THE KONA COMBO

Hyundai follows a familiar small SUV formula with six variants — and myriad colours

Another week, another soft-roader for the city. This time it’s Hyundai late to the party, with its first pint-sized SUV called the Kona.

As it turns out the timing is impeccable, arriving in Australia as SUVs overtake passenger car sales for the first time. It may look unusual, but the formula is familiar.

The Kona is effectively a high-riding version of the Hyundai i30 hatchback, with a more rugged-looking body and a new interior.

Not everyone will be a fan of the Star Trekstyle design but at least it’s functional.

The “eyebrows” are bright LED daytime running lights, while the headlights are relocated in the bumper.

The $27,000 drive-away starting price means Hyundai is no longer in the bargain basement business — it’s dearer than the top two sellers in the class and not necessarily better equipped.

The Mitsubishi ASX has been at $25,000 drive-away for an eternity and the Mazda CX-3 with auto starts at $26,000 drive-away.

The Kona range stretches to an eyewatering $40,600 drive-away before options are added.

As we’ve reported ad nauseam, as long as buyers are happy to pay, car companies will keep taking their money — even if, on paper at least, city SUVs may not make financial sense.

As with its peers the Kona is smaller and has less standard equipment than the hatchback on which it is based, and yet carries a price premium of $2000 — or more, depending on the model.

Compared to the i30 hatch, the Kona has a smaller footprint, a smaller boot, lacks a fullsize spare tyre, and misses out on built-in navigation.

This is despite Hyundai’s claim that the Kona is designed for people who want to escape the city limits on weekends and get lost on mountain bike trails.

To make sure the Kona covers as much ground as possible in the fastest growing segment of the market, there are six combinations from which to choose — not including the myriad colour and trim alternatives.

There are three model grades — Active, Elite and Highlander — but each is available with a choice of two four-cylinder engines.

The 2.0-litre is matched exclusively to a sixspeed auto and front-wheel drive while the 1.6-litre turbo is paired with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed twin-clutch auto.

All models run on regular unleaded, none get automatic stop-start fuel saving in traffic.

Standard fare includes six airbags, rear-view camera with guiding lines that turn with the steering, rear parking sensors, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, digital speed display, cruise control, individual tyre pressure monitors, remote central locking and extendable sun visor arms, which mean you can easily block side glare when the sun gets low.

An optional $1500 safety pack on the Active includes automatic emergency braking up to 80km/h, crash mitigation up to 160km/h, lane keeping, blind-zone warning and rear crosstraffic alert. The Elite and flagship Highlander get these extra safety aids as standard.