Hyundai’s answer to the Kia Niro has been revealed, with several powertrain options and a distinctive design
- 2023 Hyundai Kona: design, interior and technology
- Engines and powertrains
- What does this mean for car buyers?
- Petrol, self-charging hybrid and EV versions
- Infotainment taken from larger Ioniq 5
- Due on sale in 2023
The all-new second generation Hyundai Kona has been revealed. One of the most important models in the South Korean brand’s lineup, the latest iteration of Hyundai’s small SUV gets a striking exterior design and three different powertrain options: petrol, self-charging hybrid and fully electric.
Set to go on sale in Early 2023, the new Hyundai Kona will renew its rivalry with Carbuyer’s Car of the Year, the Kia Niro – which shares the Kona’s underpinnings and is also available in plug-in hybrid form. Other significant competition includes the likes of the Renault Captur and Ford Puma, as well as the all-electric Renault Megane E-Tech and Volkswagen ID.3.
2023 Hyundai Kona: design, interior and technology
Mirroring what we expected from our pre-reveal render images, the new Hyundai Kona gets a revolutionary exterior design, characterised by a full-width front light bar dubbed the ‘Seamless Horizon Lamp’. There’s another light bar at the rear, too, while creases in the bodywork tie the Kona in with larger models in the Hyundai range such as the top-selling Tucson.
While the majority of the lineup will look identical, regardless of the powertrain you opt for, Hyundai has announced that petrol Kona models will also be available in sporty N Line guise; upgrading to this trim level adds a more aggressive bodykit, including a large boot spoiler. N Line cars will also benefit from blacked-out wing mirrors, model-specific 19-inch alloy wheels and a dual-tipped exhaust.
On the inside, the Hyundai Kona borrows much from its larger electric sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The overall design of the cabin is light and minimalist, with a dual-screen infotainment system dominating the dashboard. Pulled straight from Hyundai’s all-electric range, this comprises a 12.3-inch touchscreen, mounted alongside a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and feels a lot more modern than the setup in the outgoing car.
Other cabin highlights include a ‘single-vent’ dashboard design – like that found in the new Honda Civic – as well as a plethora of ambient lighting, reminiscent of the spectacular light show present in the Hyundai Ioniq 6. One disappointment, however, is the opening sunroof; likely to be an optional extra, this looks to be much smaller than what is offered by rivals and only spans the front seats.
On a more positive note, the latest Kona is slightly larger than before (25mm wider and 150mm longer). This should address some of our main issues with the outgoing car, which were rear passenger comfort and boot space, which measured just 332 litres until now.
Engines and powertrains
Like its mechanical sibling the Kia Niro, the new Hyundai Kona will be available with both self-charging hybrid and fully-electric power. However, unlike the Kia, the Kona won’t be offered as a plug-in hybrid – instead, Hyundai’s small SUV will also be available with a 48-volt mild-hybrid petrol engine, meaning entry-level versions should be much more affordable to buy.
Hyundai is yet to provide technical specifications for any of the Kona’s powertrains, but you can expect all three powertrains to be subtly updated versions of those available in the outgoing car. These include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, a 1.6-litre self-charging petrol hybrid and a single-motor electric setup with around 200bhp. We expect electric models to get a slightly increased range too, potentially touching 300 miles on a single charge.
What does this mean for car buyers?
The arrival of the new Kia Niro left little in the way of reason to choose the Hyundai over its Kia sibling. However, the arrival of a new model with the latest tech and an entry-level petrol engine means the Kona could be an appealing choice for private buyers.
While the fully-electric model is expected to start from around £38,000 and will likely only appeal to company car drivers thanks to its low Benefit-in-Kind tax rating, petrol models could start from as little as £22,500 – making them cheaper than the equivalent Ford Puma. Higher-mileage drivers will likely be better off opting for the self-charging hybrid, which we expect to start from around £30,000 and offer much better fuel economy figures than the mild-hybrid petrol.
Keyword: New Hyundai Kona is a petrol, hybrid and electric SUV