2021 Hyundai Kona Hybrid: prices, specification and on-sale date

This is the new Hyundai Kona, a facelifted version of the South Korean manufacturer's popular compact SUV. The new car will be available with a range of drivetrains, including mild-hybrid and hybrid power, with the zero-emissions Kona Electric getting its own facelift, too. Prices for the new hybrid Konas have now been released, ahead of sales starting on 18 January 2021.

Mild-hybrid models start at just over £21,000, but we're more interested in the Hybrid, which starts at £23,750 in SE Connect trim. Buyers can step up to Premium trim for £26,550, or top-spec Ultimate for £29,050. 

All versions get a bold new look outside, improved technology on the inside and revised chassis tuning with an emphasis on comfort.

The facelifted Kona Hybrid uses the same 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor setup as its predecessor, with a combined 139bhp. It's paired to a 1.56kWh battery and drives through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

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Hyundai Kona Hybrid trim levels and specifications

SE Connect kicks off the range and comes with a good level of standard kit that includes a 10.25-inch driver's display, eight-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-view camera and some active safety and driver assistance features. Autonomous emergency braking features alongside various driver alerts, cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Elsewhere, SE Connect cars get 16-inch alloys, a leather steering wheel, automatic halogen headlights and cloth seats.

Premium models build on the SE's standard equipment with detail styling changes outside, 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, an electric parking brake and front parking sensors. The SE Connect's manual air-conditioning is replaced by climate control, while an auto-dimming rearview mirror, ambient interior lighting, tinted windows and power-folding mirrors and a larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen are also added. Safety kit grows to include Intelligent Speed Limit Warning – Hyundai's traffic-sign recognition system.

Top-spec Ultimate cars get leather-faced seats, LED headlights, electric front-seat adjustment and a sunroof, along with the addition of blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert and a safe exit warning to the safety list. The last of these is a system that prevents occupants from exiting the car if it's not safe to do so.

All models come as standard with Hyundai's five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, a roadside assistance package and five years of annual health checks at a dealer.

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Hyundai Kona Hybrid interior and exterior design

On the outside, changes to the Kona's appearance are numerous. The car's new front-end treatment combines familiar slim daytime running lights, but adds a wider grille, a sharper leading edge to the bonnet and a new approach to the car's trademark plastic cladding. 

The rear end gets new tail-lights and a new bumper, while unique 16 and 18-inch alloy wheel designs are offered on the Hybrid model. The new car is 40mm longer than before.

Hyundai is offering the facelifted Kona in a range of brand new, evocatively named colours – Surfy Blue, Dive In Jeju, Ignite Flame, Cyber Gray and Misty Jungle. The existing line-up of Phantom Black, Chalk White, Dark Knight, Pulse Red and Galactic Gray all remain.

Inside, the Kona is more lightly revised: a new centre console cuts under the dash rather than being attached as before, while a new, larger infotainment screen tops the broadly familiar layout. The car's parking brake is now electronic, while illuminated cupholders and a range of new upholstery options also feature. These include black houndstooth fabric, black and grey embossed cloth and perforated leather in a choice of black, beige or khaki. 

More minor additions to the Kona's specification include the option of heated second-row seats and a rear USB port, while cars fitted with manually adjustable front seats now get passenger-seat height adjustment.

Other detail changes include revised springs, dampers and anti-roll bars in the suspension system to improve ride comfort, along with improved tyres for all wheel sizes from Continental. 

Technology and active safety systems

The Kona has been brought up to date with a new 10.25-inch digital instrument display in place of analogue dials, along with a new optional central 10.25-inch infotainment screen that should be standard on higher-spec models.

The infotainment screen boasts split-screen functionality for displaying two items at once, along with support for multiple Bluetooth connections and online connected services, including live parking information. A custom user profile can be assigned to each driver to store their vehicle preferences and can be shared across other Hyundai cars with the same system.

Kona models with the lower-spec Display Audio infotainment system now get an eight-inch screen in place of the outgoing model's seven-inch unit. Crucially, it now features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. 

HIghlights from a comprehensive list of active safety and driver assistance systems include blind-spot collision avoidance assistance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality and eCall, which automatically alerts emergency services if the car's airbags are deployed.