The 2017 Hyundai Kona is now on-sale in Australia with a drive-away price of $27,000 for the entry level Active variant.
NAMED AFTER THE Kona coast in Hawaii, the new Hyundai Kona, which is being launched to Australian media this week, is on-sale now here from $27,000 drive away. There are three trim levels to choose from: Active, Elite and Highlander with the choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive and either a (2WD) 2.0-litre four-cylinder (with six-speed auto) or (AWD) 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (with seven-speed DCT). Drive Mode Select is available on both automatic and DCT variants, the function letting drivers choose between ‘Comfort’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Sport’ modes.
The Kona joins Hyundai’s existing line-up of SUVs as the smallest in the range. Hyundai said, “Kona has been developed to meet both the rational and emotional needs of its buyers and neatly blends the key elements required of such a vehicle, with dynamic and expressive design and advanced safety and technology features”.
“Arriving fashionably late for the party means that Hyundai Motor Company has had the development time needed to deliver a small SUV that is right for its time and laser-focused on its target,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mr JW Lee.
“Kona boasts a multitude of innovative safety and technological features across a solid model range, featuring engines and transmissions that will appeal to a wide customer base and a wonderful level of customization built in – and all of it balanced by keen pricing, a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and Lifetime Service Plan.
“Kona will appeal to customers with active lifestyles, a sense of adventure and a keen eye for value,” he said.
The Kona measures 4165mm long, 1800mm wide, 1565mm high, has a 2600mm wheelbase and 170mm of minimum ground clearance. Boot space is 361 litres which expands to 1143 litres with the back seats folded down – the boot floor is dual height.
In terms of safety, the Kona is being offered with Hyundai’s SmartSense active safety suite which is standard on the Elite and Highlander variants and cost-optional on the entry-level Active model.
Pricing ranges from $25,500+ORC for the Active two-wheel drive, $26,000+ORC with Safety Pack, $28,500+ORC for the Elite and $33,000+ORC for the Highlander. The all-wheel drive variants start from $28,000+ORC in Active trim up to $36,000+ORC for the top-spec Highlander. Depending on the spec, pricing puts it in the mix against key rivals from Mazda and Subaru.
We’ll have a full first drive impression of the new Hyundai Kona later next week.
Not a bad looking car at all. Love to see an N version or at least the 150kW 2.0l turbo stuffed under the bonnet. Boot is pretty small, though limiting it’s usefulness as a touring car IMO.
Don’t be persuaded by fancy colours, just imagine yourself driving with a space-saver, take a minute, then ask the sales rep to show you a i30 or Tucson, both with full size spares and best of all, the flat tyre will fit inside the tyre well, unlike certain space-saver tyres when you change the 16”, 17” or the 18” tyre, will it fit inside the well?
Hyundai execs say there is nothing forseeable in the future for making a full size spare. They are counting on customers not to have a flat tyre, yes, very rare do you have a flat, but, I’d rather be confident in knowing I have a full size spare to replace the flat, some how, space-savers don’t express confidence..