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The Hyundai Kona is the all-new product in the Korean carmaker’s SUV line-up. It is positioned below the high selling Creta and went on sale in Korea last June and then onto the European and American markets. Hyundai India has now showcased the compact SUV in India at the 2018 Auto Expo and we expect it to launch the all-new Kona in the country pretty soon.
The Kona bears a new design language from Hyundai which will be followed by other SUVs in the years to come. The dual set-up of the headlights with sleek lights topping the large unit is distinctive. The cascading grille we see on all the new Hyundais like the Grand i10, Xcent and the Elite i20 first debuted on the Kona. Being a crossover, the Kona has black cladding all-around, faux bash plates on the bumpers and roof rails to lend it a rugged appeal. A floating roof effect and sleek tail lights complete the silhouette of the Kona, complemented by stylish 18-inch wheels. There are 10 funky body colours to choose from with a dual-tone scheme as well.
The cabin looks far more premium. There is a floating infotainment screen atop the dash, while the centre console looks to be inspired by expensive German cars. There are many premium features offered in the Kona such as electric and heated seats, climate control, keyless go, rear-view camera, TPMS, wireless phone charging and many more. However, what remains to be seen what features Hyundai will bring to the Indian-spec Kona.
Indian-spec might get the same powertrain as the Creta. The 1.6-litre VTVT petrol is expected with 121bhp and six-speed manual. Meanwhile, the 1.4-litre diesel will have the same transmission with 89bhp in tap. Expect a top-of-the-line 1.6-litre diesel combined with a six-speed manual and automatic transmission as well. When launched in India, the Kona will take on sub-four-metre compact crossovers like the Ford EcoSport and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza as well as the Tata Nexon and Mahindra TUV.
