The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Hyundai hopes Kona conquers
The Hyundai Kona will cost from £16,195 when it goes on sale in the UK next month.
Hyundai’s entry into the increasingly crowded small SUV market will go up against the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and upcoming Kia Stonic.
With that £16,195 starting price the Kona undercuts the Stonic – from sister company Kia – by just £100, and closely matches other competitors.
On sale from November 2, the Kona is the third SUV in the Hyundai family and sits underneath the Santa Fe and Tucson.
The Kona takes its name from a region of Hawaii and will be offered with two engines at launch.
Most buyers are likely to favour the 118bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox.
If you want some extra oomph, there’s also a 175bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol, which comes with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
At a whisker under £25,000 this is expensive, though.
The all-new Kona follows on from the new i30 in offering a high level of standard safety equipment, with Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control featuring on all models.
Premium SE adds Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Premium GT specification adding Autonomous Emergency Braking.
Creature comforts are in abundance. All models get digital radio, Bluetooth, automatic headlights, air conditioning, 5in display screen, cruise control and electric windows all round.
SE models start at £17,495 and gain things like 17in alloy wheels, a larger 7in touchscreen that includes smart device integration with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors and a rear camera.
Premium trim introduces climate control with automatic defog function, automatically dimming rear view mirror, automatic windscreen wipers and solar glass to the front windows and windscreen, with privacy glass to the rear windows and tailgate glass.
Upper spec models also get a wireless phone charging pad.
The overwhelming majority of Konas will be front-wheel drive but some models can be had with four-wheel drive – although you pay a premium for it.
The top of the range Kona Premium GT 1.6 T-GDI 177PS 7 speed auto 4WD trim costs £24,995 and offers additional equipment with a focus on technology, including full LED headlamps with High Beam Assist and static bending function, as well as LED rear tailamps, a drivers supervision instrument cluster with 4.2in LCD multifunction screen.
All Konas come with Hyundai’s superb five-year unlimited mileage warranty, five-year roadside assistance package and a free annual “car health check” for five years as well.
jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk