Hyundai Kona arises
All-new Korean compact SUV gets Hawaiian name and new design ethos; Australia-bound this yearThe Hyundai Kona, a sporty new small SUV, has been confirmed ahead of its Aussie arrival in the second half of 2017.
The compact SUV will slot underneath the brand's popular Tuscon mid-sizer and Hyundai Australia says the new model will be competitively priced with vehicles in its segment.
It's unlikely to match the top-selling Mazda CX-3's sub-$20,000 starting price, but expect a price range of about $25,000-$35,000 like the Toyota C-HR, Holden Trax and Honda HR-V, and for front- and all-wheel drive models powered by both diesel and petrol engines.
The car will follow the launch of the new i30 due here in May, and is expected to share the same platform which means it's likely to come with a range of high-tech equipment.
It should also have more passenger and boot space than the Honda HR-V and CX-3. The new Kona promises "best-in-class interior space", according the Korean car-maker's press statement.
The car company today officially confirmed the name of the new baby SUV, which we reported a month ago and Hyundai reckons it will appeal to thrill-seeking adventurers who frequent the Hawaiian mountain of the same name, according to the PR hyperbole.
Following the tradition set by the Santa Fe, Tucson, Veracruz and Creta SUVs, all of which are named after popular travel destinations in the USA, the new Kona will be "innovative, practical and highly functional", says Hyundai.
Drivers looking for something fun to drive will be well looked after too, it insists, stating that the Kona "has also been developed with a focus on enhancing driving dynamics, as Hyundai looks to set new performance standards for the compact SUV segment".
Although no images of new model have been revealed by Hyundai, it has teased the car's headlight. It's only a tiny detail but it shows Hyundai is evolving its design language, the Kona's ultra-slim and LED exclusive headlight design hinting at something visually striking.
The progressive, sporty design of the new city-SUV is likely set the agenda for the next crop of SUVs from Hyundai, including next year's all-new Santa Fe.
The Kona will return Hyundai to the small SUV market segment, which it last occupied with the ix35 before it was replaced by the larger new Tucson in 2015.
It's likely to have a strong impact thanks to its five-year warranty, outstripping the likes of Honda, Nissan and Mazda.
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