The Hyundai Kona may be one of the most exciting cars you’ve never noticed. Most months, it’s Hyundai’s fourth-best-selling SUV, which is to say it keeps a low profile. But it offers more personality than many crossovers from a brand known for value, not spunk.
A subcompact SUV, the Kona, is available as a gas-powered crossover or an electric vehicle (EV). Hyundai even makes a high-performance Kona N version with 276 horsepower and a more sophisticated suspension tuned for sport.
Yet, it doesn’t get much attention.
Hyundai has a plan to fix that. The Kona will get a complete redesign for 2024. To make you notice, it’s getting a dramatic exterior makeover with a more distinctive look and possibly a hybrid powertrain bridging between the gas and electric models (though we can’t confirm that it’s coming to the United States).
Hyundai released new photos and details about the 2024 Kona this week. This unveiling covered the global model, so some aspects may or may not come to the U.S.
‘Multiplayer’ Approach
Hyundai officials speak of the 2024 Kona as an “upscaled multiplayer.” You can’t drive it split-screen with a friend, so as near as we can tell, they’re talking about its three powertrain choices. That’s one more than the 2023 model.
Electric versions put out between 114.6 and 160 kilowatts (about 153 to 215 hp). Hyundai says it’s 2-wheel-drive (2WD) without specifying which wheels. Like the 2023 model, we assume only the front wheels get the power. The company claims a range of up to 304 miles but specifies that that measurement uses European testing. America’s EPA requires a stiffer testing regimen that results in lower range figures.
Hyundai will also produce gas-powered and hybrid versions but is holding back details for now. We should note, however, that Car and Driver reports the hybrid model won’t come to the U.S. We’ve reached out to Hyundai for confirmation and will update this story if the automaker responds.
The high-performance Kona N will return.
Updated Look, Signature Lighting
The current Kona’s humble reputation may be due, in part, to relatively bland styling. Hyundai has a plan for that problem, too.
The 2024 Kona will be larger than the model it replaces. It will get a more dramatic look with an easily-identifiable signature — a full-width light bar Hyundai designers call the “seamless horizon.” It’s purely decorative — the actual headlights sit below it — and crowns a sharp nose. On gas-powered models, a thin grille sits beneath.
A diagonal cut line in the doors creates a family resemblance to the Ioniq 5 EV. Prominent wheel arches (Hyundai calls them “sculpted wheel arch armor”) lend a little toughness to the look. But we don’t expect a 2WD SUV to be much of an off-roader.
A black-painted roof, wing-type spoiler, and silver side skirts will put a visual stamp on the N version.
Roomier Inside, Widescreen Look
Cabin design emphasizes space — an essential element in a subcompact SUV.
Designers gave the Kona a driver’s instrument screen and a central touchscreen housed in one bezel, making it look like a single wide screen. They resisted the temptation to run all controls through it, though. A row of buttons and dials beneath means drivers won’t be left paging through menus to adjust the audio volume or cabin temperature.
Designers relocated the shifter from the center console to the steering column — an old-school move that allows for a spacious feel between the driver and front passenger.
Hyundai says optional “relaxation comfort seats” are “optimized for weightless body distribution” up front. The rear seats recline.
The 2024 Kona allows over-the-air (OTA) updates. Hyundai says the change will enable owners to “save on cost,” albeit we’re unsure how. It will allow easy recall fixes for software problems without a trip to the dealer.
High-tech safety gear includes a driver status monitor to warn you when your attention is drifting, forward collision avoidance with evasive steering assist, and a blind-spot monitor that can brake to avoid changing lanes into a hidden car.
Parking assist allows the driver to get out and park the car remotely — a feature we’re used to seeing on cars with luxury price tags.
We’ll bring more details, including specifications on the gas-powered models and information on whether the hybrid could come to America, as Hyundai reveals them. We expect the 2024 Kona to make its first stateside appearance at April’s New York International Auto Show.
