New-gen Hyundai Kona Revealed With Three Powertrain Options

• 2024 Hyundai Kona revealed with multiple powertrain options.

• Varying degrees of electrification include all-electric, hybrid, and petrol.

• Petrol powertrain will also get a sportier N Line variant.

• The SUV is bigger in size and offers more space inside.

• Features specific design cues exclusive to specific powertrains.

• Cabin sports dual 12.3-inch screens for driver and passenger.

• More details to surface soon.

Hyundai has taken the wraps off the new-generation Kona and has announced three powertrain options for the SUV. It’ll be available with a petrol-only, a petrol-hybrid, and an electric powertrain options, while the ICE powertrain will also get an N-Line iteration packing more performance as usual. 

Design

Now with three different powertrain options, Hyundai is offering designs exclusive to the specific powertrains. Hyundai says the SUV was designed as an EV first, and then used elements to adopt other powertrain options unlike the traditional trend which is usually the other way around. 

Each powertrain gets some styling elements that differentiate it from their concurrent siblings including different inserts on the intake grille, different alloy wheels, revised rear bumper and skid plates, varying colour schemes on the wheel arches, side mirrors and the roof.

The overall design of the SUV is bigger and a bit more rounded-off in comparison to its forerunner. The sharp bonnet is now more curvaceous and sports a strap of DRL running across its width. 

Keeping in line with typical Kona’s styling, the main headlight unit is placed lower on the bumper, but here, it is part of the chunky squared-off wheel arch that stretches towards the front. Not sure if it’ll float everyone’s boat, but it does give a lot more character to the front three quarters of the SUV.

In profile, the styling is a lot more aggressive and that’s imparted by the very prominent crease line and chunky side sills. Even the alloys, irrespective of the powertrain, look really funky. The rear in comparison is a lot more subtle with a single LED strap spanning the bonnet; and just like at the front, the tail lights are housed in the lower body cladding of the SUV.

Cabin

The increase in the overall size and wheelbase of the SUV has translated into a bigger cabin space; so much so that Hyundai has gone and called it a ‘living space’. It does take inspiration from the Ioniq 5’s cabin and offers increased space in the middle as the gear selector has been moved behind the steering; but calling it a ‘living space’ might be an overkill. The larger cabin now features dual 12.3-inch screens, one for the driver and one for the infotainment system; and undoubtedly, the premium quotient inside the cabin has taken a step up.

Powertrain

We will have to wait a bit longer for the specifications of the new-generation Kona to be revealed but we do know that it’ll get multiple options- petrol-only, hybrid, and all-electric powertrains. The petrol-only powertrain will further get a performance oriented N Line variant with comparatively aggressive styling and re-tuned mechanics and dynamics.

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The new-generation Kona should improve upon its current claimed (Modified Indian Driving Cycle - MIDC) MIDC range of 452km and should also offer fast-charging compatibility. 

As for India, we reckon Hyundai will only bring the electric iteration of the Kona just like the current model which only gets an electric powertrain. It's a no-brainer that the new model will carry a premium over the current model which is priced from Rs 23.84 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards. It’ll continue to rival the likes of the MG ZS EV and the upcoming Mahindra XUV400.