Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past few months, then you are aware of the fact that Hyundai is working on an entirely new generation of the Kona.
But wasn’t the current one introduced just a few years ago? Well, it surely has. Production of the second generation commenced in 2023, and the model is assembled in South Korea, Indonesia, and Czech Republic. As you already know, it is based on the Hyundai-Kia K3 platform, which means that it shares its nuts and bolts with the Accent / Verna, i20, Elantra / Avante / i30 Sedan, Kia Seltos, Niro, K3, and K4.
Depending on where it is sold, the current Hyundai Kona can be ordered with a few gasoline units, as well as an electrified powertrain. A fully electric version is also available. The model measures 172.6 inches (4,385 mm) from bumper to bumper, is 71.9 inches (1,825 mm) wide, and 62.6 inches (1,590 mm) tall. It has a 104.7 inches (2,660 mm) long wheelbase, and tips the scales at around 3,300 pounds (1.5 metric tons), or up to 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) when it comes to the all-quiet variant.
So, if the current Hyundai Kona is only three years old, why isn’t the Korean automaker preparing its mid-cycle refresh instead, and has decided to go for an entirely new generation? Your answer is as good as ours, though we reckon they wanted to bring it in line with the brand’s newer crossovers, and presumably the easiest way to do so was to skip the facelift altogether and aim for a new one. Mind you, this is a very rare maneuver in today’s automotive world, where companies keep milking their existing products for as long as possible.
Photo: Kolesa
Now, we have seen the all-new Hyundai Kona on several occasions so far. Our vigilant man with the cam has managed to immortalize several prototypes, all of which wore the automaker’s typical thick camouflage, complete with fake plastic cladding. However, even from beneath the camo, it was still obvious that the design is completely new. As you already know, the next Kona will look a lot boxier than the current one, so differentiating it will be a walk in the park. If anything, it kind of looks like a smaller new-gen Tucson from certain angles, doesn’t it?
But while the Korean automaker is not exactly keen on spilling the beans on the upcoming Kona, we already know what it will look like. And no, we are not talking about the rendering world this time around, because the model has actually leaked online. A single image shared on social media a few weeks ago has revealed its front fascia, the profile, and a few other bits and bobs, thus putting an end to speculation. And for what it’s worth, the future Hyundai Kona is more of a looker compared to the outgoing one, this writer thinks.
Do you know who else has seen that leaked image? Kolesa’s pixel master, Nikita Chuyko, who created a couple of very realistic digital illustrations. Well, as realistic as they can be, as the back end remains under wraps. Still, we wouldn’t mind at all if the real thing looks exactly like this, because those pixelated taillights interrupted in the middle by the corporate logo suit the boxy design. The CGI model is finished in silver, just like the leaked one, and the wheels were virtually sourced directly from the pre-production tester we saw naked at the end of July.
Photo: Kolesa
Hyundai’s next-generation Kona, which sends some Crater Concept vibes, may have plenty of Ioniq references. However, it won’t completely go down the battery-electric route. That’s because while there will clearly be an EV variant, the model will also launch with a few traditional powertrains. Word on the street is that it could feature different 1.6-liter turbo and 2.0-liter naturally aspirated mills, as well as a partially electrified 1.6-liter assembly rated at 151 horsepower.
Mind you, pretty much anything is possible at this point when it comes to the powertrain family of this new model, so we will have to wait and see what Hyundai has in store for it. But how much longer do we have to wait in order to see the all-new Kona in an official environment, with zero camouflage on it? Well, that’s a tough one to answer, because the unveiling date has yet to be announced. However, given that it looks ready for production, we reckon that it might come out of hiding perhaps in a few weeks or months.
The outgoing Hyundai Kona is a 2026 model year in the United States of America, so logic tells us that the upcoming one will likely launch for the 2027 model year. But do you like the look of the future one as rendered by the quoted outlet?