- The new 2024 Hyundai Kona is bigger and additional luxurious than its predecessor.
- Its amazing “seamless horizon” front light bar will be common.
- Gasoline and EV versions will attain the U.S. by the conclusion of the year.
Owners of the prior-generation Hyundai Kona only had two substantive issues in accordance to the company’s vice president of design Sangyup Lee. That was a absence of room in the subcompact SUV’s rear seats and also its restricted cargo volume. You will be unsurprised that equally these parts have been tackled with the new model.
This is a gentle evolution of a effective formulation alternatively than a radical transformation. The new 2024 Kona is up to 6.9 inches more time than the outgoing version and sits on a wheelbase that has been stretched by 2.4 inches. Inside of it features a new layout of slimmed-down front seats which are claimed to provide both the exact same level of consolation and help as the old vehicle but, becoming 30 p.c slimmer, also improve rear legroom. Getting sat in an early model of the 2024 automobile we can verify it does sense a lot roomier in again. On Hyundai’s quantities trunk capability has risen from 13 cubic feet to 17 cubic feet with the rear seats in place.
Intergalactic New Confront
The most apparent design big difference for the new technology is the arrival of a single entire-width gentle bar at the entrance of the car—Hyundai phone calls this the “seamless horizon”—and a similar pink taillight graphic at the rear. Sangyup Lee mentioned that this new ingredient was the solitary most elaborate feature on the automobile. It definitely gives the entrance a very futuristic look, a person we experience we’ve observed on a character in at the very least one particular Star Wars film. The genuine headlights are significantly scaled-down units reduce down and mounted on each individual aspect of the bumper.
As prior to, both equally gas and electric powered Kona versions will be supplied. Other elements of the entire world will also get a hybrid, but we’re told that there is no opportunity of that model creating it to the United States. The most obvious visual distinction between the EV and the normal combustion version will be that the gas cars get grey system cladding although the Kona Electric’s is human body coloured. That rule isn’t really hard and quickly, although: the selection-topping N Line, which is a trim amount instead than a scintillating effectiveness by-product, will also get physique-coloration protection as perfectly as a lovable (but faintly preposterous) two-piece rear spoiler and a extra sizable opening in its front bumper.
Nicer Interior
Interior style and design also feels significantly upgraded above the outgoing automobile. The new Kona will get twin 12.3-inch screen screens, the one particular forward of the driver displaying instrumentation and the central touchscreen dealing with infotainment functions. Regardless of that, Hyundai has not adopted the herd into digital-only regulate architecture, with the Kona retaining equally a row of purpose shortcut buttons and bodily climate controls below these. We’re told the company is not scheduling to change traditional buttons in any of its forthcoming styles, either, which is a additionally in our guide. The Kona Electric powered also added benefits from a flat floor in the cabin, while the combustion versions keep on to have a compact tunnel.
We never have finalized U.S. requirements nevertheless, but foresee a lot of optional gear in the pricier variations. The European-spec cars and trucks we noticed had electric power entrance seats with equally heating and cooling additionally a 360-diploma camera method. All versions will help above-the-air software program updates, and Hyundai is also setting up to permit it to be locked and unlocked through the NFC Around Subject Conversation function on smartphones and good watches. All versions of the new Kona get a compact gearshift selector on the facet of the steering column, with steering wheel paddles to permit gear variety in combustion variations, and various regeneration concentrations in the EV.
Kona was keener to talk about the new Kona Electric than its gasoline sisters. Which is due to the fact the combustion variations are going to be significantly related to the outgoing model, with the alternative of a primary 2.-liter motor and a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter higher than this. Both front-push and all-wheel drive will keep on to be supplied, but we will need to wait till shut to the car’s formal unveiling at the New York automobile present in April for finalized performance figures.
Specifics on the Kona EV
We do have a lot more numbers for the Kona Electrical, though. In some markets Hyundai strategies to present two different variations of the EV, but we’re advised to be expecting that only the much more powerful variation will access the U.S. with its 65.4-kWh battery pack and a solitary entrance motor that generates 214 horsepower.
In Europe, Hyundai is concentrating on a WLTP array of extra than 305 miles—that would probably translate to an EPA ranking of someplace closer to 260 miles (the current motor vehicle has a a bit scaled-down battery and is rated at 258 miles on the EPA’s test). The Electric’s charging port is at the entrance and, although it won’t be in a position to replenish as rapidly as the extremely-fast 800-volt architecture of the Ioniq 5, Hyundai suggests it will be doable to go from 10 p.c to 80 % cost in 41 minutes at the greatest charge. That equates to a peak price of about 77 kW from a DC charger. The Kona Electric powered will also assist “vehicle-to-load” charging, generally allowing for it to serve as a giant power pack.
While there are no instant plans to straight replace the Kona N, Hyundai admits that it may make a a lot more powerful EV edition with all-wheel push from a next motor at the rear. The company’s engineers admit that this automobile would feel preferably suited to have N branding. Here’s hoping that occurs, as the prospect of a 430-hp Kona is an intriguing one.
The new Kona will be released in the U.S. in the 3rd quarter of the 12 months, with pricing details to adhere to.
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European Editor
Mike Duff has been writing about the car market for two many years and phone calls the British isles home, while he commonly lives everyday living on the road. He enjoys aged cars and experience in unlikely places, with occupation highlights together with driving to Chernobyl in a Lada.