The Hyundai Kona (Korean: 현대 코나) is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. The first-generation Kona debuted in June 2017 and the production version was revealed later that year. The current, second-generation model was revealed in December 2022 and launched in 2023. It was developed first as a battery-electric model before being adapted for petrol and hybrid variants, which are offered depending on the market. Depending on the market, the Kona is positioned above either the Venue or the Bayon and below the Tucson in Hyundai's crossover SUV line-up. The battery-electric version, called the Kona Electric or Kona EV, was first launched in South Korea during the first half of 2018 and was rolled out gradually worldwide afterwards.
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Naming
The Kona is named after the western district of the island of Hawaiʻi. The company stated the name "reflects the lifestyle of modern customers", in line with its "progressive design" that it adopts. The Kona naming also continues Hyundai's tradition of naming crossover SUV models after famous travel destinations, including the Creta, Santa Fe, Tucson and Veracruz.
The vehicle is marketed in Portugal as the Hyundai Kauai, as Kona is too similar to cona, a slang word for the female genitalia in European Portuguese (in Brazil, the name Kona was kept). Like Kona, Kauai is a place in Hawaii.
In China, the vehicle was sold as the Hyundai Encino.
First generation (OS; 2017)
The first-generation Kona was revealed in June 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. Positioned below the Tucson, it was the smallest crossover SUV in the Hyundai global line-up until that position was taken by the Venue in 2019. The first-generation Kona was built on a newly developed B-segment SUV platform derived from the Hyundai i30 platform which was designed to accommodate a range of powertrains, including fuel cell and electric variants. While it was developed as an urban-oriented crossover SUV, the first-generation Kona was available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants; the rear suspension is a torsion beam for the former and a dual-arm multi-link configuration for the latter.
For the North American market, the Kona was launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2017 and was available at Hyundai dealers in the first quarter of 2018 for the 2018 model year. Engine options offered are 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine capable of 147 hp (149 PS; 110 kW) and 132 lb⋅ft (179 N⋅m; 18.2 kg⋅m), paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Higher trims are powered with a 1.6-litre Gamma turbo engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission producing 175 hp (177 PS; 130 kW) and 195 lb⋅ft (264 N⋅m; 27.0 kg⋅m).
The Kona is either not sold or only sold in low volumes in markets where the simpler Creta is offered, such as Latin America, India, and Russia. Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are the few countries that briefly sold the petrol-powered Kona before it was indirectly replaced by the Indonesian-built Creta in 2022. The Chinese market had both the Kona and Creta, named there the Encino and ix25 respectively.
Kona Electric
The Kona Electric is a battery electric version of the Kona. It is the second electric car from Hyundai after the Ioniq. Sales started in Korea and Europe in 2018, with a market debut in the United States in 2019.
Kona Electric was available in two battery capacities: 39.2 kWh and 64 kWh. The 'ultimate' trim features adaptive cruise control and along with lane centering means the vehicle meets the SAE standard for Level 2 driverless. The Kona EV has a range of 415 km (258 mi) with the 64 kWh battery. Real-world range tests conducted by What Car in early 2019 found that the Kona EV had the highest real-world range among electric cars for sale in the United Kingdom. In 2020 Hyundai Europe conducted a three-day test at Lausitzring track in Germany and achieved ranges of up to 1026 km with the 64 kWh model, an efficiency of 100 Wh/mile (6.23Kwh/100 km) at an average speed of 30 km/h (19 mph)
In March 2019, Hyundai launched the Kona Electric in Thailand. In July 2019, Hyundai launched an Electric Lite version as Kona Electric in India. In 2020, Hyundai started producing the Kona Electric in its European factory in the Czech Republic, where there are plans for an annual production of 30,000 vehicles. Kona Electric reached 100,000 global sales in June 2020.
Hyundai Encino EV was launched on the Chinese car market in November 2019. The electric motor of the Encino EV has an output of 150 kW; 204 PS (201 hp) and 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft). The motor is powered by a 64.2 kWh battery with an NEDC range of 500 km (310 mi).
In November 2021, the facelifted Hyundai Kona Electric was launched in Malaysia. With three variants, two battery packs are on offer - 39.2 kWh and 64 kWh - with battery ranges going from 303 km in the smaller pack and going up to 484 km in the larger pack.
In 2021, the Hyundai Kona Electric was the sixth best-selling electric vehicle in the UK having achieved a total of 7,199 registrations throughout the year.
In June 2024, the Hyundai Kona Electric was discontinued in India, and it is replaced by the Creta Electric.
Facelift
In September 2020, Hyundai unveiled a facelift version of the Kona, for the original SUV as well as the Kona Electric and N Line models. The facelift primarily had exterior aesthetic changes, alongside extra cargo capacity and rear seat legroom. Also a 48 volt mild hybrid system was added to the 1.0L three cylinder
Kona N
Released at Hyundai N Day on 27 April 2021, the Kona N is Hyundai's first high-performance SUV under the Hyundai N division. A 2.0-litre turbocharged GDI engine features flat power that maintains maximum output from about 5,500 rpm. The engine is capable of an output up to 280 PS (276 hp; 206 kW) and maximum torque is about 289 lb⋅ft (392 N⋅m; 40.0 kg⋅m). The output can temporarily reach up to 290 PS (286 hp; 213 kW) when in the N Grin Shift mode.
In the front, an N logo and a dark chrome-colour Hyundai logo are attached to the grille. At the sides and rear, a front lip spoiler, double-wing rear spoiler and side sill mouldings offer added downforce, improving grip force and high-speed stability. It also features an N-exclusive triangular third brake light. Inside, the seats, steering wheel, gear knob and hand brake are tinted with Performance Blue while faux suede seats come with side bolsters. An N-dedicated colour Sonic Blue was added and N Grin Shift, N Power Shift, N Track Sense Shift and Variable Exhaust Valve System come as standard.
Powertrain
From launch, the first-generation Kona became available with a 1.0-litre, turbocharged direct injection petrol engine producing 118 hp (120 PS; 88 kW), or a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine producing 175 hp (177 PS; 130 kW), with all-wheel-drive option available on selected models.
Special editions
Kona Iron Man Special Edition
In 2019, Hyundai released a special Iron Man edition Kona (co-branded with Marvel) to promote Avengers: Endgame. The limited edition Kona was finished in matte gray with red accents and features blue daytime running lights, Stark Industries graphics, an Iron Man-themed instrument cluster, arc reactor imagery, and Tony Stark's signature on the dashboard. In the UK, 300 of the version were planned to be available.
Safety
The first-generation Kona body is made from 51% advanced high strength steel with 'hot stamping' and adhesives for added rigidity. Standard safety equipment in some countries includes six airbags, lane keeping assist and a driver attention monitor. Other features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot detection and a rear cross traffic alert.
The 2018 Kona was awarded "Top Safety Pick+" by the American IIHS.
Second generation (SX2; 2023)
The second-generation Kona was revealed in December 2022. It is available with petrol, mild hybrid, hybrid and battery electric models, while diesel engine options are no longer offered.
According to Hyundai, the second-generation Kona was first designed as a battery electric vehicle before being adapted for other variants. Compared to the previous generation, the vehicle has a significantly larger footprint with around 150 mm (5.9 in) additional length (depending on the variant) and a 60 mm (2.4 in) longer wheelbase. As the result, the rear legroom is 31 mm (1.2 in) larger at 925 mm (36.4 in). With the second-row seat folded, the vehicle has 466 litres (16.5 cu ft) of boot space (VDA standard) or 723 litres (25.5 cu ft) (SAE standard). The drag coefficient is rated 0.27.
The front clip is decorated by thin horizontal lamps, and the wheel arch cladding design of the side parts is integrated with the front and rear lamps.
Kona Electric
The second-generation Kona Electric has been available since launch. The variant is distinguished with pixelated front and rear thin light bars and a blocked front grille, while a Parametric Pixel design feature has been applied to the front and bottom of the rear bumper.
The Kona Electric is built with a 400 V electrical architecture, which results in slower DC fast charging than Hyundai electric vehicles built on the newer 800 V architecture. Hyundai states that the Long Range model can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 41 minutes. It also includes vehicle-to-load (V2L) support, with different maximum outputs depending on the market.
Two battery capacities are offered: 48.4 kWh for the Standard Range model and 65.4 kWh for the Long Range model, both powering a front-mounted electric motor. The Long Range model has a WLTP range of up to 490 km (304 mi).
The Kona Electric N-Line was revealed on 17 January 2024.
Markets
The second-generation Kona was launched in Brunei on 17 May 2024, in a sole N Line variant powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The base 2.0-litre model was added on 30 May 2025.
The second-generation Kona was launched for the Indonesian market on 17 July 2024 at the 31st Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, where it was offered only as the battery-electric Kona Electric. Pre-orders began on 4 June 2024. A pre-production model was showcased at the 31st Indonesia International Motor Show, held from 15 to 25 February 2024, marking its initial Indonesian debut. It was later shown at select public events in Indonesia before the 31st GIIAS.
Initial variants of the Kona Electric were the Style, Prime and Signature. Battery options included the Standard Range, with a 48.6 kWh battery available for all variants, and the Long Range, with a 64.8 kWh battery available for the Prime and Signature variants.
It is assembled at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI) plant in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java. Mass production began on 16 July 2024, making it the first battery electric vehicle built in Indonesia to use a locally produced battery. The locally produced battery cells are supplied from the Hyundai LG Indonesia (HLI) Green Power plant in Karawang, West Java, which was inaugurated on 3 July 2024.
The N Line variant was added on 12 December 2024. It is the first N Line model to be marketed in Indonesia.
The Kona EV was launched in Japan in November 2023 in three trims: Casual, Voyage, and Lounge, with the N-Line model introduced later.
The second-generation Kona was launched in the Philippines on 20 June 2025, it is available in two trim levels: GLS and Premium, powered by the 1.6-litre Hybrid petrol powertrain.
The second-generation Kona was first launched in Singapore on 8 August 2023, in a sole variant powered by a 1.6-litre Hybrid petrol. The electric version of the Kona was launched in March 2024, with three different variants, the Standard Range, Standard Range Sunroof and Long Range Sunroof.
Recall
In April 2024, Hyundai Australia recalled over 1,700 Kona cars equipped with the 1.6-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine, as they pose a potential fire hazard. The issue relates to a manufacturing defect, the bracket that retains the Engine Control Unit (ECU) could interfere with the vehicle wiring in the event of a collision, causing a short circuit results in a vehicle fire. Kona models that were built from the 2023 model year were affected by the recall.
Awards
At the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, both the electric and non-electric versions were announced as the winners of the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, the first for a subcompact crossover SUV in its award history.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the Hyundai Kona at No. 1 (tied with the Kia Soul and Mazda CX-30) on its list of Best Subcompact SUVs for 2022, giving it a score of 8.4 out of 10.
In 2023, Hyundai Kona won the 'Car of the Year' prize at the Auto Express New Car Awards.