2018 Hyundai Kona SUV previewed

Hyundai’s protracted teaser campaign for the highly-anticipated Kona SUV has reached a new milestone.

The South Korean manufacturer has today revealed the first full-frontal angle of its compact SUV, which is set to be shown in full within the next three months.

The sole image reveals new details of the Kona’s stacked headlight design and front styling. It  bears some resemblance to the recent Jeep Cherokee design.

“The All-New KONA continues Hyundai's new design identity while adding its progressive character to create a unique proposition in the small SUV segment,” Hyundai says.

“The All-New KONA's front is expressive and powerful, adopting Hyundai Motor's new family identity, the Cascading Grille. The new twin headlamps enhance the visual impact, with the LED Daytime Running Lights positioned on top of the LED headlights.”

The Kona is due to reach Australian showrooms around September, where its size, packaging and price is set to go directly against the Toyota C-HR and Nissan QASHQAI.

As revealed by motoring.com.au earlier this year, the newly-derived model’s name takes inspiration from the popular tourist destination on Hawaii’s Big Island. This naming tactic follows in the wheel tracks of the Tucson, Sante Fe and Tiburon, all recognisable American locations.

The newcomer is believed to share similar underpinnings to the i30 and Elantra – and for that reason is set to offer more interior and boot space than Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V, both rivalling products.

The Kona will form a key component of Hyundai’s future sales aspirations in Australia, playing into one of the fastest growing segments in the industry.

It will be available in two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive guises, joining the Tucson and larger Sante Fe in the Hyundai Australia SUV stable.