Hyundai Kona Makes Domestic Debut At 2018 Auto Expo

Hyundai Kona could be launched in India in its all-electric avatar in the near future; has a promising overall appeal

Hyundai introduced the Kona compact SUV in global markets last year and it has received tremendous attention. It comes powered by a variety of engine options and has a desirable interior and features list sticking by international standards.

Its visual appearance may not appeal everyone but it has all the bells and whistles to be a popular vehicle in India when/if Hyundai decides to enter it into our market. Here is everything you need to know about the Hyundai Kona SUV:

Also Read: 2018 Auto Expo Live Coverage And Articles

Hyundai Kona India Launch

Having made its Indian premiere at the ongoing 2018 Auto Expo, we can expect the Kona SUV to be launched towards the end of this decade.

Hyundai Kona India Price

It is expected to be offered only with an electric powertrain or if Hyundai decides to add another premium SUV at the top of the range, the Kona will fit the bill perfectly at around Rs. 30 lakh (ex-showroom) price bracket.

Hyundai Kona Exterior Design

Hyundai unveiled the Kona compact SUV globally in June 2017. The Kona SUV has a progressive appearance and the grille gets flanked by separate lighting units similar to the Jeep Cherokee. The positioning of LED DRLs above the LED headlights making the front fascia very occupied.

Also present are the tall seating position and four-wheel drive system as optional for international markets. The B-segment sport utility vehicle is christened after the Kona district on the Big Island of Hawaii and with it you could sense the freedom and adventure perspective of the millennials.

It derives design cues from the Intrado concept showcased back in 2014 judging by the side profile but the i20-ish rear looks familiar indeed. The SUV is tall with short overhangs and the bodywork is created to accommodate ample interior space while being sporty with sloping roofline.

Hyundai Kona Engine, Specs, Performance, Mileage

It is available with a 2.0L petrol and a 1.6L diesel engine in the US. The Kona shares new platform with the Kia Stonic and shares engines with the latest generation i30.
As for the powertrain options, it gets small turbo petrol and diesel engines.

A 1.0-litre turbo petrol might be used for the developing markets like India. Overseas, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, developing 147 hp and 179 Nm, is linked to a six-speed auto. It is claimed to have top speed of 194 kmph and 0-100 kmph time of 10 seconds.

Up the range, the 1.6-litre T-GDI four-cylinder unit, connected to seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, produces 175 hp and 265 Nm. It can do 0-100 kmph in 7.7 seconds with top speed of 210 kmph. In Europe, a smaller 1.0-litre T-GDI three-pot turbo petrol motor mated to a six-speed manual gearbox is used.

It generates 118 hp and 172 Nm peak torque that would help achieve a 0-100 kmph time of 12 seconds and 181 kmph maximum speed. A 1.6-litre frugal diesel is also offered on select markets.

Indian customers are expected to get only the electric Kona which could come in two different battery configurations: an entry-level 39.2 kWh and the higher capacity 64.2 kWh pack. The latter could offer over 500 km driving range on the official EU cycle which translate into 300 to 350 km on a single charge in the real world.

Hyundai Kona Dimension

The Hyundai Kona could be positioned between the Creta and Tucson and it measures 4,165 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall and has 2,600 mm wheelbase.

Hyundai Kona Key Rivals

The Kona competes against the likes of Nissan Juke (now replaced by Kicks in US), Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3, Peugeot 2008, Fiat 500X, Renault Captur, Honda HR-V and Citroen C3 Picasso internationally.

Hyundai Kona Interior and Features

The interior looks modern and feature-rich as typical to Hyundai vehicles with smartphone wireless charging accompanied by a combiner Head-Up Display (HUD) speed, navigation instructions, Lane Departure Warning messages and audio data on a retractable glass behind gauge cluster.

The array of safety features include active systems like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA), etc. The radar system in the Kona assists Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) while Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) detects if any vehicle gets in the path of reversing.

Hyundai says the 4WD drivetrain, exhaust, suspension components and underfloor layout are optimised to reduce the intrusion of central tunnel that obscures interior space and lower the seating position for better Centre Of Gravity.

The Kona gains flat folding split rear seats with two level loading floor good enough for a bicycle or golf club items. Hyundai aims to attract tech savvy customers clearly as the infotainment system between 5 and 8 inch sizes composes of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G telematics, HD radio, rear camera, etc.