2018 Hyundai Kona pricing and features

Hyundai finally has a compact crossover offering, with the Kona joining its Australian SUV range alongside the Tucson and Santa Fe.

Starting at $27,000 drive away, the Kona will be available in three main variants Active, Elite and Highlander.

The entry-level Active features LED daytime running lights, downhill brake control, hill start assist, dusk sensing headlights, reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring, 7-inch floating touchscreen, rear parking sensors, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, 3.5-inch TFT driver information display, cloth seats, leather appointed steering wheel and gear knob, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels and roof rails.

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For an extra $1500 you can get the Active with Safety Pack variant which includes Hyundai SmartSense driver assistance technology (see below) that’s standard in the Elite and Highlander models.

The Kona Elite also gains 17-inch alloys, leather appointed seats, keyless entry/start, climate control air-conditioning, front fog lights, rain sensing wipers, carbon grey exterior trim, rear skid plate and luggage net.

The range-topping Highlander has all that plus 18-inch alloys, front parking sensors, LED headlights/front indicators and tail lights, high beam assist, head up display, 4.2-inch TFT display, powered and heated front seats, auto dimming mirror, wireless charging pad and heated steering wheel.

Each trim level will have a choice of a powertrains including a 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with six-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive. For an extra $3500 you can add some oomph with a 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and all-wheel-drive.

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Built on an all-new platform, the Kona looks small, thanks to short front and rear overhangs. However, it has a 2600mm wheelbase (that’s 30mm longer than the Mazda CX-3 benchmark) allowing for a deceptively spacious interior.

Interior space is helped by its wide track, which Hyundai says also provides car like handling that's further enhanced by the chassis and suspension being tuned for Australian conditions.

Hyundai believes there’s plenty of space for five occupants and luggage with front and rear legroom of 1054mm and 880mm. Boot space is 361-litres (almost 100 more than CX-3), increasing to 1143-litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded down.

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One of the most advanced small-SUVs in terms of active safety, the Kona is equipped with the Hyundai SmartSense system that includes Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), which provides visual and audible warnings if detects a potential collision with a car or pedestrian and automatically stops the vehicle if the driver doesn’t respond in time.

The FCA system works while travelling up to 160km/h with the automatic emergency braking working up to 75km/h. At higher speeds the vehicle will slow down as much as possible to mitigate the collision. FCA detects and stops for pedestrians at speeds between 8 and 64km/h.

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Other active safety features include: blind spot collision waning; rear cross traffic alert; lane keeping assist; driver attention warning, which detects erratic driving behaviour; high beam assist that automatically dims when sensing vehicles ahead.

The Kona also comes with the Auto Link app that lets you view driving information, tyre pressures, driving history, ECO and speed stats and vehicle health from anywhere with your smartphone.

The 2018 Hyundai Kona is due to arrive in showrooms this month.

Hyundai Kona manufacturer’s list pricing:

• Kona Active, 2.0-litre 6-speed auto - $24,500
• Kona Active with Safety Pack, 2.0-litre 6-speed auto - $26,000
• Kona Active, 1.6-litre turbo, 7-speed DCT -$28,000
• Kona Active with Safety Pack, 1.6-litre turbo, 7-speed DCT - $29,500
• Kona Elite, 2.0-litre 6-speed auto - $28,500
• Kona Elite, 1.6-litre turbo, 7-speed DCT - $32,000
• Kona Highlander, 2.0-litre 6-speed auto - $33,000
• Kona Highlander, 1.6-litre turbo, 7-speed DCT - $36,000

Optional extras

• Premium paint - $595
• Two-tone roof (Elite and Highlander) - $295