Hyundai's Kona has been a popular choice in the crossover segment but interior and boot space have been two of its limitations. With the latest version of the car, however, Hyundai surprised many by positioning the Kona right up near its Tucson SUV model.
This probably has a deal to do with the fact that the new model has been designed as an EV first - even if the EV version won’t arrive here until October - and has begun initially producing a petrol and a hybrid version.
The hallmark EV look is certainly evident across the range - there’s a clamshell bonnet and a front LED bar. But the added dimensions are what are most surprising. The car is now 150 mm longer than the previous model and 25 mm wider.
There is another 60 mm added to the wheelbase, meaning the car is only 150 mm shorter than the Tucson.
The influences of the very impressive Ioniq 6 are very evident. When you add those extra dimensions you still have some of the Ioniq’s slippery profile - the Kona has a drag factor of 0.27, which is impressive and should allow for greater fuel efficiency and less electricity consumption, when the EV arrives.
One of the Ioniq 6’s greatest virtues is its ability to return impressively low rates of electricity consumption and thus give better range. The new Kona will try to follow suit with air flow flaps to reduce drag.
The influence of the Ioniq 6 is perhaps most evident inside the car. There are two 12.3 " infotainment and display screens and the overall sense of space reminds you of how the Kona has increased in size. The front space is deal and the rear greatly improved. The boot has also increased in capacity to 466 litres.
The first models to arrive here are a 1.0 litre petrol version, producing 118 horse power and a 1.6 petrol hybrid producing 139 horse power.
The entry level model is the Signature 1.0 litre manual petrol, which costs €30,850. An Elegance version of the same car costs €31,995.
The hybrid Signature 1.6 petrol automatic costs €34,295 and the Elegance version of this costs €36,045.
Standard equipment from the entry level up includes 16’’ Alloys,automatic climate control, LED headlights, smart headlight beam adjustment, tinted rear windows, rear view camera, cruise control with smart stop & go., electronic parking brake with auto hold function, 12.3’’ touchscreen with satellite navigation and media centre and a full suite of safety features. These include electronic stability control and forward collision avoidance.
Elegance versions get extras such as bigger wheels, a heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging, among other features.
