2019 HYUNDAI KONA LIMITED: WHY I’D BUY IT - MIGUEL CORTINA

"What SUV should I buy?" It's a question consumers ask themselves every day, but what would MotorTrend en Español managing editor Miguel Cortina drive? Keep reading for the answer, and see other editors' picks here.

I moved to L.A. from Mexico City when I got my job at MotorTrend. I'm 30, single, and really enjoy living by the beach. I like to go surfing on the weekends, and whenever I get into a different car, I always make sure it has enough interior space for my 8-foot Wavestorm surfboard. That's one of the reasons I chose the Hyundai Kona as the SUV that I'd buy today. It's versatile enough to fit a surfboard, and its features and young looks resonate with me.

I don't take a lot of road trips, and my family doesn't live in California, so I rarely transport more than two people in the car. Leg- and headroom in the second row aren't my primary concern—I'd rather drive something that looks cool than something that's more comfortable for those in the back seat. And the Kona delivers on that. Its youthful design and cool color options bring a different vibe, and that's what I'm looking for at this stage of my life.

I'd go for the Limited trim with a Thunder Gray exterior and a Black with Lime interior; the green trim inside adds to the fun factor. Getting the Limited means you get the punchy 1.6-liter turbo engine and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. I've driven it many times over the past year and have been happy with the powertrain's performance. With 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, the engine makes the Kona fun. Because I live in L.A. and don't drive to the mountains often, I'd skip all-wheel drive.

The Limited trim comes well equipped. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard through a 7.0-inch touchscreen. There are four USB ports in total, which is more than enough for me, and it comes with leather seats, a push-button start, and a proximity key. As far as safety, the Limited has pretty much every feature except adaptive cruise control; that would be nice to have, but I don't really need it. (Adaptive cruise control isn't offered on any Kona trim level.)

Because I live 7 miles away from the office, I would lease the Kona Limited. Thankfully, I have very good credit, so if I put $2,000 down, I'm looking at paying somewhere around $260 per month for 36 months. This includes 12,000 miles every year, which is more than enough for me. Insurance in Southern California would be about $130 per month for the Kona, so that would put me around the $400 per month price mark, which fits my budget. And the best thing is, three years later I can choose a different model if my needs change.

As far as other SUVs I'd consider—the Honda CR-V is on the list. After all, I spent a year driving the CR-V LX and really enjoyed it. I'd also consider the Subaru Crosstrek, which is affordable, has good features, and would fit my surfboard. But I'd rather go for something that looks fresh and is fun to drive.