2023 Hyundai Kona detailed: Here's when the hot new-generation hybrid and electric small SUV will arrive in Australia!

Hyundai has thrown the covers off its second-generation Kona small SUV, with an EV-first design and bold variant-dependent styling cues.

The new Kona takes inspiration from the brand’s Ioniq 5 to introduce a retro-futuristic light bar, which the brand dubs the ‘Seamless Horizon Lamp’ across the front and rear, as well as parametric motifs throughout its body in a similar vein to the current Tucson mid-size SUV and i30 sedan.

The cropped rear with a refreshed version of the current car’s styling allows it to maintain a similar silhouette despite major changes to its dimensions and interior.

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The Kona has grown significantly, now 150mm longer, 25mm wider, and with an additional 60mm in its wheelbase, which allows it to have a much larger interior space, with a flat floor, floating centre console, and open cabin design similar to the Ioniq 5. Meanwhile the exterior is highlighted by new 19-inch wheel designs, and the tech suite is improved to include larger dual 12.3-inch screens for the dash and multimedia screen respectively.

Importantly the new Kona will continue to be available with a variety of drivetrains, including an internal combustion version, a performance-oriented N-Line, a hybrid version, and a fully electric version, each with bespoke design elements.

Hyundai did not offer details on each of the powertrains as yet, but given the new Kona will share its platform and much of its technology with the new-generation Kia Niro, you might expect the hybrid version to mate a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine to an electric motor for a combined output of 104kW/265Nm, and the electric version to have a front-wheel drive setup producing 150kW/255Nm. 

There is no purely combustion version of the Niro for comparison, but the existing Kona is offered with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 110kW/180Nm matched to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while the N-Line ups outputs to 146kW/265Nm, sending power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The new Kona has a much larger interior compared to the previous model.

While Hyundai has halted development on all-new combustion powertrains, it has alluded to the fact that the ageing powertrains in the current car were due for an update of some kind.

If the hybrid Kona arrives in Australia it will be the first time the nameplate has been offered as a hybrid Down Under, taking the fight to Toyota’s Corolla Cross, Kia’s Niro, and Haval’s Jolion.

Speaking to CarsGuide Hyundai’s local representatives said to expect the new-generation Kona to arrive from mid-2023, with a staggered release schedule dependent on variant.

The new Kona takes inspiration from the brand’s Ioniq 5.

The new-generation model could result in a significant price-hike for the popular Korean small SUV, with hybrid version of the Kia Niro costing from $44,380, and the electric version stretching as high as $72,100 before on-road costs.

Stay tuned for more accurate timing, pricing and specification, as well as confirmation of standard equipment and powertrain options for the Australina market at a later date.