Hyundai’s baby SUV is almost ready. We know that because the testing prototype shows the production-ready cues and what’s more important, the car manufacturer released the first teaser photo. According to the Korean carmaker, the all-new B-segment crossover will be named the 2018 Hyundai Kona. If you thought that the Kona name has something in common with South Korea, you are so wrong. No, it’s actually a popular tourist spot in Hawaii. In any case, the subcompact has been spotted inside and out, which gave us some pretty important answers.
Judging by the spy shots and teaser, the 2018 Kona will be a very handsome small crossover. The manufacturer will make it very attractive, especially in the front end that sports ultra-slim headlights and a massive grille that’s basically borrowed from the Tucson. Both the hood and roof look highly dynamic, while the rear hatch should feature a pair of pretty attractive taillights, which are also stolen from the bigger brother. Inside, the 2018 Hyundai Kona features pretty much the same stuff as the new i20. Okay, the upholstery and some parts of the dash are unique, but the rest of the cab is just a déjà vu. Still, we pass by the new infotainment system without mentioning it. It’s not anything special at all, but the touchscreen is positioned at the top of the center stack, which is the best place for sure.
The interior styling isn’t everything the SUV is getting from the i20. No, the mini SUV will also ride on the same platform and will probably share several engine options. The manufacturer hasn’t revealed anything official yet, but we expect to see a new 1.6-liter unit will 132 horsepower and a 1.0-liter three-cylinder mill. In Europe, the baby crossover will use just a front-wheel drive setup, but the US drivers are definitely getting an optional all-wheel drive.
Since it will fight against the Nissan Juke, Mazda CX-3, Chevrolet Trax, and Honda HR-V, the 2018 Hyundai Kona should have a similar price, which is basically a little bit over $20,000.
