Hyundai · 2017–present

Hyundai Kona

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.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Hyundai ix20

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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 elect

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 u

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Hyundai Kona

Manufacturer

Hyundai

aka

Hyundai Kauai (Portugal.2017~), Hyundai Encino (China, 2018-2020)

Production

2017–present

Model years

2018–present

Class

Subcompact crossover SUV

Body style

5-door SUV

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, Front-motor, front-wheel-drive (electric)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30322680CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_KonaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1375345051 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyundai_Kona_Inspiration_SX2_Atlas_White_(3)_(cropped).jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Damian B Oh · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/suv/konaLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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