CAR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Hyundai’s Kona SUV
Hyundai’s Kona compact SUV comes standard with body armour around all four wheels and a distinctively bold frontal treatment that sets it apart from other compact SUVs.
The Kona has separated top and bottom front lights that set off a cascading grille, giving the vehicle a bold frontal stance.
The overall appearance is enhanced by wraparound body cladding that helps give the Kona a wider, more aggressive stance, all of which helped propel it into the finalists for this year’s AA Driven New Zealand Car of the Year award.
Petrol-engined Konas arrived in September last year, joined by the Kona Electric EV this August.
Dual frontal, side and side headprotecting curtain airbags are standard, along with autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and lane support systems.
AA Driven Car of the Year judges felt the Kona was a confident, vibrant, sporty model that puts a smile on the driver’s face.
“It’s masculine looking both front and rear, plus drives like a hatchback,” they said.
The Kona comes with two engine options, either the 2-litre MPi 2WD with a six-speed automatic transmission, or the 1.6-litre Turbo GDi AWD with a seven-speed dual clutch.
The Kona Electric is the first compact electric SUV in New Zealand with more than 400km in effective, real-world driving range.
The Korean manufacturer launched the Kona with the millennial generation in mind, saying the vehicle was aimed at the needs of customers who pursue challenging, action-filled lifestyles.
It is named after a coastal region of the Big Island in Hawaii, and is available in a range of bright colours including ceramic blue, tangerine comet, pulse red, acid yellow and chalk white.