The new Hyundai Kona is finally here. Hyundai took the wraps off the upcoming Kona subcompact crossover SUV after teasing it for months. It’s slated to go on sale in South Korea first, followed by North America and Europe.
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Now that we’ve seen photographs of the uncovered Kona, we can tell you that details gleaned from the teasers were pretty accurate. The sporty stance, blacked-out fenders, and blacked-out roof are all there, at least on a version shown on Hyundai’s media page.
Powertrain and Key Features
Features will include a “floating” monitor for infotainment and other controls, four-wheel-drive, and a choice of engines. Hyundai is listing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will mate to a six-speed automatic transmission and makes around 146 horsepower, a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that will mate to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel that mates to a six-speed manual transmission, and a 1.6-liter diesel engine. The two diesels appear to be European-market only, and while it’s not clear what the American market will get, we’d bet that at least one, if not both, gas engines will be offered.
An EV version will likely be available in the States at some point, and stats are unclear but previous reports will likely prove accurate in terms of power, price, and range. So that means a range of over 200 miles and a price just under $40,000.
Safety and Convenience Features
Available safety features will include forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision warning and driver attention warning. Available convenience features will include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, rear-view camera, 4G telematics, HD radio, and a touch screen sized either 5, 7, or 8 inches (depending on market). There will also be a head-up display and wireless charging for smartphones.
Look for the Kona in dealers sometime this year, and we’d expect the EV to follow next year.
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