KUALA LUMPUR: Those who missed the opportunity to own last year's Hyundai Kona is in for a treat as the latest model is an upgrade in almost every way.
With a redesigned front and rear, the new two-wheel drive compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) Kona is now 40mm longer than the previous model and comes available in Standard (priced at RM119,888) and Active (RM136,888) variants that come with updated 17 or 18-inch wheel designs.
The Standard variant is available in Chalk White, Galactic Grey, Surfy Blue and Pulse Red colours while the Active variant comes with five new exterior colours, including Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Dark Knight, and Misty Jungle.
Aesthetically, its new front-end design incorporates protective cladding panels which are accentuated by the thin LED daylight running lights (DRLs). A newly designed bold grille complements the curved bonnet design, while the main bumper fascia connects seamlessly to the wheel arch claddings.
The skid plate on the lower bumper not only embraces the lower air intake but also visually complements the shape of the main upper grille. Integrated into the bumper corners are vertically oriented aerodynamic inlets that improve air flow.
At the rear, the new taillights feature horizontally stretched graphics reflecting a unique front-end light design. The new rear bumper, which also follows the protective armour concept of the front and sides, also uses a contrasting material.
The newly redesigned interior cabin is completed by new colours and materials and is also more contemporary and progressive aesthetically than its predecessor. The dashboard appears wide and airy and the new console area is separated from the instrument panel to emphasize the horizontal layout.
New to this model is a 10.25-inch digital cluster that is only available to the Kona Active variant, in addition to the 8-inch AVN screen with multiple Bluetooth connections. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard for both variants which also include Waze and Google Map.
New seat cover options include a black woven houndstooth design, cloth seats with black and grey embossing and perforated leather seats in black or beige.
Performance has also seen an upgrade as the SUV now comes with a Smartstream G2.0 Atkinson four-cylinder petrol engine thats said to offer a smoother, more comfortable driving experience, reduced emissions, and better fuel efficiency.
Paired with a Smartstream IVT transmission, the powertrain produces 149 PS of power at 6,200 rpm and 180 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm.
It has a comprehensive safety suite with features such as the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Rear Cross Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA); and Safe Exit Warning (SEW), which detects oncoming vehicle from the rear and then displays a visual and audio warning to alert the passenger from exiting the vehicle.
Other safety enhancements include Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) and High Beam Assist (HBA). The Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) has also been upgraded with pedestrian and vehicle detection.
New convenience features include electric parking brake with auto hold function added in response to customer demand and remote engine start function by using the smart key.
The Kona comes with a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty and also 3-year or 50,000km (whichever comes first) free maintenance service. It is available for viewing at all Hyundai showrooms nationwide.