Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) launched two new models today, the 30th of October 2020, – the all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata and the actually long awaited B-segment Compact SUV called the Kona. We shall be talking about the new Kona here and the Sonata in another article (which you can read Here). The Kona was launched globally in mid-2017 and it finally makes its way here as part of Hyundai Malaysia's remodeling exercise in terms of its products and customer experience.
The new Kona is part of the new Hyundai Malaysia experience and comes with a new tagline ‘Geared for Distinction’ which reflects the new intention of the Hyundai brand in Malaysia and reflects its transition to a stand-out brand of consequence. From inception to the final product, every Hyundai vehicle is engineered to perform and is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology, a few of which are not even offered in the luxury segment, size for size as well as price.
This is why the new Kona is priced competitively for what equipment and specification provided while still being a fully imported product for now. For Malaysia, we shall get three variants, the 2.0liter in Standard and Active forms as well as a cooking 1.6Turbo variant. These cars are prices at RM123,888, RM138,888 and RM151,888 respectively.
But take note folks, for a limited time only, HSDM is offering a special introductory price, inclusive of tax savings, of RM115,888 for the 2.0 KONA, RM130,888 for the 2.0 Active and RM143,888 for the 1.6 Turbo variant (Peninsula Malaysia, on the road excluding insurance). So do take note of this early bird promotional prices.
While it has only made its way here after a few years since its launch, it still looks remarkably fresh. Namely because it hasn't been seen on our roads actually. But as I have stated before, I have seen the car at the end of 2017 and I think it still looks good and a fresh as an apple that has just been plucked from its tree. It's that “urban smart armour” exterior styling cues which features voluminous, aggressive body styling which complements a low and wide stance for great looks and confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments. That is what the press release states, I have to tell you that it just looks modern and nice to look at with its overall chunky stance on the road.
In terms of convenience features for the occupants of the Kona, the compact SUV will come with Wireless Phone Charging and Driver Attention Warning System. There are contrasting with the interior trim colour seatbelts which also creates a burst of exciting colour in the cabin. It makes the interior as youthful as the exterior.
As for safety features, we get more in the 2.0 Active and 1.6 Turbo variants. These variants get Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA), and Driver Attention Warning (DAW) and blid spot sensors - The actual specs for which variant has what is stated down below in the product summary folks.
All in all, I have to say that the Kona is actually long awaited and SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED EARLIER for Malaysians to have a go at. This is actually one of the nicer looking SUVs out there in terms of having a fresh design. I don't usually go about praising design and style as these days, most car makers have got the proportions and styling decently correct especially when it comes to styling compact SUVs. Quite easy to style if you add larger wheelarches, bits of macho looking black trimming and chunky exhaust tailpipes.
But the Kona adds that double headlight styling to it which you first saw on the new Santa Fe here. But it actually seems to be executed much nicer here. Maybe it is because the car is sportier and more aggressive looking.
Anyway, go check it out at the nearest Hyundai showroom if you want to see it in the metal. The rest of the product details are below -
OFFICIAL PRODUCT SUMMARY OF THE 2020 MALAYSIAN SPECIFICATION HYUNDAI KONA 2.0MPi STANDARD & ACTIVE AND THE KONA 1.6 TURBO
The All-New Kona is Hyundai’s first compact SUV that reflects the lifestyle of modern
customers. It is stylish and functional, and is most importantly tailored to the needs of
customers who pursue active lifestyles.
Hyundai’s Kona is named after the idyllic west-coast region of the Big Island of Hawaii. The
Kona region is famous among endurance triathletes and thrill-seeking travelers, and this
energetic image is reflected in the innovative and functional design of this lifestyle-focused
Compact SUV.
MODERN DESIGN ENHANCED BY LED LIGHTING SIGNATURE
The Kona employs refined aesthetics with sculpted body forms and sporty contours for an
athletic, bold, and striking appearance. Its distinctive design is reinforced by the car’s
voluminous, aggressive body styling that emphasizes its well-proportioned, dynamic
silhouette. A low and wide stance complements its profile, with a long wheelbase and short
overhangs, ensuring sporty, nimble handling, in addition to delivering superior driving
stability at highway speeds. Its masculine, protective ‘armour’ combines powerfully with the
futuristic LED lighting to create a high-tech look.
Kona’s front view conveys a powerful presence, as its armour shows readiness for
adventuresome activities. It incorporates Hyundai’s new family identity, the cascading grille,
featuring a sporty mesh pattern, flanked by flared, wing-like fenders that dominate the front
visage. It’s further enhanced by a composite headlamp design, with high-efficiency LED
headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs).
The slim brake lights, turn indicators and reverse lamps are in a separate configuration,
surrounded by protective skin that begins at the C-pillar garnish.
In keeping with its adventuresome deameanor, a number of extroverted colour variations
allow buyers to further express themselves by choosing colours such as Chalk White, Lake
Silver, Phantom Black, Pulse Red and Ceramic Blue. The 1.6 Turbo gets black colour-
contrasting roof, providing high contrast between the body, roof and wheels for a distinctive
appearance.
The 2.0 Active and 1.6 Turbo variants are fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels while the 2.0 basic
variant is fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels.
SPACIOUS, COMFORTABLE INTERIOR
The unique features of the exterior continue inside with a strong horizontal character line
creating a wide and spacious feel. Even with its compact dimensions and low roof line, the
Kona delivers outstanding interior roominess.
Unique to the Kona is also its vibrant contrasting coloured seatbelts and interior trims. Grey
coloured interior trims and black seatbelts are matched with the Lake Silver, Phantom Black,
Blue Lagoon and Ceramic Blue exteriors; Red seatbelts and Red interior trims are paired
with the Phantom Black and Pulse Red exteriors; and Lime seatbelts and Lime interior trims
are paired with Chalk White.
The sleek and simple layout interior contrasts with the bold, adventurous exterior design.
The audio/navigation display incorporates advanced infotainment features and the standard
floating seven-inch touchscreen includes Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ capability.
The floating display design adds further to the occupants’ sense of interior openness.
POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT POWERTRAIN
The 2020 Kona is offered with two powertrains – the 2.0-liter Nu MPI engine and the
Gamma 1.6-liter 4-cylinder direct-injected, turbocharged engine. The 2.0-liter Nu MPI on the
other hand generates 149 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 180Nm at 4,000 rpm.
The 1.6 Gamma T-Gdi (photo above) generates 177 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 265 Nm of torque
from 1500-4500 rpm, an advantage over its key competitors. Peak torque delivery starts at only
1,500 rpm and holds through 4,500 rpm, for low-RPM responsiveness and performance in
everyday driving conditions. The turbo engine is coupled to a seven-speed EcoShift® dual-
clutch transmission (DCT). This Hyundai-developed dual-clutch transmission offers
outstanding efficiency with quick, seamless shifting and brisk acceleration. When compared
with some competitors’ continuously-variable transmissions, this DCT is able to handle more
torque with minimal power interruption throughout the engine operating range for natural
acceleration and premium aural character with greater durability.
SAFETY STRUCTURE
Hyundai is the only global car manufacturer to produce its own steel for vehicle production
for specific benefits to Kona’s structural integrity and safety. The lightweight unibody
structure has been developed with 52 percent Advanced High Strength Steel to deliver
leading levels of inherent passive safety characteristics.
Proprietary hot-stamping methods produce lightweight, ultra-strong structural elements to
maximize the cabin’s central safety cell. The length of structural adhesives used in Kona
production exceeds 375 feet, providing additional torsional rigidity and further reducing
overall structure weight for better fuel efficiency, acceleration and handling. The platform
also features an innovative multi-load path structure – an advanced energy dispersion
technology that boosts impact tolerance by dispersing crash energy across multiple
structures to protect passengers in the event of an accident. These design features are
expected to give Kona a NHTSA 5-star safety rating as well as an IIHS Top Safety Pick
overall.
ADVANCED INFOTAINMENT AND CONNECTIVITY
Kona offers a full suite of sophisticated technologies paired with user-friendly functionality to
keep passengers informed and entertained. The premium infotainment system offers various
advanced connectivity features, including standard Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™
The standard seven-inch colour LCD display includes AM/FM/MP3 touchscreen audio,
auxiliary input jacks, voice-command recognition and Rear View Monitor.
A *Heads-Up Display system is available, projecting a virtual image onto the transparent
panel mounted behind the instrument panel and helping the driver keep his or her eyes on
the road. With a generous, eight-inch projected-image size and outstanding luminance, the
Heads-Up Display ensures both excellent day- and night-time visibility. Information projected
includes speed, navigation instructions, and audio system information. Deployed vertically
by a simple touch of a button beside the steering wheel, the display disappears into the
dashboard when not in use.
The Kona also offers smartphone **wireless charging which is a segment-first feature. To
charge a device, simply place a compatible smartphone on the wireless-charging interface
located in the centre console storage, recharging without the need for cables. The system
indicates when the phone has fully charged, reminds occupants to remove their phones
when exiting the vehicle, and detects when a foreign object is in the recharging area that
could interfere with charging. The system is fully compliant with Wireless Power
Consortium’s Qi standard for ease of use.
ACTIVE SAFETY (Applicable to 1.6 Turbo/2.0 Active variant)
Kona offers advanced active safety features, including **Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
(FCA), which uses the car’s front-facing camera and radar to detect an imminent collision
and avoid impact or minimize damage by braking autonomously. Three additional systems
also utilize the front-view camera to boost safety and convenience: **Lane Keeping Assist
(LKA), **High Beam Assist (HBA), and **Driver Attention Warning (DAW).
By sensing road markings, Lane Keeping Assist helps to prevent accidental lane departure
by automatically steering the car if required. High Beam Assist automatically controls the
high beam headlights depending on surroundings, while the Driver Attention Warning
system monitors a spectrum of driver-related characteristics to detect driver fatigue or
careless driving.
Kona radar systems also assist with the *Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) to detect
approaching vehicles that may be obscured from view during highway driving. The *Rear
Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) detects when another vehicle may have entered
the car’s rearward path, such as backing out of a parking spot, and provides a driver alert.
*Available in the 2.0 Active and 1.6 Turbo variant
**Available only in the 1.6 Turbo variant
The Sonata is only available in the SmartStream G2.5 version and priced at RM206,888.
HSDM is offering the first 50 Sonata units at a special introductory price, inclusive of tax
savings, of RM189,888 (Peninsular Malaysia, on the road excluding insurance).
Both the Sonata and Kona are entitled to a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first)
warranty. It is available for viewing at all Hyundai showrooms nationwide. Interested parties
may contact Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000.
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