Here’s what to expect with the 2018 Hyundai Kona

The Kona sets its sights on the competitive subcompact crossover market.

With Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) releasing their new lineup of vehicles at the 2018 Manila International Auto Show, many questions have been floating regarding specifications and availability. The Hyundai Kona was a standout during their recent launch, and what we know so far is that this small crossover should definitely be on your radar.

Already available in the European market since June of 2017, the Kona features unique styling that heavily influenced the recently launched Santa Fe. Split front lights, where the headlights and foglights are mounted on the bumper, and the running lights are on top or above the grille, are becoming an interesting design trend these days. The rear gets the same treatment, as well.

The Hyundai Kona is about to battle it out with competitors like the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V, and doesn’t stray too far away in terms of size. Measuring at 4165mm long, 1800mm wide and 1550mm tall, the Kona is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 147hp and with 179 Nm of torque together with a 6-speed transmission.

The interior features a predominantly black color theme and highlights of the car’s exterior sprinkled around, with some soft touch materials and an updated centrally mounted infotainment system that’s paired with 6 speakers.

June 2018 is the estimated arrival of the first batch of units for public consumption, with orders already being taken. While we’re still unsure about the actual specifications of the unit because the one at 2018 MIAS was Korean-specced, expect the Philippine-ready versions to range from the price of Php 1,100,000 to a high of Php 1,500,000 for full options.