Not long after its global reveal, the 2023 Hyundai Kona has gone on sale priced from $32,000 plus on-road costs. Adding a hybrid model to the range for the first time in Australia, as well as a second-generation of fully electric Kona that will go on sale locally in the fourth quarter of 2023, the new Kona is larger than before, better equipped and according to Hyundai, more refined as well.
“In the space of a generation Kona has become one of the best-selling small SUVs and is now among our most successful nameplates,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ted Lee.
“The all-new Kona scales new heights with its futuristic EV-like styling, roomy interior, full suite of safety features and class-leading connectivity and convenience technologies, to give customers a compelling small SUV,” he said.
The 2023 Hyundai Kona takes the old model’s styling and adds a healthy dose of attitude, style and aggression, particularly the new N Line Pack variants with their large air intakes and rear spoiler. The interior of the Kona is more refined than the current model, with a more modern look, more technology and more practicality thanks to an increase in size.
Dimensionally, the 2023 Hyundai Kona is 145mm longer (4,350mm), 25mm wider (1,825mm), 30mm taller (1,585mm) and rides on a 60mm-longer wheelbase. Bootspace has grown to 404-litres with the seats up (+33L), and 1,241L with the seats folded (+85L).
There will be three drivetrains for the 2023 Hyundai Kona range, with the fully electric variant due later in 2023. The entry level engine is the same 2.0-litre ‘MPi’ four-cylinder petrol engine as the current model, which makes 110kW of power and 180Nm of torque and is mated to a CVT automatic transmission. It’s rated at 6.6L/100km for combined fuel economy and is front-wheel drive only.
Above that sits the 146kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that’s only available with the N Line Pack. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system, while combined fuel consumption is rated at 7.6L/100km.
Unlike the previous shape Kona, the 2023 Hyundai Kona will come in two main models: standard Kona and more luxurious Premium, with an N Line Package also available for every model. Pricing starts at $32,000 plus on-road costs, which is almost $6,000 more expensive than the cheapest model of the previous model, but it’s now bigger than before and its spec level now starts at a level equivalent to the previous Kona Elite ($31,900 +ORC).
New to the Australian range – but sold previously overseas – is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain with a 1.32kWh battery that makes 104kW of power and 265Nm of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and drives the front wheels only. As you’d expect for a hybrid, it’s frugal on paper, having been rated at 3.9L/100km for combined fuel consumption.
Standard kit on the 2023 Hyundai Kona includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing automatic LED exterior lighting, keyless entry and start, heated and auto-folding mirrors, a leather steering wheel and gearknob, lumbar adjustment for the driver, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, a six-speaker sound system, four USB-C ports, over-the-air updates and a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
The entry-level hybrid ($36,000 +ORC) adds independent rear suspension, a virtual engine sound system, torque vectoring, paddle shifters and a shift-by-wire lever.
Safety equipment includes seven airbags (including a front centre unit), auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection assist, lane keep assist with lane trace assist, traffic sign recognition, forward attention warning, auto high beam, intelligent speed limit assist, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert (both with braking), door exit warning, rear occupant alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.
Choosing the N Line Package (available on each model and the entry-point for the 1.6L turbo AWD) adds sportier interior and exterior styling, 19-inch alloy wheels (18-inch on the hybrid), a rear wing spoiler, a chrome twin exhaust tip, gloss black exterior detailing, leather and suede upholstery, a sportier steering wheel, red air vent and seat highlights, a black headliner, alloy pedals, projector LED headlights, LED front and rear indicators, an auto-dimming rear mirror and automatic wipers.
Stepping up to the Kona Premium adds – over the regular Kona – leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, a blind-spot monitoring camera, rear auto braking, a 360-degree camera, remote smart parking, an acoustic laminated windshield, rear tinted windows, silver painted skid plates, projector LED headlights with LED front and rear indicators, an electric tailgate, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, inbuilt navigation, a 10-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory, an eight-way electric front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, auto wipers, ambient mood lighting and an auto-dimming rear mirror.
Optional on the Kona Premium is a $1,500 sunroof and $295 light interior colouring, while all premium paint colours – ‘Cyber Grey’ (N Line Pack only), ‘Ecotronic Grey’ (not on N Line Pack), ‘Soultronic Orange’ (N Line Pack only), ‘Ultimate Red’, ‘Mirage Green’ (not on N Line Pack), ‘Denim Blue’ (not on N Line Pack) and ‘Abyss Black’ are $595 extra while ‘Atlas White’ and ‘Neoteric Yellow’ (N Line Package only) are no-cost options.
2023 Hyundai Kona pricing (plus on-road costs):
- Kona 2.0L: $32,000
- Kona N Line Pack 2.0L: $36,000
- Premium 2.0L: $39,000
- Premium N Line Pack 2.0L: $42,500
- Kona 1.6L hybrid: $36,000
- Kona N Line Pack hybrid: $40,000
- Premium hybrid: $43,500
- Premium N Line Pack: $46,500
- Kona N Line 1.6L turbo AWD: $40,000
- Premium N Line 1.6L turbo AWD: $46,500
The 2023 Hyundai Kona is now on sale in Australia with the electric variant due later in the year. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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