ADMITTEDLY, the introduction of the Kona was a case of 'better late than never' for Hyundai. Sales of small SUVs had been booming locally for years and became the fastest-growing segment in Australia.

As such, the Korean car-maker's marketing team would’ve been best served to position the Kona as 'fashionably late', because fashion plays a large part in its equation, too. Arguably, this small SUV has one of the most distinctive looks available today.

Naturally, such style will always be divisive, but Hyundai has attracted attention to the Kona, so their designers deserve a healthy pay rise for creating one of the least expensive head-turners in the market.

While it is all very well and good to look different, is the Kona a genuine contender in its segment? Should the hot-selling Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V be quaking in their boots? We test the Kona in entry-level Go FWD form to find out.