2018 Hyundai Kona First Drive | Crashing The Small SUV Party In Wild Style
Hyundai may not hold the distinction of being an ‘early adopter’ when it comes to urban SUVs, having dipped a toe in the water with the original Tucson but since retreating to the safety of the popular medium SUV class.
Times have changed though, and the baby SUV category is a hotbed of activity, leading Hyundai to come up with the colourful new Kona. A position that Hyundai Australia chief executive JW Lee sees as an advantage for the brand.
“We have been able to observe the market closely and observe our customers and bring something great to the segment.” Lee said at the launch of the Kona in Canberra recently. So while other brands may have a head start in the small SUV market, Hyundai is confident it arrives with an upper hand.
Vehicle Style: Small SUV
Price: $24,500 - $36,000 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol, 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol | 7spd automatic, 7spd automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 6.7-7.2 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Hyundai faces an uphill battle to win over customers from current favourites. The Mitsubishi ASX was one of the first city-sized SUVs, and remains a best-seller alongside the Mazda CX-3 which quickly asserted its popularity with Australian buyers following its launch in 2015.
Hyundai hopes to make a strong first impression with the Kona, helped by its bold styling. While Mazda opted for a ‘mini CX-5’ look for the CX-3 and Toyota turned up the funk for its C-HR, Hyundai has gone down the path of a more rugged look.