 48 V N Line, joins a four-cylinder diesel engine with 1.6 liters with a 48 V semi-hybrid system, in what seems to me to be a very happy “marriage”.
This “light hybridization” system uses an engine/generator to replace the alternator and conventional starter, which thanks to a small 0.44 kWh battery (installed under the luggage compartment floor) allows to recover and store the energy generated in the decelerations, which are then ready to use whenever there is a greater need for strength.
In total we have at our disposal 136 hp of power (at 4000 rpm) and 280 Nm of maximum torque, available between 1500 and 4000 rpm, which is sent to the front wheels through a new six-six iMT (intelligent manual transmission) gearbox speeds with “sailing” function. A 7DCT (dual clutch and seven speeds) is also available as an option.
Diesel, this “demon”…
On paper, this semi-hybrid engine promises excellent fuel consumption, good versatility and great comfort — to my surprise, that's exactly what I found.
This is one of those cases where I can write, without fear, that this car does as promised.
And the responsibility is almost always with the powertrain, which still benefits from the excellent chassis of the Kauai, which regardless of version or engine is always one of the most interesting proposals to drive in the segment.
During this test with the Kauai N Line I covered almost 1500 km and this allowed me to test it in almost every scenario and occasion. But it was on the highway that he started to convince me.
With stability that deserves to be highlighted and with an acoustic isolation that only begins to show gaps when we surpass 120 km/h, the Kauai provides us with an excellent driving position and proves to be much more comfortable than the pre-facelift models , something we can justify with the assembly of new springs, new shock absorbers and stabilizer bars.
And all this while “offering us” average consumption of around 5.0 l/100 km (and often even below), always with two people on board and always with a full boot.
It's a remarkable record and has several times led me to question whether modern Diesel engines deserve the outcome they will have very soon.
For those who travel many kilometers, especially on the highway, it remains a very interesting and, above all, very efficient solution, especially when supported by semi-hybrid systems like this one on Kauai, which let us go “sailing”. But those are questions for another day — maybe for a chronicle...
And in town?
After several hundred kilometers on the highway, it was time to realize what this Kauai N Line was worth in town. And here, the 48V semi-hybrid system was, in fact, a real asset.
The drive system is remarkably smooth and the six-speed manual gearbox has always been very well stepped.
Despite the sporting credentials it displays — the “N” is a very special letter within Hyundai… — I've always felt that it's very easy to adopt efficient driving with this Kauai and that has translated into fuel consumption — once again! — low: in the city I always walked around 6.5 l/100 km.
Equally or more importantly, walking around town with this Kauai doesn't reveal parasitic noises or reveal a suspension that is too dry, two aspects that affect other models in the segment. Even on more imperfect roads and with 18” sidewalk rims, this Kauai has never been uncomfortable and has always handled the imperfections of the asphalt very well.
On back roads, it's surprising how well the Kauai N Line responds when we “shove” it. It is true that in terms of dynamics the Ford Puma is still the rival to beat, which offers an even faster and more precise steering, but with the changes that Hyundai made in this restyling, Kauai has improved considerably.
The dynamic behavior is less neutral than in the so-called conventional "brothers", largely due to the firmer tuning of the damping in this N Line version, and the steering is more communicative, particularly when we activate the Sport mode, which influences (and optimizes) the steering and throttle response.
Discover your next car
Is it the right car for you?
In this restyling, Hyundai focused much of its attention on ground connections, promising to raise the levels of refinement of the Kauai with combustion engines — they were frankly lower than the electric versions of the model — without harming the dynamics. He promised and… fulfilled.
In addition to greater refinement, comfort also gained an important evolution and this is evident even in this version with increased sporting responsibilities, where the watchword seems to be versatility.
Very competent in all the scenarios I presented to you, the Kauai N Line proved to be a very capable B-SUV in cities, where ease of use, intelligent manual transmission and low consumption were important assets.
But it was on the highway that this South Korean SUV surprised me the most. He was my faithful companion for many hundreds of kilometers and always treated me very well. At the end of the trip, zero back pain to register (despite the sports seats), zero discomfort and zero stress.
In the last part of my test “I shot him” almost 800 km in a row and he never complained. And when I delivered it to the premises of Hyundai Portugal, the digital instrument panel had an average consumption of 5.9 l/100 km.
For all that, if you are looking for a B-SUV with an irreverent image, with lots of standard equipment, well built and with an interesting compromise between comfort and dynamics, the Hyundai Kauai remains a great bet.
And in this N Line version it presents itself with sporting credentials — aesthetic and dynamic — that make it even more appealing.